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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Queen Quality
- Thread starter White Crown
- Start date
MadMaximus
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2014
- Messages
- 318
I couldn't agree more, I really want Queen to succeed, but I've had problems with their product. I ordered a couple that just came in today, an S&M Sowbelly and a #26. I'm crazy about the mechanics of a knife. I really like good walk/talk, centering, and no wobble in the blades. Whether they come sharp out of the box isn't a big deal (I typically put my own edge on it anyway). The S&M was a butter knife (no big deal) but totally squared away otherwise, no real complaints, just a trip to the Edge Pro. The 26 on the other hand was pretty bad. All 3 blades were very loose, and the main blade was rubbing on the brass scale. I've only had a few Queen made knives in my possession but the knives that were up to my standard were definitely in the minority.
With that being said, I will continue to try as long as they do. They seem like good people with a great, historic American company. I would rather buy a few US made knives and have to exchange a some than order an imported one. Every company has kinks to work out at some time or another. I guess to sum it up I'm rooting for Queen and I hope others out there are too.
With that being said, I will continue to try as long as they do. They seem like good people with a great, historic American company. I would rather buy a few US made knives and have to exchange a some than order an imported one. Every company has kinks to work out at some time or another. I guess to sum it up I'm rooting for Queen and I hope others out there are too.
- Joined
- May 27, 2009
- Messages
- 1,208
Ive had my share of Queens that had to be sent in for repair but it seems when you get one thats made right, they are superb. My #49 cattle king stockman and my Queen trapper are beautiful examples from Queen cutlery. Centered blades, no rub, some of the best walk and talk I've ever felt, and their d2 is a pleasure to use. If they were all like this I may not buy another brand.
I have four queen-made knives: three schatt and morgans and a moore maker. Two of the three schatt and morgans are on par with GEC quality in regards to the fit and finish. One of the schatt and morgans is a little slow opening and closing. The queen-made moore maker is a small stockman 5300 and one of the nicest knives in my collection.
Below is a pic of my favorite schatt and morgan that i carry frequently. Quality is very high in my opinion and she is quite the snapper.
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Below is a pic of my favorite schatt and morgan that i carry frequently. Quality is very high in my opinion and she is quite the snapper.
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2004
- Messages
- 6,997
I'm also rooting for Queen; I hope they can last. They've been a fixture in my knife-life for years, and I've no plans to change that. Between Queen, Schatt, and their many rebrands (Marbles, Robeson, Case Classic, etc.), I'm sure I have more Queen-made knives than any other manufacturers... And they're all top notch. There isn't a company that can quite top Queen, for variety and scope, and in my experience the quality can be up there with the best of them.
Cory Hess
Basic Member
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2014
- Messages
- 2,117
I got a chance to stop and see Courtney at the knife show last Friday and she did indeed have my 46 whittler all repaired and ready to go. 
They did a fantastic job, and I couldn't be happier with it. The stag is better than the original covers, and the little bit of blade rub that it had when I sent it in is now gone.
I was happy to see that they were able to dig out some amber stag to match the original covers, as they weren't guaranteeing that they'd have any available.
While I was at the show I also picked up this #69 Straight Jack in American Elk from Courtney:
The action on the knife was extremely gritty, but I took a chance that it would smooth out because I liked the knife a lot. When I got home I flooded the joint with oil and proceeded to work the blade open and closed. About a dozen decent sized chunks of metal came out of the joint, and it smoothed out quite a bit. It's still a little gritty, but it's rapidly getting better as I use it.
Other than that one issue, the knife is fantastic. It's pull is a good 6, and it snaps into the half-stop, open and closed positions very strongly. There really isn't much not to like about this knife. The gaps are pretty much on par with what I've seen out of GEC, and the spring is flush in the open and closed positions. It's a little proud at the half-stop, but I'd expect that from any production knife. The slanted and lined bolsters are an added bonus. For what a single blade #15 boys knife would cost with wood covers I got a similar knife, in pattern, quality, and steel, with elk covers. Can't ask for much more than that.
