Schatt & Morgan knife using Queen City steel? What's Queen City Steel?

Joe58

Joe58

Joined
Nov 11, 2002
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Hi guys ~ as I wrote in the title, I received a knife today in the mail that I have a quick question about.

I found this model on the Schatt & Morgan site and realized I needed one. It's their take on the gunstock pattern (one of my favorites) and a bit different with a small clip blade rather than a pen. #042240, 1 of 50. Says that on the box. Dunno - haven't seen this exact model on other sites.

Anyway, I like the knife and it even came kinda sharp for a change. On the site, in the description, it indicates the blade are of Queen City steel. I am aware Queen City is the maker.

After searching without much direct success, it seems this now refers to 420HC. Is that correct?

Thanks! Joe
 

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Every Queen City stainless I can find seem to be 420, I don't know if that helps or not, I have 0 experience with these knives but it sure looks like a beauty.
 
I have been told that "Queen steel" used to be 440C. At some point it changed to 420HC. I gather that change occurred in the late 80's or early 90's. Current "Queen Steel" is 420HC.
 
"Queen City" means 1095 steel. So far as I know, that's all that's ever been used in the line currently branded as "Queen City". This line's name is an old-school homage to the original name of Queen Cutlery (as "Queen City Cutlery", back then), when all of their line was in carbon steel (non-stainless).

"Queen Steel" is the name given by Queen to essentially disguise their stainless line, which was originally 440C, then 420HC later on. Users/collectors didn't think highly of stainless steel at the time, so Queen adapted the use of the "Queen Steel" name in place of 'stainless', starting in the post-WW2 years.

No idea as to what Schatt & Morgan is using, though most of their standard line was in 420HC, with some higher-end knives in ATS-34. If they're branding some of their own line as using "Queen City" steel, I can only assume it's a reference to that line's standard steel, which was 1095.


David
 
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knarfeng said:
Good catch, David.
Click to expand...

This threw me, a little bit. I didn't know Schatt & Morgan was using a steel called "Queen City" steel (it appears they aren't; see my next post below), and I'd assumed most of S&M's line was in 420HC (and some ATS-34). But, the only steel I've ever seen in "Queen City" knives (from Queen, not S&M) is 1095.


David
 
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Looking at the Schatt & Morgan site, and searching for the '042240' gunstock pattern, it appears they're advertising this as using "Queen Steel", and not "Queen City" steel. They specifically ID this as 420HC. See their product info quoted here:

"#042240 Reverse Gusntock -2 Blades 3.875" Closed -420 High Carbon Steel "

"-2 Blades 3.50" Closed
-Queen Steel Blades
-Spear Blade / Clip Sign. Blade"
Click to expand...


David
 
David - on the site, they just call it Queen Steel, not Queen City Steel. Dunno if it matters or not. I know on the models using D2, it's on the blade, and on some lines they specify 1095. This knife model, and a toothpick model I found on the site under the more tab, then misc.

Curious on why these two particular models were separate from the regular line.

Joe
 
Joe58 said:
David - on the site, they just call it Queen Steel, not Queen City Steel. Dunno if it matters or not. I know on the models using D2, it's on the blade, and on some lines they specify 1095. This knife model, and a toothpick model I found on the site under the more tab, then misc.

Curious on why these two particular models were separate from the regular line.

Joe
Click to expand...

I just posted again (above your post), and I'm seeing the same as you, from their site. It does appear to be the "Queen Steel" in 420HC, as you've concluded. As I mentioned, the "Queen City" name has always implied 1095, as an homage back to the origins of the company, when they were called "Queen City Cutlery" and all their blades were in simple carbon steel, not stainless.


David
 
Ah, good eyes there David - I didn't notice the 420 in the first line of the description. Seems sometimes these companies are being confusing on purpose. LOL.

Another mystery solved Scooby. :)

Thanks for the help guys, much appreciated!

Joe
 
Yep, 420 stainless.

If you want a better steel from Queen look for the knives marked "Tool Steel", as those are D2. And the S&M File & Wire series is ATS34. And of course seek out the Queen City knives and Heritage knives that are 1095 carbon steel.
 
My all time favorite jack:

smgunstock.jpg


AFAIK it is 420HC.

Cheers,
Griff
 
With no keystone shield and 1 of 50 etched on the blade this was a special small run knife. Almost certainly new enough to be 420HC rather than 440C.
 
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