Traditional Safe Queens?

[mrknife]

Hey guys and gals, any one got a traditional thats so nice or so expensive that you keep it pristine and save as a fondle piece? I just started so i guess its my stag #48 :thumbup: but im sure some one heres got something way nicer and more expensive!

 

[NMpops]

Nope, all mine are users.

 

[knarfeng]

I have a magnificent Marbles, gifted to me by Kris (Mt Damascus), which stays in the gun safe.
All my others have been carried. For me, part of the exploration of a knife is how it does for me in usage.

 

[leghog]

I very rarely buy new knives so....

 

[Railsplitter]

Heck yeah. I've got more safe queens than users. Here's one of my favorites. A Case Budding & Grafting knife from the 1940-1964 era. Mint to near mint condition and it will stay that way as long as I'm the owner. Expensive is a broad term but it is a rather rare piece.

 

[avoidspam]

I have a magnificent Marbles, gifted to me by Kris (Mt Damascus), which stays in the gun safe.
All my others have been carried. For me, part of the exploration of a knife is how it does for me in usage.

Nice choice for a thread discussion though

Not to belittle your #48 (a pattern I happen to have a lot of time for) but I suspect a few felow forumites will have some pricier treasures squirreled away!

Expanding on Frank's point I try to use all my knives. That being said I have a few custom's that I'm, shall we say a little more careful with... Blade grind, construction, materials etc dictates that I'm going to be a little more gentle with them then perhaps I would with a #8 Opinel

Sam

 

[T. Erdelyi]

The only one I never carry, everybody else gets some pocket time, some more than others, some less but they all get a turn. Except this one and for no other reason than it's in mint condition. It's not particularly valuable, it's not particularly rare except that you hardly ever find them complete with accessories.

Here's a nice Colonial Forest Master complete with ballchain Magnifyin' Glass and Compass, ya rarely find these whole in one piece.

The scales are hard black plastic the blades are stainless, the stamping is

COLONIAL
PROV.USA

 

[quattromori]

No safe queens for me either, although some of my knives get carried quite rarely.
To me, it's not a matter of price. I would have safe queens if I owned knives that have a value from a collector's point of view.
Some members here collect old and rare knives that have to be kept pristine due to their historical value.
But I'm not a collector, and if I ever stumbled into one of those rare specimens, I would happily hand it to someone who's willing to preserve its value.
As Frank said, there's a pleasure in exploring knives, no matter how much they're worth.
Actually, using a high quality knife (custom or production) feels better than using a "lesser" knife.

Fausto

 

[Bastid]

I use quite a few knives made by Alsdorf to Case to both Boses to Ken Kerry to Rick to Richard to Mike Zscherny and quite a few in between

Have a few safe queens also . (more than a sane person should have.)

 

[Zuchus]

Wow, Bastid, that Don Hanson Damascus/mammoth ivory piece has got to be the most drool-worthy slipjoint I have ever seen!

 

[Chris Montgomery]

Gus,WOW!
Some of your knives I have picture saved to what I call my "covet file". I save knives to that file that I all but covet, yes I no that's a sin, but it's not quite covetousness. I hope.

I have one that's a safe queen to me. It rarely gets pocket time and then it's only to carry to show to someone interested in seeing it. It's a pre WW1 George Wostenholm IXL Senator shadow with stag. My eldest daughter ask if she could have it as an inheritance/heirloom.

I also have a couple that were gifted to me that get carried on special occasions. One gifted to me by Gary Crowder when he invited me to his shop for a day to watch and learn slip joint making.


The other gifted to me by Kris, MT Damascus. Doc Hagen Lanny's Clip with desert ironwood covers.


Chris

 

[Tdhurl1103]

Those are impressive collector pieces, very beautiful. I envy the owners restraint in not using those knives. However, I don't think I could ever buy something to never use it. I don't really "collect" anything with no end use purpose. I only got one life and I'll never be a millionaire, so why should I deprive myself the use of some of the finer things in life, if I can afford it?

I saw a post by fellow forumite Powernoodle regarding collecting safe queens. "Do you want your wife to give to her new husband a pristine, NIB collection of sprint runs and limited editions, or a tool box full of knives covered in drywall dust, squirrel blood and biscuit gravy?"

Put things in perspective for me in a big way.

 

[mrknife]

nice knives! im at the point in my collecting career where anything over $125 seems like a lot for a knife. I believe the most ive spent on some of my collection tops out about there actually. its amazing to see what money can buy. Of course I have issues with even using a new knife that Id buy used ones on ebay so that I wouldnt feel bad about wrecking the edge when it comes to sharpen. Exceptions are stuff like my opinel and other users. Itll be awhile before Id even consider putting one of the CSC HMTs I bought from 2dead in my pocket, or my GEC (soon to be GECs).

 

[hhmoore]

I've got some Case 'queens'...mainly because I received some as gifts, then bought some others - but they weren't styles or sizes I was fond of at the time. Of my current group of traditionals (I think I only have about 8), almost all are users. The exceptions are: 1 that the pull is stiffer than I like, 1 that I'm not sure I like enough to keep, and 1 very nice Northwoods Broadway Jack in black bone that I just haven't been able to bring myself to pocket. I'll probably make that my "gentlemen's knife".

 

[T. Erdelyi]

You're killing me Gus, just killin me...

 

[Chief]

Guilty ... I blame it on Gus for selling me a nice knife 16 years ago

 

[Bob W]

All of these Old Timers are "safe queens," but not because of the price paid. It's been 11 years since the last USA Old Timers were produced, many of these are much older than that, and Schrade won't be making any more.

Similarly, all of my Great Eastern knives are locked away. As are all of my Queen knives. And Case knives. And vintage knives. And custom hunters. And Buck knives. And Canal Street. And Boker, Bark River, Marbles, Blackjack...

I did pick out one Opinel to be a traditional user. And one Victorinox from the collection.

 

[Jack Black]

Excuse me while I pick my bottom jaw up off the floor Gus! :thumbup:

 

[555]

Some great looking knives posted above. :thumbup:
Whenever I see some of Gus's collection , I feel like I'm just starting a knife collection.

Like many, I didn't intend to or even think of owning safe queen knives when first becoming an owner of a pocket knife, but as a collection grows, there does become a limit to what you can use day to day and carry without feeling like you are losing your pants as you walk down the street.

IMHO: as we collect knives over decades of time, safe queens are just the unintended consequences of the hobby, as the number mount up. That new knife in the display case or in a catalog, when open that box you just received in the mail and it can still make you feel like you did when you got your first pocket knife. Priceless.

 

[needler420]

I don't own any. My only safe queens atm are spydercos.