Queen quality, comments and questions

[Bob W]

In front of me is a Robeson Mastercraft sleeveboard in "catalina" bone, made by Queen cutlery, that cost $50.

Overall, the knife is only OK. Very strong springs, great pattern, and beautiful natural handles. Here's a catalog photo:

But regarding fit-and-finish, I'd consider it only average. The clip blade is sharp enough to tear paper, the pen blade not even that sharp. There's a small gap between the spring and liner. The pen blade has a bit of 'wobble" and the clip blade a slight amount.

So my question, is this QC consistant with current Queen standards? None of these problems are serious enough to warrant a return, but it is a tad disappointing; I've handled better moden knives from Case, Boker, Hen and Rooster, and even Old Timers. I'm not worried about this one knife necessarily, but if I spend $70 or even $120 on another Queen product, can I expect a better product, or more of the same?

In the overall scheme of things, $50 is not a lot of money. But you'd think Queen could make something on par with a $5 Victornox or $7 Opinel...

I look foreward to reading the comments of more experienced Queen buyers. I have only one other Queen, an older knife with plastic handles, and the F&F on it is much better.

Best Wishes,
-Bob

 

[lotoblades]

Hi Bob,I only have 2 queens,and one of them is a fixed blade,so I can't speak to much about what to expect from them,though the fit and finish on my copperhead is near perfect,strong snap and no wobble.

In the overall scheme of things, $50 is not a lot of money. But you'd think Queen could make something on par with a $5 Victornox or $7 Opinel

...

I agree 100% there,Vic can make a swisschamp for that price,and every blade is solid and functions like it should,so to me there's no real excuse for a 2 or 3 bladed knife,often times costing more,to have wobble or other defects.
lotoblades

 

[Bob W]

Thanks for the comments. The reason for asking, I'm considering ordering one of the Queen pearl Senator knives. But not without some reassurance that it'll be better than the Robeson.

-Bob

 

[LarryM]

Thanks for the comments. The reason for asking, I'm considering ordering one of the Queen pearl Senator knives. But not without some reassurance that it'll be better than the Robeson.

-Bob

I would consider that Queen makes Robeson knives exclusively for Smokey Mountain Knifeworks. Is the price SMK pays for them reflected in the poor fit and finish? Larry

 

[brownshoe]

In my experience Queen's fit and finish increases in quality with cost. For example, the the Vintage knives 1902 Moose and 2005 English Jacks I have are almost perfect. However, these top their price line. In the lower level knives, of which I've seen a boatload, quality is often quite good, but sometimes not spot on. The one thing that's common with all levels of Queen products are less than perfect edges. When they cut well they are usually too thick. Often the tip is not ground as well as the full blade. If there is blade wobble send it back and they will fix it.

 

[Franciscomv]

I only have one Queen, the RAT folder with sheephorn handles. Fit and finish on it is nice, and the horn is superb. But, and this is one big but, the blades were beyond dull when I got them the edge was VERY thick it just wouldn't cut.

I don't mind doing a bit of sharpening, even some reprofiling is fine on some knives, but I don't think a customer should be expected to grind the edge bevels! Certainly not on a knife that one has paid close to $100 for. Plus D2 is not the easiest steel to work with without some serious tools.

Returning it to Queen was not an option, since I live in another country and each time I mail something to the US I run the risk of it being stolen and of course have to pay around $20 (plus another $20 to get it back here). I sent it to a local maker who reground the blades for me.

My Schatt and Morgan Mountain Man, from a limited edition of 100 pieces also came as dull as a butter knife. Again, for the price I paid I would have expected more.

If my $40 Spydercos and $20 SAKs come sharp, so should $80-100 Queen folders. I'm done with that company. I've got to plan my knife purchases from the US carefully, since I rely on friends and coworkers who travel back and forth from the US to Argentina to bring them (to avoid mail theft). Sometimes I have to wait a couple of months from the time I purchase a knife to the time when somebody from my NYC office can bring it, and it really sucks when the knife is dissapointing.

I'll stick with Case and Great Eastern for my folder needs. They aren't perfect, but I haven't had a problem with over 15 Case knives and even though one of my GEC knives came dull, it was easy to get it scary sharp.

