So what's up with Queen

Robb, people will discuss the spectrum of quality of a knife company over the years. I think you'll find the consensus here is that some of the best, consistent Queen knives are from the early part of this century. The stuff right now does not seem to be striking up much enthusiasm amongst actual buyers.

That said, as I and others have noted here and elsewhere, when Queen does get a knife right it's a remarkable beauty. They certainly know how to polish a carbon blade (crocus??? :D) and set pins without huge sink-holes, GEC take note.:D

IMG_2226.jpg
 
Will you mentioned earlier about the stainless looking a little orange peely. I think all stainless is like that with a high polish. The wheel tends to gaul it a bit I think. It's for that reason why I take some crocus or scotchbrite to give it a brushed satin finish, on users. I have to say those jacks, especially the ebony one are stunning. Like works of art.
I saw in another thread or earlier in this one that Queen is coming out with a walnut line and discontinuing the curly zebra wood. Does anyone know when this is going to happen? I could really go for a #9 stock in walnut.
 
navihawk said:
Will you mentioned earlier about the stainless looking a little orange peely. I think all stainless is like that with a high polish. The wheel tends to gaul it a bit I think. It's for that reason why I take some crocus or scotchbrite to give it a brushed satin finish, on users. I have to say those jacks, especially the ebony one are stunning. Like works of art.
I saw in another thread or earlier in this one that Queen is coming out with a walnut line and discontinuing the curly zebra wood. Does anyone know when this is going to happen? I could really go for a #9 stock in walnut.
Click to expand...

Steve;

I have seen a few patterns in walnut on the popular auction site. However, Queen has not announced the intro of the walnut handle material yet. I was told by one dealer that the walnut is the replacement for CZ. It may be that these first sporadic few walnut knives are pre production knives. I personally am going to wait to buy any more until after Queen announces the introduction officially. Nothing on their website yet. They did have it on their website a couple months ago that the CZ was discontinued, but no mention of a replacement at that time.
 
Their website doesn't really compare to GEC's I must say. Too many line drawings, lacklustre and rather vague, even some spelling errors. They need to improve that.
 
willgoy said:
Their website doesn't really compare to GEC's I must say. Too many line drawings, lacklustre and rather vague, even some spelling errors. They need to improve that.
Click to expand...

Why must you continuously compare Queen to GEC? I believe the OP was asking about Queens current production. These are two separate companies, separate management, separate personnel with no interaction between the two. The fact they are located in the same town is coincidental only.
 
Does anyone think Queen will ever produce a classic barlow like their old ones; those with integral bolsters and springs stronger than a snapping turtle? Preferably with a bone stag handle and at an affordable price.

Off topic: I just got a Rough Rider barlow with smooth bone handles and am pretty impressed with the quality even though it is made in China. Good fit, finish and sharpness.

Rich S
 
Last edited:
rma100 said:
Why must you continuously compare Queen to GEC? I believe the OP was asking about Queens current production. These are two separate companies, separate management, separate personnel with no interaction between the two. The fact they are located in the same town is coincidental only.
Click to expand...

Well that's quite simple really, both Queen Cutlery and GEC produce Traditional knives, hence they are competitors and inevitably people will compare the companies and their products. I believe it was you who drew attention to the fact that GEC and Queen produce very similar patterns was it not? And as we know, GEC was set up by two long term Queen employees who then parted company, one going back and buying Queen, comparisons are inevitable, geography plays no role. The OP may well have asked about current production but there is not going to be one definitive answer to this, rather, an array of experiences. He then asked for more info, hence the development of any discussion. It seems to me that the contemporary production of Queen has yet to find enthusiasm and favour to any great extent. Their website is uninspiring and certainly buyers will compare that to the competition and since GEC currently occupies most peoples attention rather than CASE, Böker, CS or RR, they are the contemporary benchmark. Obvious.

Additionally, if you read my posts you will see that I have great respect and awe for some of Queen's products, they are some of the knives I would most hate to lose.

Regards, Will
 
The current owner of Queen was never an Employee of Queen Cutlery. In fact the current owners of Queen are not Cutlers at all, no disrespect intended. They are however Collectors and Entrepeneurs. And my comment to the similarities in the patterns was meant to go to the fact that most currently produced Queen knife patterns were designed by the current owner of GEC. Who, by the way is a Cutler. Any other comparisons, imho, are apples and oranges because the two companies have very different business models and philosophies.
 
I just got the big Gunstock Jack (Shatt & Morgan) in stag and I'm pretty impressed overall. I like big traditional folders and this is one of them. It was very sharp. Maybe the edge needs a slight re-profile, but overall I am pleased. This is obviously new production and made under the direction of the Danels Family versus the old Queen. But I am very pleased with a Queen Mountain Man folder I bought a couple years ago. It has a good factory edge with great fit and finish. Prices have been going up especially with the larger traditional folders that I am partial to.

