Want a Canoe next, but Case or Queen? And do the Queens have one spring or two?

B

Breck

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Jun 17, 2011
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I'm gasping for a Canoe pattern knife these days, but having a tough time deciding between hunting down a Case CV version from my birth year on eBay, or picking up a new Queen iteration of the pattern.

I much prefer the Queen blade shapes, with the pointier point of the main blade and the more pen-like shape of the pen blade. D2 doesn't put me off, nor does Queen's notoriety for dullness out of the box - this'll be a user, and I'll likely reprofile no matter which knife I go for. Does anyone know if the current production Queen Canoes are single spring or double spring? The canoe is attractive because of how easy and comfortable it is in the pocket, and a two-spring construction works against that.

A case from 1973 would definitely be single-spring, and I like the blade etching, and Case is Case, so that's always attractive. Not sure if it's enough to push me over my preference for the Queen's blade shape, but OTOH, I'm not sure if my preference for Queen's blade shape would be enough to overcome my aversion to two-spring construction, if that's how they make 'em.

Curious to hear pros, cons, suggestions of other brands and/or patterns.
 
I have several Queen canoes and they are all single spring. They are carbon steel models and one gets carried as my hiking knife. It rides easy in the pocket and takes a wicked edge. I like it a lot and although it it has seen a lot of tough miles has aged well.

Will
 
I have a recent Queen canoe in D2, and it is probably my favorite traditional. Yes, the blades were about as sharp as the side of an apple when I got it, but, as it seems with you, reprofiling is almost a forgone conclusion with me. The edge holding is somewhere around miraculous, and even though I hear that D2 prefers a toothy edge, I sharpen a very acute, hight polished and refined edge, and it cuts anything I ask with ease, even wet, dirty rope. I can't speak to the Case, but I know you will not be disappointed making a user out of a Queen. Oh, and single spring.
 
Juat for giggles, here are some Case and Queen canoe comparison shots I did a while back.

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The blades are much thicker on the Queen, and it is thicker overall in spite of being a single spring compared to the Case 2 spring.
 
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Wow! Those Queen blades are "robust".

That puppy is built like a brick telephone booth.
 
Mr. Yablonowitz, I'm liking the looks of both knives...but can you tell us about any noticeable weight difference between the two ? Looks like the Case would carry a little lighter if that was an issue for someone...
 
What year is that Queen? Mine is much thinner, more like the Case.

Quick pics next to the Case/Bose Swayback:

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The smaller blade is thinner than either on the swayback:

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I've got a Queen Canoe with White Carved Stagbone, the type before the current Amber Bone. This is a D2 knife.

PROS: Good finish on this one, no gaps or much play really. Scales well radiused and fitted, they match too! Main Spear blade is thick, stout and up to heavier work. Pen blade is nice and thin and capable of intricate work, a good contrast between the two blades.

CONS: Despite being single-spring this is in fact a heavy knife in terms of weight with a thick backspring, this could be a disappointment for some. The Pen blade has to be 'helped' back in place, not due to lack of snap (it's got very good W&T this knife) but it can hit the Master blade thus refusing to close. So you have to aim it, I've seen this on Böker Canoes that are single spring.

I feel the CASE from your birth year might shade it, but the Queen is a rugged heavier knife if that's what you're after.

Regards, Will
 
sitflyer said:
Mr. Yablonowitz, I'm liking the looks of both knives...but can you tell us about any noticeable weight difference between the two ? Looks like the Case would carry a little lighter if that was an issue for someone...
Click to expand...

I had to break out the postal scale to check, the Case is actuallya few grams heavier in spite of the Queen's greater bulk, 77 grams for the Case and 73 grams for the Queen.

kreole said:
What year is that Queen? Mine is much thinner, more like the Case.
Click to expand...

The tang stamp says 1973 to 1975, so they probably don't make them like that anymore. My point was simply that single spring doesn't always equal a thinner knife.
 
Cool, thanks for the shots and the info, everybody. The Boker looks great, too, even if the blade shape doesn't agree with me. Gorgeous stag, though. I've seen that KSF (no affiliation) has some current production Winterbottom Queen canoes with 1095 steel for less than the D2/ACSB, which is yet another choice to consider.
 
If you want stag, no Queen or Case, but an unbelieveable nice knife... Carl Schlieper "Eye Brand", Solingen

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Just to think about adding maybe a second though.

Kind regards
Andi
 
Queen in D2

The main spear blade is robust and thck
The pan is thin and lazer like
No blade rub

totally recommend this knife

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Queen's D2 blades are thicker than their carbon blades
I have a Cozy Glen Queen City in carbon and it is much thinner than the D2 blades
And I have seen this also in their Gunstock

There is the Queen Workhorse Canoe at Mike's
Great price
Year: 2011 Condition: Mint
Misc: Made for work
Handle: Winterbottom Composite
Steel: 1095 Carbon Size: 3 5/8"
ID: QNMLWH64
 
Yep Neeman, I have several of those Queen City 1095s. This one has literally hundreds and hundreds of hot, sweatfilled miles in the mountains on it, some real pocket wear... holds only a scant resemblance to those beautiful and pristine D-2s of yours. Course after years of trail maintenance, fire starting, fish cleaning, etc I suppose we both look like we've covered some miles.

Bottom line is the canoe is a great, great pattern. It has a couple drawbacks that keep it from being my every day knife but it is a wonderful and useful pattern.

queen_can_01.jpg

queen_can_02.jpg

Will
 
I picked up this Canoe back in 1977 or so and have always liked the radical shape.

canoepics.jpg
 
Well this thread has done it to me :D...I just HAD to have a Canoe in CV...
Here it is and I must say...This one was love at first slice ;)
F & F are awsome...nice thin blades...and soooo comfy in pocket...
I'm hooked ...

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That is not what I needed to hear, as I have had my eye on that very amber bone canoe! Dangerous for me, but hearty congratulations to you!

If you don't mind me asking, what is the thickness of your Case amber Canoe?
 
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Doug, it's 7/16 in the middle, and 3/8 at the bolsters. For me it literally disappears in pocket.
 
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