I always bring this up in this sort of threads: I don't know why traditional knife lovers put up with things like bad edge grinds. I mean, if a Spyderco or Benchmade user got a dull blade out of the box they'd probably return the knife.

 

[silenthunterstudios]

I really like Queen for its beatiful cocobolo, and its strong springs. Their sharpness leaves something to be desired. I will admit, I have been spoiled by Benchmade, Spyderco, Chris Reeve and customs, but Queen can put a better edge on their blades. I have only four Queen models, a Gunstock, Mountain Man and small stockman, all with D2 blades and cocobolo handles, and a smaller Trapper with red bone and 420HC blades. I sent the Mountain Man to be tightened and sharpened, it came back with a severely thick gop of oil on the bottom of the blade, and was not as loose. I didn't feel a difference in the blade sharpness as I remember. While I really like their cocobolo line, and their D2 steel (would like to see their 1095 line), I feel that I shouldn't have to send it to someone other than Queen to put a good edge on. I have four models that I am going to send to either Mike Stewart at BRKT, or a local maker, and get new edges/grinds put on. Queen should be making these razor sharp out of the box. Just because they aren't super duty tacticools doesn't mean they aren't being purchased to cut.

Other than the below average edge, I really like mine. I've got the wiggles in my small stockman pretty bad, but hopefully they'll be able to at least do a little bit with it.

 

[Yosemite Sam]

I've never had a wobbly blade in a Queen, but I have had space between spring and liner, and lack of sharpness out of the box is pretty much a constant. Scale to bolster fit is always good in my experience, and they always use good materials.

I agree you should expect a higher level of QC in this price range. But it may be that only Queen makes exactly what you want. You pays your money and you takes your chances...

-- Sam

 

[siguy]

i remember reading somewhere once that way back when knives came with almost no actual sharpening done, so that you could decide what kind of bevel you wanted on it yourself.

kinda how with my case trapper i left the bevel of the clip at the original angle, not thick by any measure but not half as thin as it could be. i sharpened the spey blade with the bevel very wide and the edge consequently very thin. the spey blade is there just in case i ever need a scalpel. the clip handles everything else.

if i had more blades, like with a stockman or a sowbelly etc, each blade would not get the same sharpening. i like having the ability to choose how thin i want the edge to be. of course, it is also nice to have a sharp knife out of the box. when a knife is really bad, or i want to take off a fair amount of metal, i use files and rough grit sandpaper on an peice of wood to set the angle.

sorry for the off topic post, just thought it might be useful...

and sorry for no advise on queen

 

[JPD1998]

I pulled out a few different slippies, including my Queen Amber Bone Cattle king.

Comparing quality between Queen , Hen & Rooster and Bulldog ( similar patterns ) I would say the Queen scores pretty well as far as overall fit and finish. The main blade of my Queen stockman has a very slight amount of side to side play, but the springs are perfect, the scales are fitted well and the overall construction is very good. The blades came with a usable edge, but were not razor sharp. The Hen and Rooster Cattle King with SS blades, is a more impressive looking knife, but I would give it a slightly lower score as far as overall build quality. The main blade has more noticeable play and the fitting of all the layers is not as clean as the Queen knife.

The Bulldog Large Stockmen (I have three of the 4 1/4 inch versions) in carbon steel , are all built like tanks , are well fitted but also had vague edges. A few strokes on a ceramic stick made them razor sharp. The springs and blades are all tight, the liners are thick. The Queen has the thinnest liners of the three brands. As far as price the Bulldog knives with celluloid scales sell for about $40.00, the Queen in bone cost about $65.00, the Hen and Rooster Stag Cattle King sells for $80 - $100.

I don't have a Case Jumbo Stockman , but the medium Ruger Stockman in SS I do have is probably finished the best out of all the above, but it lacks the center liner that the others have. It is also the sharpest from the factory.

As far as other patterns and brands I own, Schatt & Morgan is probably the best overall in my collection, but still needed to be sharpened. Canal Street is a close second , very nice fit / finish and came razor sharp from the factory.