Queens first new knife.
Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2020 9:17 pm
It looks as if Queen may be resurging since its 2018 bankruptcy. If it will become popular or common again depends on its future production, quality and of course sales.
It seems that many Queen followers (at least the members within aapk) have mixed feelings due to the quality of material used to make the 'Test Pilot Run' Queen (QN1)
I feel that I was fortunate to acquire 1 of the first 150 made. They sold out very quickly. I feel that Bear & Son produced a excellent little knife and I am happy with my $39.99 purchase. And yes, if it were my call, I would have chosen a bone or stag handle material and would have also increased the initial production to at least 300 (or more) to give more collectors an opportunity to participate in the resurgence.
Of course, my idea would have increased the cost, however, we are talking about "QUEEN" and I believe the majority of us would pay more for a higher quality first run.
I feel that Smoky Mountain Knife Company missed a golden opportunity. However, it's not too late to correct. Or is it?
What are your opinions?
You can view the most recent articles posted within the "Queen Cutlery" history website pertaining to the new owners of Queen Cutlery.
https://queencutleryhistory.com/
Is There a Future for New Queen Knives?
Queen City Cutlery Company ceased to exist in January of 1946. On the same day, with an exchange of dollars, a few strokes of a pen and a satisfied lawyer, Queen Cutlery Company was born. Nothing changed except the name and some tang stamps. The same quality knives were still made, on the same equipment, by the same people.
In 2018 Queen Cutlery Company died with a bankruptcy and asset liquidation. All of the materials, fixtures, machinery and other tangible assets were sold off, with much of them going to the same few buyers. A major recipient of Queen assets also acquired the trademarks. Some he kept and some were sold off, all in accordance with a new business plan.
We have yet to see the new products which will come off the dependable old machinery and tooling but we have reliable information these will be high quality and branded “Schatt & Morgan”. Already though, we collectors have had a peek of what we might expect of Queen-branded products. In late April Smoky Mountain Knife Works offered for sale a small, two-blade trapper, with composite handles, stamped Queen, with Pilot Test Run etched onto the main blade. SMKW had acquired the Queen trademark from the original buyer and evidently contracted with Bear & Son to make this small test run of knives. They sold out pretty quickly. Some buyers had objections to this or that element of the knife but overall it seemed to have been perceived as a collectors item. Why? Because it potentially marked the re-launch of a fine old knife company which had been given up for dead two years prior. Add to that, just a small quantity was produced and it was in fact a nice little knife for just $39.99.
The knife is marked Queen. SMKW, as the trademark owner, has every right to use that name on cutlery. Having made a so-marked knife, they have protected that trademark. Name aside, is this knife and anything similar which might be so branded, in the Queen Cutlery tradition? We don’t think so.
Over the years Queen knives sustained a reputation for quality, craftsmanship and premium materials. Blade steel was most often a high quality stainless such 440C, ATS-34 or D-2. Blades were punched, often tang stamped. sometimes etched, mirror of glaze polished and ground. Handles were usually distinctive jigged bone, stag, mother of pearl or wood. On budget knives plastic was also used.
If Queen knives were to be reborn, would the target market be the budget-conscious consumer? Unlikely. We think collectors would want a link with the Queen of old. We are, after all, a discerning bunch.
It seems that many Queen followers (at least the members within aapk) have mixed feelings due to the quality of material used to make the 'Test Pilot Run' Queen (QN1)
I feel that I was fortunate to acquire 1 of the first 150 made. They sold out very quickly. I feel that Bear & Son produced a excellent little knife and I am happy with my $39.99 purchase. And yes, if it were my call, I would have chosen a bone or stag handle material and would have also increased the initial production to at least 300 (or more) to give more collectors an opportunity to participate in the resurgence.
Of course, my idea would have increased the cost, however, we are talking about "QUEEN" and I believe the majority of us would pay more for a higher quality first run.
I feel that Smoky Mountain Knife Company missed a golden opportunity. However, it's not too late to correct. Or is it?
What are your opinions?
You can view the most recent articles posted within the "Queen Cutlery" history website pertaining to the new owners of Queen Cutlery.
https://queencutleryhistory.com/
Is There a Future for New Queen Knives?
Queen City Cutlery Company ceased to exist in January of 1946. On the same day, with an exchange of dollars, a few strokes of a pen and a satisfied lawyer, Queen Cutlery Company was born. Nothing changed except the name and some tang stamps. The same quality knives were still made, on the same equipment, by the same people.
In 2018 Queen Cutlery Company died with a bankruptcy and asset liquidation. All of the materials, fixtures, machinery and other tangible assets were sold off, with much of them going to the same few buyers. A major recipient of Queen assets also acquired the trademarks. Some he kept and some were sold off, all in accordance with a new business plan.
We have yet to see the new products which will come off the dependable old machinery and tooling but we have reliable information these will be high quality and branded “Schatt & Morgan”. Already though, we collectors have had a peek of what we might expect of Queen-branded products. In late April Smoky Mountain Knife Works offered for sale a small, two-blade trapper, with composite handles, stamped Queen, with Pilot Test Run etched onto the main blade. SMKW had acquired the Queen trademark from the original buyer and evidently contracted with Bear & Son to make this small test run of knives. They sold out pretty quickly. Some buyers had objections to this or that element of the knife but overall it seemed to have been perceived as a collectors item. Why? Because it potentially marked the re-launch of a fine old knife company which had been given up for dead two years prior. Add to that, just a small quantity was produced and it was in fact a nice little knife for just $39.99.
The knife is marked Queen. SMKW, as the trademark owner, has every right to use that name on cutlery. Having made a so-marked knife, they have protected that trademark. Name aside, is this knife and anything similar which might be so branded, in the Queen Cutlery tradition? We don’t think so.
Over the years Queen knives sustained a reputation for quality, craftsmanship and premium materials. Blade steel was most often a high quality stainless such 440C, ATS-34 or D-2. Blades were punched, often tang stamped. sometimes etched, mirror of glaze polished and ground. Handles were usually distinctive jigged bone, stag, mother of pearl or wood. On budget knives plastic was also used.
If Queen knives were to be reborn, would the target market be the budget-conscious consumer? Unlikely. We think collectors would want a link with the Queen of old. We are, after all, a discerning bunch.
