[Olympus]

I need some information on Queen Cutlery knives. I'm actually looking for a large stockman with a solid bright red acrylic handle. My dad used to only carry Queen knives and he had one just like the one I described and it was his favorite. He lost it when I was young and still talks about how much he liked that knife. It would mean a GREAT deal to me if someone knew the knife I was talking about and knew where I could find one. I've found a lot of bone handles and pearl, but this one was bright red and smooth. I think it was probably acrylic. I've also scoured eBay with no joy. Any information would be helpful. Thanks!

[Yo Mama]

Looks like they run around 60-80 bucks.

http://www.discountcutlery.net/en-us/dept_22509.html
http://www.google.com/products?hl=en&source=hp&q=knives+queen+stockman&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=Vym6St_fKIn8sQOtmpUr&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4

Many places have them in stock and are new. Couldn't find the red one you're looking for, may have to settle for bone?

Hope this helps.

[Olympus]

Yo Mama,

Thanks for the quick reply. I have checked out about every website that offers any kind of Queen product. I'm fairly certain that they don't make the bright red acrylic handles anymore. This was probably 10 or 15 years ago that my dad had this knife. I've kept my eye open at all the swap meets and gun shows for the last probably 5 years and have been unsuccessful. I know I could always get a different handle, but it wouldn't mean the same to him as if I had the exact one he lost. Price is really no option on this deal. I just thought I would post about this specific knife in hopes that someone would know someone who had one that might be willing to part with it or if they knew where one was located for sale. I know it's a really long shot, but at this point, it's the only option I haven't explored.

[7X57chilmau]

Closest I've been able to find so far is a orange G10 handled version here:

http://www.ironcityblades.com/storefrontprofiles/deluxeSFshop.aspx?sfid=128419&c=154634

J

[Olympus]

Getting closer. But it HAS to be a Queen knife. Those in the link look to be all Case. I found a knife on eBay that has the same type of handle as the one I'm talking about. It's the wrong color, but it's the same material. Here is what the handle material looks like. Just imagine that it is red instead of yellow. And imagine that the knife is a stockman instead of a single blade. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180410070985&_trkparms=tab%3DWatching

[auschip]

What about having a custom maker install the correct scales? That seems like it would be the easiest way to do it.

[Olympus]

Thought about that too. I don't want to do that for two reasons. One is that I would always know it wasn't the correct knife. Second is that Queen knives etch their blades with their logo and a model number. If the model number doesn't match the handle, then anyone else that knows about Queens could tell that it wasn't original.

That would be the fastest way to solve the problem, but I don't want to take the easy way out. I would probably go that route if I found the exact knife and the scales were all busted up or scratched though. I just can't seem to find it. I figure there's somebody with that exact knife sitting in a drawer or box somewhere in this country. I just need to find that person!

[auschip]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Queen-2-blade-stock-knife-3-15-16-closed-Red-handles_W0QQitemZ160363637606QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item25566aeb66&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Does this one match?

[Olympus]

Getting closer, but no. The scales were a brighter red and glossier. They're made from the exact material as the one in the link I posted that was yellow. Those were made during one specific time and they just used different colors.

And that one is a 2-blade trapper and I'm looking for a 3-blade stockman.

But seriously...thanks to everyone for being so eager to help! I genuinely appreciate it!

[hso]

Why don't you contact the folks at Queen and see if they can special build one since the model exists.

[Olympus]

That's a good thought. I think I'll shoot them an email this evening.

[SlamFire1]

To expand this thread, what have been other folks experience with Queen knives?

I say this to find out if my experience is typical. I purchased a big Queen folder. Fit and finish was good, but the blade is absolutely soft. Made from “Queen Steel”

I purchased the same style, but different handle material from Case. Guess what, soft blade steel. After examining the "Case" knife, there were so many similarities in shape, dimensions, and materials, I concluded that Case had subcontracted the production to Queen.

Then I purchased two Schatt and Morgan Knives. Made by Queen. The fit and finish are outstanding. But the blades are soft. I think they were listed as “Surgical Steel”. Won’t take a decent edge, and whatever edge is put on the knives does not last long. Very disappointed as I paid high dollar for these Schatt and Morgan knives

Have I just been unlucky?

[Olympus]

Queen Cutlery are considered by most to be one of the best American-made knives available. I do know that Queen has used a few different types of steel when making blades for their knives. You might want to go to the forum at All About Pocket Knives.com and read some of the posts there. You might even post your experience there and get some feedback. Here is the link to the forum: http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/knife_forum/ucp.php

[Olympus]

*Update*

I contacted Queen about having a custom knife made. They said that they do not take custom orders of less than 100 pieces. So, I need to find 99 guys that want a red Queen pocketknife! But on a serious note, they were able to identify the color. They said that the color is the "Painted Crown Red" series and was discontinued in 1998. So maybe that will help me better identify future possibilities. Again, thanks to everyone who has helped me with this! I've have gotten more information and possibilities than I originally started with.

