Trestle Pine Topper (gunstock in S30V with cap lifter)

[thefrank]

NJBillK @supratentorial

Sorry for the delay! The weather was great today and the family kept me really busy. But there are some more pictures. You can see the very fine gap next to the spring. It's something that my GEC made knives don't have but it's not that big of a deal for me. It's a lot better than any Queen or S&M that I have ever handled. The thing that bothers me most so far is the edge but luckily that can be fixed with a little bit of time and effort (although I don't understand why a knife that is clearly meant to be used cannot come with a decent factory edge).

I put the 15 there for size reference. The Topper is a little less than 1/2 inch longer over all.

 

[thefrank]

I've got one of these too, my initial impression is posted in reviews and testing. What you are seeing in that pic, if I'm right, is a gap under the very high sitting caplifter. Mine is the same. It is surprisingly still comfortable in hand despite how high it sits. I don't know why they couldn't make it sit low in the handle like my GEC beer scout?

Sorry! I checked the traditional subforum and couldn't find anything about the Topper, I forgot to check the review section. But I fully agree with your review! It would be nice to have the cap lifter sit a bit lower. But if would increase the costs significantly I would rather choose it the way it is.

I have the Portage and I will say the fit and finish is very good. Like the 154cm. That is about the only line I would ever think about owning from queen.

I would rank this knife and TP Superior over the Portage I have in terms of fit and finish. The Topper really feels like a tank! I have been told that Queen Cutlery is improving their QC lately but I would also be very hesitant to buy anything else they made. I have tried a couple of Queen and S&M over the past few years and I was not impressed by any of them.

I like how Greg has thought outside the box on these with brass bolsters, choice of steels, and the various wood covers. The Superior is my favorite so far, but I blew it not grabbing one of the blue burl woods when I could have. I like the gunstock style of the Topper, but would never use a bottle opener.

Greg is someone who has been using knives from different brands extensively for decades and he is combining the features he likes or that he was missing in other knives trying to create the perfect EDC knife. Of course everyone's needs are a little bit different but this is getting pretty close to perfect for me. The bottle opener is not so much for actually opening bottles but it's great to have something else at hand for all the small tasks that involve a bit of prying or scratching and that might just ruin your blade.

 

[Pomsbz]

Very interesting. That blade looks like it could baton concrete! Would have been even more interesting with a pen blade instead of the cap lifter IMO. Opening bottles doesn't really require that much dedicated space which could be used for other purposes. A single blade version might also have been interesting. Oh and what's with the brass? They upped the steel game hugely just to introduce patina all over again with the bolsters?

 

[supratentorial]

NJBillK @supratentorial

Sorry for the delay! The weather was great today and the family kept me really busy. But there are some more pictures. You can see the very fine gap next to the spring. It's something that my GEC made knives don't have but it's not that big of a deal for me. It's a lot better than any Queen or S&M that I have ever handled. The thing that bothers me most so far is the edge but luckily that can be fixed with a little bit of time and effort (although I don't understand why a knife that is clearly meant to be used cannot come with a decent factory edge).

I put the 15 there for size reference. The Topper is a little less than 1/2 inch longer over all.

Thank you for the additional photos

 

[thefrank]

Very interesting. That blade looks like it could baton concrete! Would have been even more interesting with a pen blade instead of the cap lifter IMO. Opening bottles doesn't really require that much dedicated space which could be used for other purposes. A single blade version might also have been interesting. Oh and what's with the brass? They upped the steel game hugely just to introduce patina all over again with the bolsters?

The blade is a real tank! Feels more like the blades on the Northwoods knives. From years of carrying SAKs I came to the conclusion that the cap lifter is more useful than a small pen blade for the kind of tasks that may cause the tip of your blade to break off.
The bolsters seem to be a question of taste. If it was up to me I would have opted for stainless steel bolsters (which may have increased the price too much). When they are brand new and shiny nickel silver bolsters do look nicer but they scratch so easily unless you baby the knife and carry it in a pouch all the time. The brass already looks better now after a couple of days than when it arrived. I think it goes well with that old oak wood.

 

[supratentorial]

Would have been even more interesting with a pen blade instead of the cap lifter IMO.

Queen has made a gunstock jack with pen blade for many years. I had one with 1095 steel and just recently saw one with 154cm steel. They may have used other steels as well. I don't know if they've used S30V.

The cap lifter is unique to this run. Never seen a cap lifter on a gunstock...that I recall. The burl woods and copper bolsters are also different than the rest of Queen's knives.

 

[NJBillK]

T thefrank
Thanks for the pics. Especially the in hand and the comparison. I didn't think to ask about them.
Glad you had the foresight.

Thanks again.

 

[Doppler Bob]

I like how Greg has thought outside the box on these with brass bolsters, choice of steels, and the various wood covers. The Superior is my favorite so far, but I blew it not grabbing one of the blue burl woods when I could have. I like the gunstock style of the Topper, but would never use a bottle opener.

Funny, I sorta started a caplifter collection so I got one in quilted sapele. I like openers but this one is not as user friendly as Case and GEC.