Off Topic Winchester Black Box Steel

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kvaughn

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I recently acquired a black box Winchester Hawbaker Muskrat for EDC. I know these were made by Queen. The enclosed paperwork indicated a high carbon steel. Does anyone know what specific steel was used in these? Thanx for the help.--KV
 
In my experience (1 knife) it is heat treated exceptionally well too. It feels to be about as hard as GEC blades, noticeably harder than Case's CV and much harder than their Tru-Sharp Stainless.

Winchester BB make excellent users.
 
It takes a very decent edge, I like these knives a lot and very much regret missing a Swell Centre Whittler as a back up on the Exchange. The seller seemed convinced they were D2 blades though...Some Queens are more equal than others!
 
A lot of people think they're D2 because Queen made them. They definitely patina like 1095...
 
They certainly don't sharpen like Case's CV. I really like the blade combination and F&F. The long sheepfoot is very "Wharncliffeish".--KV
 
I agree with Macchina. I've had about 4 or 5 of these, and they have all been quite hard, probably 60 HRc +.

This bullhead pattern had blades that were harder to sharpen than Queen's D2.
1c1d6129-2b21-4b97-9dc7-29982a14567b_zpssqhxzlpf.jpg~original


This swell center pen was about like GEC's 1095, or a little harder.
4210329b-75c4-4062-a9ad-c6bd6ebc6b02_zpsvjnfekb6.jpg~original
 
I just got a #2921, coffin jack. It got wicked sharp, but to get it that way, I had to bear down on my loaded strop as the final step. I sure do like the knife, met all my expectations.
 
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I use a Swell Centre Pen, like Jeff showed, as an EDC and it certainly develops a good dark patina. The steel does seem tougher than most other carbons and I've been pleased with the cutting power.

Well, it's not just the steel that's good on these...this Rogers Bone on the Stockman is none too ugly either!

IMG_4366.jpg
 
Rogers in this time period went to making a lot of delrin scales. Are the Winchester black boxes bone or delrin?
 
It is said that the Rogers Bone was sourced from old material that was decades old when Queen started the run in 1987. Whether this IS true or not don't know but the stuff impresses me and delrin it is not.
 
Will Power said:
It is said that the Rogers Bone was sourced from old material that was decades old when Queen started the run in 1987. Whether this IS true or not don't know but the stuff impresses me and delrin it is not.
Click to expand...

I heard the same story (with minor variation) from the horse's mouth!! It's true for a few years at the beginning!
kvaughn said:
My BB Hawbaker Muskrat is black jigged Delrin.--KV
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What year is your knife, kvaughn??
 
black mamba said:
I agree with Macchina. I've had about 4 or 5 of these, and they have all been quite hard, probably 60 HRc +.

This bullhead pattern had blades that were harder to sharpen than Queen's D2.
1c1d6129-2b21-4b97-9dc7-29982a14567b_zpssqhxzlpf.jpg~original


This swell center pen was about like GEC's 1095, or a little harder.
4210329b-75c4-4062-a9ad-c6bd6ebc6b02_zpsvjnfekb6.jpg~original
Click to expand...
Black Mamba... I bought my coffin jack on your recommendation from another thread I had started on what was the best (hardest) vintage carbon steel brands. The '80's were later than I wanted to go, but thanks for the idea. From what I learned, and my limited experience with my coffin jack, your recommendation was spot on. Thanks!
 
Hmmm... There's a delrin 29010 muskrat on the 2017 Bluegrass website: http://www.bluegrasscutlery.com/W2029010.html According to the internet archive, that page has been up since at least 2015

Looking at dealer sites, the box does happen to be black but they are not what forum folks typically call "black box Winchesters".

One dealer calls it the "workman series"...

s-l1600.jpg
 
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That's what I suspected. I don't thing any of the original 1987-'92 B.B. Winchesters were covered in delrin.
 
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