All-in-all the experience of sending a knife in for repair and getting another great knife from Queen just confirms what I thought going into this. Queen might not be as consistent as GEC, but let's face it nobody is. When Queen gets a knife right they're just as good as anybody else in the business. The ratio of poor quality knives coming out of Queen vs. the cost difference between what they're charging and what GEC's charging means that I usually come out ahead buying the Queen made knives. Throw in the fact that there are plenty of good dealers out there that will make sure that those duds never make it to you in the first place, and that you're taken care of if one does slip through, and it's a no-brainer in my book. I'm not going to stop buying GECs anytime soon, but likewise I'm not going to stop buying Queens either. They're both great companies that put out a great product. I feel pretty lucky to get to cherry pick from both.
They did a fantastic job, and I couldn't be happier with it. The stag is better than the original covers, and the little bit of blade rub that it had when I sent it in is now gone.
I was happy to see that they were able to dig out some amber stag to match the original covers, as they weren't guaranteeing that they'd have any available.
While I was at the show I also picked up this #69 Straight Jack in American Elk from Courtney:
The action on the knife was extremely gritty, but I took a chance that it would smooth out because I liked the knife a lot. When I got home I flooded the joint with oil and proceeded to work the blade open and closed. About a dozen decent sized chunks of metal came out of the joint, and it smoothed out quite a bit. It's still a little gritty, but it's rapidly getting better as I use it.
Other than that one issue, the knife is fantastic. It's pull is a good 6, and it snaps into the half-stop, open and closed positions very strongly. There really isn't much not to like about this knife. The gaps are pretty much on par with what I've seen out of GEC, and the spring is flush in the open and closed positions. It's a little proud at the half-stop, but I'd expect that from any production knife. The slanted and lined bolsters are an added bonus. For what a single blade #15 boys knife would cost with wood covers I got a similar knife, in pattern, quality, and steel, with elk covers. Can't ask for much more than that.
All-in-all the experience of sending a knife in for repair and getting another great knife from Queen just confirms what I thought going into this. Queen might not be as consistent as GEC, but let's face it nobody is. When Queen gets a knife right they're just as good as anybody else in the business. The ratio of poor quality knives coming out of Queen vs. the cost difference between what they're charging and what GEC's charging means that I usually come out ahead buying the Queen made knives. Throw in the fact that there are plenty of good dealers out there that will make sure that those duds never make it to you in the first place, and that you're taken care of if one does slip through, and it's a no-brainer in my book. I'm not going to stop buying GECs anytime soon, but likewise I'm not going to stop buying Queens either. They're both great companies that put out a great product. I feel pretty lucky to get to cherry pick from both.
Cory Hess
Basic Member
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2014
- Messages
- 2,117
From what I understand, the straight jack was part of a short run that they did at the end of last year. They did 75 in stag and 50 in elk. You can still find them out in the wild, and I'd definitely suggest it to anybody interested. It's a great little knife. The only thing special about getting it from the show was buying direct from Courtney and the prices she was giving. 
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2013
- Messages
- 209
I got a Queen Cutlery Canoe a couple of months ago.
It came out of the box razor sharp.
I love to use this knife... as a workhorse it's amazing, light and easy in the pocket for carry.
Easy to get a razor edge on the sharpener too.
I also like to prepare food with it... an excellent all-around knife for sure.
I'm extremely happy with mine.
It came out of the box razor sharp.
I love to use this knife... as a workhorse it's amazing, light and easy in the pocket for carry.
Easy to get a razor edge on the sharpener too.
I also like to prepare food with it... an excellent all-around knife for sure.
I'm extremely happy with mine.
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2006
- Messages
- 8,210
Nice looking knives, Cory. I like those two a lot. Some very nice looking stag covers also.
Sounds like you had nice time at the show.... is there going to be a show photo thread?!?!?!!!!
Sounds like you had nice time at the show.... is there going to be a show photo thread?!?!?!!!!
