New USA Queen?

[Sasquach]

Has anyone got info on this listing by SMKW? Made in USA (by who?) genuine stag (sambar stag?).

[1967redrider]

Sweet knife! Going with Bear & Son for the maker, not sure if SMKW posted that or it's a group consensus.

[dlr110]

I got the same answer you did Charlie when I contacted SMKW.
Think I will try Bear & Son and see what they say unless someone else has already called them.

[Sasquach]

I got the same answer you did Charlie when I contacted SMKW.
Think I will try Bear & Son and see what they say unless someone else has already called them.

No David, I haven't called Bear & Son yet. Actually I hadn't thought of that, not being sure that they are the maker. Give it a shot and let us know what they have to say. If they are the maker they might be a little miffed that SMKW refuses to give them credit. Hard to say with all of the "cloak and dagger" skullduggery going on. Oooo! I made a pun....knife maker cloak and dagger skullduggery. An appropriate descriptive I think.

[doglegg]

I got the same answer you did Charlie when I contacted SMKW.
Think I will try Bear & Son and see what they say unless someone else has already called them.

No David, I haven't called Bear & Son yet. Actually I hadn't thought of that, not being sure that they are the maker. Give it a shot and let us know what they have to say. If they are the maker they might be a little miffed that SMKW refuses to give them credit. Hard to say with all of the "cloak and dagger" skullduggery going on. Oooo! I made a pun....knife maker cloak and dagger skullduggery. An appropriate descriptive I think.

[dlr110]

I called the corporate office (256) 435-2227 and the customer service lady said she was sure that some of the Queen knives went to SMKW but couldn't tell me any more than that. She did give me the number for a sales rep (not at B&S HQ) and that he could provide more information. I don't think he will provide any further info but I'm waiting on his call back.

[dlr110]

Well folks I failed to produce any absolute proof. I did get a call back but not by the person I left a message with. I was nicely told that "due to contract agreements he could not provide that information." I tried to explain that serious collectors and those that write books that document knives and their history have a great need for that type of information. He didn't see it my way.

I called SMKW back and asked to speak to someone in management and was told of course everyone had already left for the day. A lady took my contact info and said Josh Hill would be the person to speak to. Now I'm waiting on a call or email from Josh Hill @ SMKW and I'm betting I will run into the same wall if he even contacts me. Never know until you try.

[Sasquach]

Well folks I failed to produce any absolute proof. I did get a call back but not by the person I left a message with. I was nicely told that "due to contract agreements he could not provide that information." I tried to explain that serious collectors and those that write books that document knives and their history have a great need for that type of information. He didn't see it my way.

I called SMKW back and asked to speak to someone in management and was told of course everyone had already left for the day. A lady took my contact info and said Josh Hill would be the person to speak to. Now I'm waiting on a call or email from Josh Hill @ SMKW and I'm betting I will run into the same wall if he even contacts me. Never know until you try.

Contract agreements? Really? What is being hidden? Why is it so important to hide it that contract agreements are required? Let's see, if one applies a little of Sherlock Holmes deductive reasoning we note that there is a contract gag agreement between SMKW and Bear & Son. Given that we can deduce that there are products made by B&S for SMKW about which information is being withheld. This increases the probability that the Queen USA knives are made by B&S. Not definitive though. Reminds me of a car dealer trying to sell you a car but refusing to tell you who built it. Obviously this is a deliberate attempt to muddy the waters. Even if the knives are well made with quality materials this places a stigma on them that many people, especially collectors, will avoid, it doesn't make sense. In the immortal words of Marcellus, "there is something rotten in Denmark".

[ea42]

There was mention from I believe one of the Pipes that it was a New York company who's making them. When Utica was brought up he said it wasn't them and couldn't say who it was because they didn't want the competition of of other cos. flocking to this maker to have knives done. Kind of weird for sure. Here's the thing though, there are only two manufacturers in NY still making knives on a level that could support this kind of business, Utica and Kabar. I think Kabar is out because they're not making trad. folders so that just leaves Utica, unless of course there's some black ops company who's been secretly collecting machinery and training newbie employees to suddenly have the skills to pump out quality pocket knives out of nowhere. Then of course that might all have been subterfuge and it really is Bear. It's all really a little ridiculous. They're still living with the old sleight of hand Parker mentality.

Eric

[Sharpnshinyknives]

I brought this up a month ago in this post: viewtopic.php?t=80084 .
After we kicked it around came to the same conclusions.

[Mumbleypeg]

Contract/maker/source secrecy has been going on in the cutlery world for as long as there have been cutleries. Only long after the fact, or through study of the knives’ characteristics have we been able to learn (or guess) who made what for who, and when. Most of that is unconfirmed by the principal parties involved.

So why obsess over it now? It’s either a quality knife or not. Before customs laws required COO markings we often didn’t even know where they were made, let alone by whom!