[.45Guy]

Is this the same company as Queen City Cutlery? I have a similar knife, but it belonged to my great uncle that was killed in 1943...

[Olympus]

Yes, that is the same company. Some call it Queen Steel, Queen City Steel, or Queen Cutlery. All the same company.

[Olympus]

*Update*

Found the knife! But it looks like it's not for sale. It's on a site that I'm not familiar with. I'll post the link so that everyone can get an idea of what the knife exactly looks like.

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/queen-painted-crown-red-6-3-bld-cattle-king

[Madcap_Magician]

http://www.gpknives.com/item/queen-birdseye-maple-cattle-king-jumbo-stockman.html

If you can't find the exact one, I'd get this one. Queen's birdseye maple ones have D2 blades.

[Olympus]

It's my understanding that Queen's D2 blades are known to corrode and pit easily. From what I have heard others say, if you don't oil and wipe down the blades every couple weeks, the finish will start to corrode.

[7X57chilmau]

D2 is a high alloy tool steel, with a pretty high chromium content, but shy of stainless. It will rust and pit if left damp for extended periods, but has much lower propensity for doing this than do any of the more traditional non-stainless knife steels (1095, O1, 5160, CarbonV, etc....)

D2 does have an amazing ability to hold a decent edge, though it's somewhat harder to sharpen than the plain carbon steels. Not terribly so, though in my experience.

D2 is quickly becoming my preferred blade steel.

It doesn't rust nearly as easily as 1095, and will hold an edge much longer.

Regardless of whose knife it's in.

J

[Olympus]

I have a Case Copperlock that I've had for about two years now. Never wiped the blade a single time and it hasn't seen a drop of oil and it looks just as shiny as the day I bought it. Would you happen to know what kind of steel it might be? If so, that's the kind I need to stick with for every day carrying and use. I'm hard on every day knifes. I usually try to stick with cheap "throw away" knives because I tend to use them as screwdrivers and prying devices. But I got this copperlock a while back because I like the slimness and the lock option. It has really served me well.

[ArfinGreebly]

Sorry, I only know it as "Tru-Sharp" -- a trade name for their stainless -- which tells me precisely nothing.

Not that it really matters, but I would like to know what steel is its equivalent.

They hold up well, take a good edge, retain a good edge, and they're sharp out of the box.

Anybody have more insight into the actual formulation of of Case XX Tru-Sharp steel?

[The Highlander]

Apparently there is a lot of confusion surrounding this steel, with some people saying it's 420 steel while others say it is some kind of 440 steel (doesn't really say much) I'm pretty sure it's 420 HC.

There are definitely better stainless steels out there like VG-10 or S30V.

[berettashotgun]

It is very hard to beat D2 tool steel for a knife blade.
I have carried a Spyderco Endura ( 1-2-3-4) AUS-8, VG-10, ZDP-189. Had to start carrying the VG-10 when I wore a Tyvek suit 8hrs a day. EVERY other blade steel I had in use at he time would corrode except the VG-10. Did not have the ZDP then.
D2 tool steel is what the shear blades on most metal shears are made from.Big shears, in the aerospace world I play in.
The Queen abalone line is very nice, gave my brother one for a gift this year, along with my father-in-law.
I'm brownnosin'.

[chibiker]

http://cgi.ebay.com/QUEEN-CUT-CO-1976-WHITTLER-SLICK-RED-DERLIN-HANDLE_W0QQitemZ370249289491QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item563493cf13

Close, yeah? Good luck in your search. I went through the same thing, spent what seemed like years trying to find a pocket knife exactly like one my Grandfather had. Problem is I don't know the make but know what it looks like exactly. Can't tell you how many times I have been traveling and stopped into some flea market/antique store/pawn shop..etc.,etc. looking specifically for that knife. Maybe some day......

[bobbytm]

I got on Christmas a Bulldog mountain man made by QUEEN Cutlery
i bought with Mike ..http://www.collectorknives.net/queen-knives.html
he shipped to me in Brazil.

i love the knife !

[Don Gwinn]

You can't have everything. If you want a stainless steel that can be sold cheap, chances are it'll resist corrosion very well and be tough enough for the average user, but disappoint a knife afficionado.

If you want very tough, hard, high-carbon steel, it's going to perform but require more care, and in today's markets will cost a little more than the stainless. It will pit and corrode because that's how iron reacts to oxygen. It's not anything unusual at all, but the normal state of things.

If you want a steel that can perform almost as well as well-treated carbon, but require almost as little maintenance as stainless, well, they exist, but they're expensive and they are compromises between the two. You can get them for the price of paying the extra and accepting the compromise.

As far as I know, they haven't discovered the steel that is all things to all people yet, though there are about 100 false alarms per year, mostly from manufacturers and advertising houses. :)

Bobby, that's a beautiful knife! I'm getting to the point where, although I like to carry knives with holes, a lovely nail nick makes me want to take a closer look.