It is easier to find "quality problems" than to fix them, especially when your customer base has high expectations that are diverse and in many cases unrealistic plus your major competition consists of former employees.
I don't buy GEC, but all my Queens have been less than perfect, but not worthy of returning. I consider it character. Minor gaps and hairline cracks have been present on some but haven't changed, the knives are fully intact. I use my Queens for everything, kitchen to work. Some knives are almost perfect...I am picky and the only perfect knives I have seen were, for example, a custom Bose. My Queens are good knives worth what I paid for them. Like me,
What I really love about Queen is their patterns, their swedges, their steel, their heat treat, their covers and the ergonomic feel of their blades plus the minor imperfections that show it is a hand made knife.
If you want perfection, buy SAK.
As the man says..........
GaiusJulius
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2016
- Messages
- 853
I have two Queens, at the present, and have fondled many others. Both 21 pattern knives and made circa 2009. Both have beautiful covers, good proportions, and an overall good design, but the fit and finish has niggling issues. On both knives, you can feel that the tangs were not ground smoothly and evenly, and so the pull is uneven and feels rough. Holes around cover pins are uneven or have rough edges, peening on the bolsters is a bit uneven, etc. None of these things make for an unusable knife, but they're disappointments nonetheless, since for the price, one expects and hopes for better, especially in a pattern that's obviously intended for dress, with covers in abalone and MoP.
I think GEC gets so much love, mainly because the main alternative for traditional American-style knives is Queen -and while Queen can produce a beautiful knife, and make many interesting patterns, their QC and general fit-and-finish standards simply don't compare to the days of old. When you have to buy sight-unseen, as the vast majority of us must these days, these kind of issues can make for major headaches, or resigned, lingering disappointment. And it only takes getting bitten once or twice to decide that the frustration just isn't worth it.
That said, I am not going to write Queen off, and I have no doubt that the management are doing what they can to up their game. I wish them every success. But I probably won't buy a Queen without personal inspection, a lot of photos, or glowing testimonials for that particular pattern, unless it absolutely blows me away in design.
I think GEC gets so much love, mainly because the main alternative for traditional American-style knives is Queen -and while Queen can produce a beautiful knife, and make many interesting patterns, their QC and general fit-and-finish standards simply don't compare to the days of old. When you have to buy sight-unseen, as the vast majority of us must these days, these kind of issues can make for major headaches, or resigned, lingering disappointment. And it only takes getting bitten once or twice to decide that the frustration just isn't worth it.
That said, I am not going to write Queen off, and I have no doubt that the management are doing what they can to up their game. I wish them every success. But I probably won't buy a Queen without personal inspection, a lot of photos, or glowing testimonials for that particular pattern, unless it absolutely blows me away in design.
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2005
- Messages
- 1,276
I have many Queen and Schatt and Morgan knives. The S & M knives are of real quality. The Queen knives are Good to excellent knives. I have only had one I had to send back. I just picked up one of the 69 straight jacks like Cory. What a nice knife. And the elk scales are fantastic. This is one to get. There are some gaps in the back spring area, but that bothers me not. I recommend this on for sure.
Cory Hess
Basic Member
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2014
- Messages
- 2,117
Great looking knife, bozack. Glad to hear that you're enjoying yours as much as I'm enjoying mine. It's right there with my 21 Bull Buster as the best knife I've picked up this year. :thumbup:
I was going to start a thread, but there really isn't much for me to show. The people that I was looking forward to seeing weren't there. No Ken Erickson or Lon Humphrey. Courtney had half of her table taken up by knives from her personal collection because there wasn't enough Queen to take up the whole table on account of them sending people to three different shows last weekend.
All of this combined with me chasing around my 3 kids meant that I didn't really get any pictures. I just snapped a quick picture of my haul from the show, such as it is.