Take a look at Northwoods knives. They are good stuff and a few are made by Queen for Derick. Most seem to be made by Great Eastern Cutlery which produces a fine knife. Again pricey if you compare to Case.
 
20141212_163221_zps0kn04zvv.jpg

3 weeks ago I sent my Cotton Sampler back to Queen because a piece of the bone (dark chocolate at the time) had chipped/splintered off. Well OMG I got her back today and I could not be more pleased with Queen. Fit n finish remained perfect with no blade movement and shined up looking like a million bucks. Mr. Daniels, Sir I am impressed with the outstanding communication and CS I received through out the short 3 weeks. I would say Queen is moving in a positive direction.
 
I bought the two Queen folders on the bottom of the picture last summer. They must have been old Dealers stock as they came very dull. The steel on them is D2 and I didn't want to mess around with sharpening them. I sent an email to Queen about them and got a reply from Mr. Daniels, the new owner & President of Queen.

He told me to send them in and they would take care of them. I sent them in to customer service with a copy of Daniels email. I had them back, nice and sharp within a week.

[URL=http://s810.photobucket.com/user/doubleott/media/GEC%20Folders%20Queen%20Folders/67bb0472-7421-4bbc-946a-19f53c9e35b3.jpg.html][/URL]

Daniels said they would stand behind all Queen knives regardless of when they were made. He said as the new owner, they all all still had the Queen name on them.

Pretty great service if you ask me.

Tom
 
I have a handful of Queens, most within last 10yrs production. The QC varies from knife to knife and there are little issues in each. However, I'm not a hardcore collector, more a user/enthusiast at this point, so I am probable a little more forgiving. There are some flaws that I can live with and some I cannot. It's a personal thing. I do like having variety and Queen has some really nice cover options on some of their knives.

Here are just a couple different Queen SFOs in my collection...


1418586244_zps88620098.jpg
 
Double Ott said:
I bought the two Queen folders on the bottom of the picture last summer. They must have been old Dealers stock as they came very dull. The steel on them is D2 and I didn't want to mess around with sharpening them. I sent an email to Queen about them and got a reply from Mr. Daniels, the new owner & President of Queen.

He told me to send them in and they would take care of them. I sent them in to customer service with a copy of Daniels email. I had them back, nice and sharp within a week.

Daniels said they would stand behind all Queen knives regardless of when they were made. He said as the new owner, they all all still had the Queen name on them.

Pretty great service if you ask me.

Tom
Click to expand...
Double-Ott, I'm not in any way suggesting that you've mis-represented your experience, and I'm glad the company came through for you. If everyone received that level of service, problems with the knives wouldn't be such a concern.

In my experience, the factory clearly didn't stand behind their work. Same company, different "customer service experiences".

brownshoe said:
Not contacting the company when you have a quality problem does both yourself and the knife maker a disservice. Quality is a two way street and customer satisfaction is the goal. If you don't tell Queen when you are dissatisfied, you do your hobby, or if you prefer, this community, a disservice.
Click to expand...
This cuts two ways. When a manufacturer doesn't consistently deliver a working product, they do the customer/hobby/community a disservice. When a company doesn't respond to customer concerns, they do the customer/hobby/community a disservice.

As a customer, I don't care how they accomplish the goal of producing a working product--that isn't my responsibility--and I can't tell them there is a problem with their product when they aren't listening.
 
Last edited:
I guess I'm not really sure of the production years of the Queen Robeson issues. But I like the stockman enough that I've ordered the reissue Robeson canoe and whittler. All in D2. I'm assuming they're from a few years ago since they have no boxes or anything but are as new. Have to see in a day or two when they arrive.

The other more recent models I've purchased just really didn't impress me too much.

And I agree about the edge on these things. Horrid.
 
Joe58 said:
I guess I'm not really sure of the production years of the Queen Robeson issues. But I like the stockman enough that I've ordered the reissue Robeson canoe and whittler. All in D2. I'm assuming they're from a few years ago since they have no boxes or anything but are as new. Have to see in a day or two when they arrive.

The other more recent models I've purchased just really didn't impress me too much.

And I agree about the edge on these things. Horrid.
Click to expand...

I have two of the Robeson barlows made by Queen and I really like them. The covers are beautiful and quality is pretty good on both.


1417308091_zpsa291642e.jpg
 
Is Queen City the same company? Are these the newer models coming out? I have my eyes on a Queen City razor trapper.... just wondering if they are part of the newer higher QC. .. they are 1095 and not the D2 I'm used to from Queen Cutlery.... along with the obtuse dull edges and very hit and miss F&F..... I love the design, but worry about getting a good one.
 
Queen, Queen City, and Shatt & Morgan are all Queen labels.

Queen is usually D2 or 420HC
Queen City are usually carbon steel.
Schatt & Morgan are usually 420HC or ATS34

Exceptions abound
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top