Whittlers: Queen vs Northwoods?

Planterz

Planterz

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For some reason, in my search for the perfect stockman (perfect, in my eye, having a pen instead of a spay blade), I've been ignoring an obvious option, the whittler. Many whittlers have a large clip blade and a pen and coping blade on the opposite end. The arrangement is different than the stockman, but the result is the same. Even better, the Queen whittler is available in their excellent D2 steel and is readily available, unlike stockmans with pen blades in high quality steel.

The Queen is the obvious option. I dig the amber bonestag. Looks like it's easily findable for around $80. I don't care much for the huge logo across the blade though.

The other option that I've found is the Northwoods, also in D2, and available in italian jigged redbone that I like as well. As far as I can tell, the Northwoods is the same knife as the Queen. The most obvious difference is the price. The Northwoods is about $30 more.

Anyway, here's my question (finally). Is there any reason to assume that the Northwoods will be any better than the Queen? Higher QC and tighter F&F? Sharper out of box?

Price isn't an issue, but that doesn't mean I'll throw away $30 if it doesn't get me a better knife. And for $30 price difference, I'll deal with the huge logo on the blade.

That brings me to another question. Can the logo on Queen's blades be polished off like the GECs?

Thanks.
 
They are both made by Queen, why pay more?? Unless you really like the handle material. The blade etch can be polished off or it will just wear off with regular use in a short time.

Dave
 
I have a Northwoods large stockman in stag & D2. Aside from the tang stamp, shield, scales and blade etch (none on the Northwoods), it's identical to a Queen #49 Cattle King. Same polish on the blades & bolsters, identical shape/pattern to the blades (including Queen's unique 'belly' near the tip of the clip blade), same exact size/shape/pattern to the handles. Both knives even show an identical bend/crink in both the clip and the sheepsfoot blades. For all intents and purposes, they're identical, aside from the 'dress' noted above.
 
i just got a queen whittler and i love it. it was sharp out of the box(not super sharp but it was decent), everything was tight and the blades didn't rub. i think the whittler is superior to the stockman due to the blade configurations(centered main blade, sheepsfoot doesn't dig in your hand).
 
northwoods & queen are close with one exception--the stag moose gladiator built by gec in 60v which outs everything in the queen & northwoods inventory. of course the knife costs a lot more & is now sold out.--dennis
 
matt1987 said:
i just got a queen whittler and i love it. it was sharp out of the box(not super sharp but it was decent), everything was tight and the blades didn't rub. i think the whittler is superior to the stockman due to the blade configurations(centered main blade, sheepsfoot doesn't dig in your hand).
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I'm contemplating filing down the kick on the sheepsfoot of my Cattle King stockman. It's kick is very tall, making the sheepsfoot ride very high. Lots of leeway for bringing the spine down almost 1/8" or so, so it's nail nick is just above the spine of the spey blade, and that'll also bring the sheepsfoot's spine more-or-less flush with the spine of the clip blade (or, so I hope).
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
I have a Northwoods large stockman in stag & D2. Aside from the tang stamp, shield, scales and blade etch (none on the Northwoods), it's identical to a Queen #49 Cattle King. Same polish on the blades & bolsters, identical shape/pattern to the blades (including Queen's unique 'belly' near the tip of the clip blade), same exact size/shape/pattern to the handles. Both knives even show an identical bend/crink in both the clip and the sheepsfoot blades. For all intents and purposes, they're identical, aside from the 'dress' noted above.
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I think that answers my questions.

knowtracks said:
The blade etch can be polished off or it will just wear off with regular use in a short time.
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And that answers my other one. Thanks guys. Looks like a Queen Whittler is in my future.
 
The jigging on the Nothwoods is beautiful, it has to be seen to be fully appreciated.

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That is pretty. Maybe if I like the Queen enough I'll get one of those too.
 
Whittlers: Queen vs Northwoods?
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I have several Queen knives. I have several GEC's.

For me, I'm not certain I can tell any difference between them in the level of F&F.
But my Queens all open with just the right spring strength and the GECs are all open harder than I prefer.

I dunno. I'm thinking you'd actually be happy with either.
 
Dave used to have some very nice handle materials.

You guys are right about them being the same as Queen. We are changing that going forward with some unique designs as well as better grinds and steels. :)
 
okbohn said:
Dave used to have some very nice handle materials.

You guys are right about them being the same as Queen. We are changing that going forward with some unique designs as well as better grinds and steels. :)
Click to expand...

I can't wait to see what's coming next. In the meantime, I have to force myself not to pull the trigger on a Northwoods stag medium stockman or small congress every time I poke around KSF. I will some day, but I've spent too much in the past couple months already.
 
Well, I got my Queen ACBS whittler today, and sadly there's a rather big problem with it. The master blade is a touch crooked, as you can see in this picture.

ACSB1.jpg


When closing the master blade, it rubs slightly against the pen blade. A slightly askew blade usually wouldn't bother me much, but unfortunately in this case, it creates a major issue. When the pen blade is opened, the master blade shifts over enough that it obstructs the closing of the pen blade.

ACSB2.jpg


Damn shame, because otherwise it's a gorgeous knife. An email is being sent to the vendor, and I trust it'll be resolved without issue.
 
The good news is that I am sure your vendor will swap it out. The other good news is that if you really like the knife otherwise, you can send it back to Queen and they will adjust it for you. (that is all it needs)

I have tried adjusting them myself and had NO luck whatsoever, btw. :)
 
On closer inspection, the blade doesn't seem to be ground evenly - not just bent. Almost like it was made for a stockman or something that required krinking and catchbits.

ACSB3.jpg


EDIT: While posting this, the vendor I got this knife from replied to my email with the course of action to take (send to Queen for replacement, and credit for shipping cost). Excellent.:thumbup:
 
I got a Queen from another vendor that has a blade that is slightly askew, but it is a single bladed minihunter, linerlock. I decided to live with it. I have a number of Queens, and the fit and finish is generally very good.
I should mention that I got a Northwoods Gunstock in jigged bone from KSF a short time ago. The fit and finish is perfect on that knife. The slabs are pretty symmetrical, and the main blade is perfectly centered. The smaller blade is not perfect in terms of centering, but pretty close. All in all, a really nice knife for the price. There is no slop in any of the blades and opening and closing is just about right on from my perspective. While it is hard to compare the fit and finish of the Queens with the single Northwood model that I have, I must say that I am most impressed with the Northwoods. I have had to return a couple of Queen made knives to Queen for fixing blade play or a finish problem on a S&M.
 
I've a number of Queen knives both in carbon and D 2. When they are good, they are fantastic. But, they seem quite prepared to let rubbish workmanship out of their factory as well, I regret to say. Plentiful gaps, high riding springs on open and damaged blades, wobble etc. That knife's blade certainly looks warped or crinked as you say for Stockman frames. Looking over an inexpensive carbon Böker from Germany, this and 2 other Whittlers of theirs have no gaps, blades catching, wobble or ANY issues at all. Yes, I know, every knife manufacturer does slip up, none are immune, but Queen seems to be a persistent offender on the QC level lately.

I hope your knife is replaced and all will be well, as they CAN make admirable knives.
 
willgoy - I have a Boker (Henckel shielded) MOP whittler. The FF is amazing. I hope I am not let down with Queen. You can pick up a carbon Boker whittler for under 50 bucks...

That being said, I picked up 2 Queens at once. The same knife. With the intent to have two well made knives, one for use and one to not feel bad about the user (I have never done this - first time)...or to try to up my odds in the FF lotto.

Hopefully I get two well made keepers, or at least one.
 
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