The top two knives were given to my kids by a gentlemen that really did a great job of taking time to talk to them, and me, about his knives. The thing I really love about this show is how most of the people do so well with my kids. Last year and this I had the youngest, and rowdiest, kids that I saw there. Both years the people at the show were fantastic with them. This particular gentleman pulled a box out from behind his table and let my oldest two pick a knife a piece. My son picked the Mt. Rushmore bartender's knife because he likes knives with tools. My daughter picked the Marbles half-whittler.
The two fixed blades are what Courtney was giving out for their Kiddo Knife program. I was really excited to see that they were giving out fixed blades, as they'll be perfect for when we go camping. We can practice making marshmallow sticks and not have to worry about the knife closing on any fingers. My kids both have a half dozen slipjoints a piece, so the fixed blades are a nice change of pace.
The Schrade barlow I saw sitting in a box of old junk knives on somebody's table. I picked it up and he said "You can have it for $5." It was a bit rusty and cruddy, but the blades are full and it opened and closed pretty decently so I didn't even haggle with him on the price. I got it home and cleaned it up and my wife promptly claimed it as her own and dropped it into her pocket. I hadn't seen it since until I snuck it from her dresser to take this quick picture.
It's only the second knife she's ever done that with out of around 100 knives I've brought home, so it must be worth the five dollars.
The Queen whittler and Schatt & Morgan I wrote about here, so you already know about those.
I did get to sign myself and my kids up for a Hammer-In, which is where some people that know about forging knives get together and put on a little clinic to show the unwashed masses how to forge a knife. It's going to be in June, and we're all pretty excited to get to do that. That was really the highlight of the show for us.
Sounds like you had nice time at the show.... is there going to be a show photo thread?!?!?!!!!
I was going to start a thread, but there really isn't much for me to show. The people that I was looking forward to seeing weren't there. No Ken Erickson or Lon Humphrey. Courtney had half of her table taken up by knives from her personal collection because there wasn't enough Queen to take up the whole table on account of them sending people to three different shows last weekend.
All of this combined with me chasing around my 3 kids meant that I didn't really get any pictures. I just snapped a quick picture of my haul from the show, such as it is.
The top two knives were given to my kids by a gentlemen that really did a great job of taking time to talk to them, and me, about his knives. The thing I really love about this show is how most of the people do so well with my kids. Last year and this I had the youngest, and rowdiest, kids that I saw there. Both years the people at the show were fantastic with them. This particular gentleman pulled a box out from behind his table and let my oldest two pick a knife a piece. My son picked the Mt. Rushmore bartender's knife because he likes knives with tools. My daughter picked the Marbles half-whittler.
The two fixed blades are what Courtney was giving out for their Kiddo Knife program. I was really excited to see that they were giving out fixed blades, as they'll be perfect for when we go camping. We can practice making marshmallow sticks and not have to worry about the knife closing on any fingers. My kids both have a half dozen slipjoints a piece, so the fixed blades are a nice change of pace.
The Schrade barlow I saw sitting in a box of old junk knives on somebody's table. I picked it up and he said "You can have it for $5." It was a bit rusty and cruddy, but the blades are full and it opened and closed pretty decently so I didn't even haggle with him on the price. I got it home and cleaned it up and my wife promptly claimed it as her own and dropped it into her pocket. I hadn't seen it since until I snuck it from her dresser to take this quick picture.
It's only the second knife she's ever done that with out of around 100 knives I've brought home, so it must be worth the five dollars.The Queen whittler and Schatt & Morgan I wrote about here, so you already know about those.
I did get to sign myself and my kids up for a Hammer-In, which is where some people that know about forging knives get together and put on a little clinic to show the unwashed masses how to forge a knife. It's going to be in June, and we're all pretty excited to get to do that. That was really the highlight of the show for us.
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2006
- Messages
- 8,210
Thank you, Cory. Sounds like a nice time!
- Joined
- May 9, 2010
- Messages
- 10,045
I only have one Queen at this time a Winterbottom Bone S&M Barlow that was gifted me by Mrknife and it is an excellent knife.
and an even nicer pocket watch! ive been working on making the T-bar for my watch chain that I am modifying from an old necklace atm!