Wonder how Queen will be with new owners...

PocketKnifeJimmy

PocketKnifeJimmy

Joined
Aug 4, 2013
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When Ken Daniels left GEC and soon after purchased Queen, I wondered how the company would change. I only have two Queens... one copperhead that I believe was made prior to Daniels purchase of Queen, and a Queen Classics/Franks Classics limitd First Run Doctor's knife made after the Daniels Purchase. They are both on my list as a couple of my favorite knives I own... nicely done. The one thing I noticed about the Doc knife... it has a pinned in shield... which maybe is an improvement that Daniels will add cross the board and do away with glued shields. With Daniels seeing what has made GEC a big success, I am sure he'll add what is needed to bring Queen to a stonger level. I am hoping, since I would like to at some point add more queens to my modest growing collection. I got a soft spot for Queen... I think because of their being an older company, they making knives the old school way, and their cool name :-)
 
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This is the Doc knife model I purchased, it being made after the Daniels family purchased Queen. The steel on my previous Queen purchase is D2... where as this model has 440c stainless, probably most appropriate for a Doc knife ;-) In my limited experience, both the pre Daniels knife and post are well made... but do like the fact that the Doc knife has a pinned shield.
 
The one Queen I have, the Mountain man lockback is a real beauty in my opinion. The edge was like a butterknife and it took a lot of trial and error to get it sharp. If Queen cutlery could correct that, if the edges would be sharp to start with, I would be more than happy to get a few more of their products.
 
Yeah... I think that would be a smart move on their part, especially since it's pretty well known that many have issues with Queen's thick cutting edge.
 
I have spoken to Ken on many occasions and I believe they will step up their quality. It is already up and it is moving in the right direction.
 
Good to hear, thanks for sharing. Also, thank you for sending out my Tidioute #12 Toothpick so quickly, and for making me happy with a nicely made specimen. I will definitely be considering more purchases from your business... and recommend your services to others :-)
 
One thing's for sure: the company has a rich heritage of patterns, genuine authenticity. If they can afford to carefully invest in newer machinery and QC their future will be bright. Some of my favourite knives are Queen C made.
 
I got one of their current made knives some time ago. I was quiete curious which maker this knife. Well - I was asking here in Trad Section for getting more information http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1071083-Who-made-this-knife-Tuna-Valley

All in all: The knife is well made. Some of their knives in the past seemed to have some issues in QC. But the Tuna Valley I got off the bay is quiete a great knife. Though there are some gaps at the scales and liners, but I´m not that picky in that way. What a great piece of cutlery. (I actually thought it was made by GEC in relationship to the quality)
 
Some of the first MODERN Tuna Valley were made by GEC. Then Ken Daniels bought the Tuna Valley Brand and some were made by GEC. Then the Daniels were having Tuna Valley made at Queen Cutlery. Then the Daniels purchased Queen Cutlery. A simplified timeline overview.
 
Thanks Bob, another fact I didn´t know (or at least didn´t understand - not being an english original spoken man)
 
I am interested to see what Ryan does. I traded for most of my GEC's with Ryan at the Chesapeake and Mason Dixon knife shows. He is good people, and is very enthusiastic about the new company. I only met his wife once, but she knows her knife business! They didn't do this for the heck of it, they are in for the long haul. I prefer GEC, but I want to see someone that can hold their own with them.
 
Are Queen's new production models reaching dealers yet? I want to try one of the Daniels-era knives...
 
I only have two knives made by Queen. One is a #51T Mini Trapper with beautiful bird's eye maple covers and excellent D2 steel. The fit & finish is spectacular--no gaps, everything flush and smooth. Then the coin shield fell out. It seemed as though Queen went through all the trouble of making such a fine knife only to skimp on a small finishing detail at the very end (a tiny flaw that only stood out due to the perfection of the rest, I suppose.) Not a huge deal (I simply super-glued it back into place) but it was a bit disappointing. Still love the knife though... one of my absolute favourites.

My second Queen made knife is a Schatt & Morgan Keystone XX series Medium Coke Bottle in mahogany Sambor stag #061 222. Horrible fit & finish, bent blade that rubs against the liners, blurry tang stamp, and they didn't bother to mount the shield flush in the scales. I know I'm not the only one to receive this particular model with these exact same issues, but I'm not going to bother sending it in. The knife functions, I suppose, but I have no pride in carrying it. Disappointing!

It sounds like Queen is upping their game. I'll buy more from 'em and we'll see...

-Brett
 
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timberweasel said:
My second Queen made knife is a Schatt & Morgan Keystone XX series Medium Coke Bottle in mahogany Sambor stag #061 222.
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I really wanted to get one of these before I saw all the problems ppl are having with the f&f on these. Now ill thankfully pass and spend my $$ elsewhere. BUT - I thought these were made/released in 2013 under new ownership? I must be wrong?
 
joeymoey said:
I really wanted to get one of these before I saw all the problems ppl are having with the f&f on these. Now ill thankfully pass and spend my $$ elsewhere. BUT - I thought these were made/released in 2013 under new ownership? I must be wrong?
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My knife certainly has "2013" etched on the blade, but I'm not certain when the new ownership took place. There's also a lot of contradictory info about this knife floating around on the internet... even down to what blade steel is used... but I digress. You are wise to pass on this particular offering. Let's hope some of Great Eastern's excellent QC standards makes it's way to Queen's future line-up!

-Brett
 
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