Ken

[Sasquach]

Contract/maker/source secrecy has been going on in the cutlery world for as long as there have been cutleries. Only long after the fact, or through study of the knives’ characteristics have we been able to learn (or guess) who made what for who, and when. Most of that is unconfirmed by the principal parties involved.

So why obsess over it now? It’s either a quality knife or not. Before customs laws required COO markings we often didn’t even know where they were made, let alone by whom!

Ken

Just because it's been going on for a long time doesn't make it acceptable. It is true that there are many knives that we didn't know the true origin of in the past but there have been people searching out that information ever since it started. That should be an indicator of how important we, knife buyers/collectors, consider that information. Yes, a well made knife is a good thing but a well made knife with a verifiable history is even better. IMHO.

[GSPTOPDOG]

Has anyone got info on this listing by SMKW? Made in USA (by who?) genuine stag (sambar stag?).

I ordered one, it arrived, very nice, I will post pictures of it after clearing out my memory card.

[OSCAR]

Well folks I failed to produce any absolute proof. I did get a call back but not by the person I left a message with. I was nicely told that "due to contract agreements he could not provide that information." I tried to explain that serious collectors and those that write books that document knives and their history have a great need for that type of information. He didn't see it my way.

I called SMKW back and asked to speak to someone in management and was told of course everyone had already left for the day. A lady took my contact info and said Josh Hill would be the person to speak to. Now I'm waiting on a call or email from Josh Hill @ SMKW and I'm betting I will run into the same wall if he even contacts me. Never know until you try.

David, I’m not surprised. In all probability they will not disclose that. Looking at them, I tend to think that it’s Bear and Son making them.
The patterns look very similar, especially the Barlow. There are way fewer American manufacturers these days. We can assume that it’s not the high end pricey ones like GEC.
I doubt that Case or Buck are currently making knives under other brand names. Process of elimination makes me think Bear.
Of course I could be wrong. I wouldn’t hold my breath to get a definitive answer from SMKW.
It’s also highly possible that the parts are from overseas and assembled in USA.
I’ll pass on buying any of these “made in USA Queens” as I have a pretty good number of Queens that were made by Queen before they closed up shop. I’ve never seen or handled one of these new ones. They could be as good or even better than a Queen, I can’t say.
What I do know for certain is that they use the name Queen, and that Queen didn’t make them, therefore they aren’t Queen.

[Sasquach]

Has anyone got info on this listing by SMKW? Made in USA (by who?) genuine stag (sambar stag?).

I ordered one, it arrived, very nice, I will post pictures of it after clearing out my memory card.

I've heard from others that they are well made with good fit and finish and just minor complaints like one person said the master blade was dull right out of the box. I'm interested in how yours measures up, which one did you order?

[Sasquach]

Well folks I failed to produce any absolute proof. I did get a call back but not by the person I left a message with. I was nicely told that "due to contract agreements he could not provide that information." I tried to explain that serious collectors and those that write books that document knives and their history have a great need for that type of information. He didn't see it my way.

I called SMKW back and asked to speak to someone in management and was told of course everyone had already left for the day. A lady took my contact info and said Josh Hill would be the person to speak to. Now I'm waiting on a call or email from Josh Hill @ SMKW and I'm betting I will run into the same wall if he even contacts me. Never know until you try.

David, I’m not surprised. In all probability they will not disclose that. Looking at them, I tend to think that it’s Bear and Son making them.
The patterns look very similar, especially the Barlow. There are way fewer American manufacturers these days. We can assume that it’s not the high end pricey ones like GEC.
I doubt that Case or Buck are currently making knives under other brand names. Process of elimination makes me think Bear.
Of course I could be wrong. I wouldn’t hold my breath to get a definitive answer from SMKW.
It’s also highly possible that the parts are from overseas and assembled in USA.
I’ll pass on buying any of these “made in USA Queens” as I have a pretty good number of Queens that were made by Queen before they closed up shop. I’ve never seen or handled one of these new ones. They could be as good or even better than a Queen, I can’t say.
What I do know for certain is that they use the name Queen, and that Queen didn’t make them, therefore they aren’t Queen.

Very nice line up of Queens! I agree that Bear & Son is the most likely source. If that's the case, erratic quality would be no surprise. I have B&S knives that I love and I have B&S knives that are junky. Kinda' hit and miss with them. Below is a pre-shutdown Queen that I like a lot.

[GSPTOPDOG]

Has anyone got info on this listing by SMKW? Made in USA (by who?) genuine stag (sambar stag?).

I ordered one, it arrived, very nice, I will post pictures of it after clearing out my memory card.

I've heard from others that they are well made with good fit and finish and just minor complaints like one person said the master blade was dull right out of the box. I'm interested in how yours measures up, which one did you order?

