New to Queen collecting, need help

[mickeyevans]

I just got two Queen knives
3 5/8 inch Q78, but the book says only Q 76 tang stamp and it says white bone handle is probably real bone but it looks synthetic.
second knife is Queen steel etched blade with lazy Q tang stamp which book says should be synthetic winter boon but this handle looks more like real bone than the Q78/76?
Book says the more white black is probably synthetic and the more brown / tan is probably real bone?
I am confused, I don't believe the book
Maybe these photos will show why I think the #43 is bone and the 78/76 is synthetic
Mickey

[mickeyevans]

I just saw the Queen Tang stamp chart that shows a Q78 , so one question is answered

[jerryd6818]

Mickey -- Get yourself a good magnifying glass (strength depends on your age and how good your eyes are). If under magnification you see blood pores, it's bone. If not, it's most likely synthetic.

[reddirtknives]

Hey Mickey, I'm leaning towards both knives being artificial Winterbottom but that stuff without magnification has fooled me before... Curious, What book are you using for information? Because, I've never seen a book on Queen knives that reads like that. Thanks.

[knifetime]

I have a book that says the same thing about the Q76 only, but it was a misprint. I have saw the Q·· up to Q78 . There is 2 colors of synthetic whintterbotom light and dark. The darker is older . I can't tell for sure but they look like synthetic to me. Hear is what the old Winterbottom bone looks like. Great knives.
BTW- guide to collector knives by Stewart&Richie is the one I have that says that about the year Mark.

[mickeyevans]

I have the big book of pocket knives, 4th edition by Stewart, Ritchie just passed away.
I also have 15th edition of collector knives by Price and Zalesky
Sargent's American Premium Guide to Pocket Knives & Razors: Including Sheath Knives : Identifications and Values 3d edition is on the way
most of my info comes from those first 2 books and the internet
I have enough knives to play with and learn for now, I will be posting photos and asking questions
I have a eclectic collection and my favorite is the one I have in my hand now, except I have a few that are cheap or in terrible condition
now I have to learn to find them in 'junk draw or barn fresh' condition, not rely on Ebay so much
any suggestions on how I am trying to 'fit' in here and how to do what I want and where to post and learn will be helpful, thanks to all
Mickey

[knifetime]

Mickey you are going to fit right in. You have a great start with 2 of my favorite knives in the Queens you have posted.
Git yourself a copy of Blades guied to knives it is one of the best books that I have read on the subject.
Both are great books.Glad to have you aboard.
Hear is a 1920s S&M in the early winterbottom that I just got.

[mickeyevans]

thanks knifetime, great knife, I am going to keep posting and showing what I have been adding to my collection,
think I should just add to this post called mystery knive?
mickey

[mickeyevans]

here is my 2d mystery knife
no tang marks
this one is not stainless, and shinny like the first one
has some patina, I try to be gentle in cleaning
the last photo shows that the bolster cleaned up nice with some 2000 grade black sand paper, the next to last shows the back of the knife cleaned up with that very fine sand or emery paper
like I said, I like cleaning up these old dirty knives I get
mickey

[jerryd6818]

Mickey -- You may want to invest in a jar of Mother's Mag & Aluminum Polish or maybe some Flitz or Brasso. Those nickel silver bolsters shine right up using those products. They should. They're just white brass. Those products also work well on back springs and blades.

[mickeyevans]

Jerry, I use brasso and never-dull, I am using a dremel tool with buffing and felt attachments but I was getting feed back that
that is not good
I have some wheels for that tool that are not too abrasive, made of plastic for stripping paint I think
I am experimenting on cheaper, non collecting knives
I have some with small parts missing from the handles and I am going to experiment with filling epoxy
I have a boker and a old queen like that , they were cheap because of damage but good snap and blades
I have not found a good forum about repairing knives yet
mickey

[knifetime]

You won't find a better bunch of knife mechanics than we have right hear on AAPK . If you search threw the old threads you will find how to step by step instructions on knife repair. If you have a job you would rather have a pro do, you can find that right hear also.

[mickeyevans]

Hi Knifetime, thanks for the info, I have been searching and have so far found extensive repairing , like taking the knife apart and using drills.
that may come later when I want to address some loose blades with wobble and no 'snap' 'walk' and 'talk'
right now I have a boker and a queen with pieces of the handle missing around the pins
I used a super glue and some glitter to fill in a handle on a strange mosaic mystery knife I got, and like, just to stabilize it
I will take some photos and add them in 30 minutes
Mickey

[knifetime]

I like the bone on the 2 in the pic you posted earlier. Hear is a 1960s queen in the new whintterbotom color. The other color is older. And hear is what Queen is making today,what a knife.

[mickeyevans]

first photo is Boker and Queen with chunks out of handle, thinking about epoxy for fill in , need to look into coloring, sanding and maybe texturing that filler
the other knives are that strange mosaic and a owls head with missing shield , I glued in a rhinestone sticker for now and used super glue and glitter on the fake tortus shell back side to the mosaic knife. next to the owls head is a old schrade barlow that I will not touch for now
mickey

[mickeyevans]

knice knives knifetime
I have some CSC's because of my connection to that area
I hear that GEC is better and I do like the Queen because of the USA made connections with old companies
Queen is using the original factory like CSC is using the old Schrade machines
mickey

[knifetime]

CSC ?
I do have a couple CSC canitlars but that Texas Jack is a Queen.

[mickeyevans]

how about this queen, is it real winter bottom bone?
tang stamp is 1958-1960, can't find etching on the blade, but there is wear

[mickeyevans]

still not sure about this Queen 43, it is older, late 40's but with much less wear, it may be real bone
the Q78 is much more synthetic looking, even to me
Mick

[knifetime]

The smooth a 'll knife could be bone but the other is not I'm sure. Both great knives.