QUEEN CUTLERY AMERICAN-MADE JUMBO LINERLOCK TRAPPER FOLDING KNIFE (GENUINE STAG) ... I really like it. It is BIG! The stag is thick! the whole knife is really thick. I think I was hoping for some really cool stag scales... and I was disappointed the scales weren't like that, but they are real stag (sambar? I'm not sure maybe) and they are nice scales. So, I think I was having a little too high of hopes. It feels like a very solid knife, good snap. Good fit and finish. Is it a "real" Queen...? I'll say Oscar is right and it is NOT But, I like it, ...it IS marked USA on the blade... I am tired of the hassles with trying to get a GEC these days... and the jacked-up over-pricing on GEC reselling.

[OSCAR]

I ordered one, it arrived, very nice, I will post pictures of it after clearing out my memory card.

I've heard from others that they are well made with good fit and finish and just minor complaints like one person said the master blade was dull right out of the box. I'm interested in how yours measures up, which one did you order?

QUEEN CUTLERY AMERICAN-MADE JUMBO LINERLOCK TRAPPER FOLDING KNIFE (GENUINE STAG) ... I really like it. It is BIG! The stag is thick! the whole knife is really thick. I think I was hoping for some really cool stag scales... and I was disappointed the scales weren't like that, but they are real stag (sambar? I'm not sure maybe) and they are nice scales. So, I think I was having a little too high of hopes. It feels like a very solid knife, good snap. Good fit and finish. Is it a "real" Queen...? I'll say Oscar is right and it is NOT But, I like it, ...it IS marked USA on the blade... I am tired of the hassles with trying to get a GEC these days... and the jacked-up over-pricing on GEC reselling.

Dog,
Good quality is more important to me than the name. I guess I’m a bit aggravated by another company capitalizing on the name of a great knife. I agree totally about GEC. I have 2 that I bought before the prices became outrageous.
It may be considered heresy to say this here but…. Rough Rider Reserve knives are made way better than the overpriced GEC’s and others. The fit, finish, overall quality is excellent. Everyone I have has gator snap as well. A terrific value as well.

[Mumbleypeg]

I doubt that Case or Buck are currently making knives under other brand names.

Not directly applicable to this discussion but for purposes of accuracy, Case has recently made knives for Moore Maker. With Moore Maker stamp. https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... hp?t=71508. Last I looked you can buy them from the Moore Maker site. Look for patterns having “C” in the pattern number, like this one https://www.mooremaker.com/store/p265/% ... F2%22.html.

Ken

[Sasquach]

I ordered one, it arrived, very nice, I will post pictures of it after clearing out my memory card.

I've heard from others that they are well made with good fit and finish and just minor complaints like one person said the master blade was dull right out of the box. I'm interested in how yours measures up, which one did you order?

QUEEN CUTLERY AMERICAN-MADE JUMBO LINERLOCK TRAPPER FOLDING KNIFE (GENUINE STAG) ... I really like it. It is BIG! The stag is thick! the whole knife is really thick. I think I was hoping for some really cool stag scales... and I was disappointed the scales weren't like that, but they are real stag (sambar? I'm not sure maybe) and they are nice scales. So, I think I was having a little too high of hopes. It feels like a very solid knife, good snap. Good fit and finish. Is it a "real" Queen...? I'll say Oscar is right and it is NOT But, I like it, ...it IS marked USA on the blade... I am tired of the hassles with trying to get a GEC these days... and the jacked-up over-pricing on GEC reselling.

Thanks for the report GSP. The reviews so far have been pretty good.

[GSPTOPDOG]

I doubt that Case or Buck are currently making knives under other brand names.

Ken

Thanks Ken, as a matter of fact, I believe this Moore Maker (my EDC today) was made by Queen back in the olden times. ( somehow it ALL ties in together). I like Moore Maker because it is a "Texas" knife ( so to speak )...

[GSPTOPDOG]

Thanks for the report GSP. The reviews so far have been pretty good.

You are welcome Sasquach. For the money, one is getting a BIG knife. In my hand it is a handful... for you, it would look like a Mini Trapper in a "normal" person's hand...

[OSCAR]

I doubt that Case or Buck are currently making knives under other brand names.

Not directly applicable to this discussion but for purposes of accuracy, Case has recently made knives for Moore Maker. With Moore Maker stamp. https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... hp?t=71508. Last I looked you can buy them from the Moore Maker site. Look for patterns having “C” in the pattern number, like this one https://www.mooremaker.com/store/p265/% ... F2%22.html.
Ken

Thanks for the info Ken. I knew Moore Maker contracted to other companies but I didn’t know that Case was one of them.

[dlr110]

Last I looked you can buy them from the Moore Maker site. Look for patterns having “C” in the pattern number,

Just for curiosity Ken I have a double lockback MM with CS over USA. What would the CS mean?

[Sasquach]

Last I looked you can buy them from the Moore Maker site. Look for patterns having “C” in the pattern number,

Just for curiosity Ken I have a double lockback MM with CS over USA. What would the CS mean?

I'm not trying to speak for Ken but my guess would that the "CS" stands for carbon steel.