My newest Queen

The Queen Cutlery Company manufactured knives in Titusville Pennsylvania for 96 years. The company opened its only factory there in 1919 and commenced to make some of the best US crafted cutlery you will find. Unfortunately, the Titusville manufacturing plant closed down in 2018.
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OLDE CUTLER
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Re: My newest Queen

Post by OLDE CUTLER »

I picked up this Queen 2 blade at a gun show over the weekend. Same size and shape as a Camillus 72, but has 2 blades. It is the Queen with the plastic version of the winterbottom handle material. It is not stamped, but is blade etched "Queen Steel #47". Hasn't been used much, but does have a few marks on the blade. Did I get a deal for $6.00?
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doglegg
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Re: My newest Queen

Post by doglegg »

OC, would that be considered a swell center half whittler? What ever it's called it is a very knice knife 🔪.
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Re: My newest Queen

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The Queen #47 half congress was a pretty popular pattern all the way back from the 1950's through the 80's. I'd say you did good on that one!
Carl B.
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Re: My newest Queen

Post by doglegg »

::handshake::
Rookie wrote: Tue Nov 19, 2024 9:23 pm The Queen #47 half congress was a pretty popular pattern all the way back from the 1950's through the 80's. I'd say you did good on that one!
Thanks for the correction Rookie.
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Re: My newest Queen

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doglegg wrote: Tue Nov 19, 2024 10:45 pm ::handshake::
Rookie wrote: Tue Nov 19, 2024 9:23 pm The Queen #47 half congress was a pretty popular pattern all the way back from the 1950's through the 80's. I'd say you did good on that one!
Thanks for the correction Rookie.
So sorry, I had my brain go dead. I meant to say "Half Whittler", not Half Congress. Not sure where that came from. I guess I better go run around the house 10 times to reset my memory. :D
Carl B.
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Re: My newest Queen

Post by doglegg »

::tu:: ::tu:: ::shrug:: ::handshake::
Rookie wrote: Wed Nov 20, 2024 12:43 am
doglegg wrote: Tue Nov 19, 2024 10:45 pm ::handshake::
Rookie wrote: Tue Nov 19, 2024 9:23 pm The Queen #47 half congress was a pretty popular pattern all the way back from the 1950's through the 80's. I'd say you did good on that one!
Thanks for the correction Rookie.
So sorry, I had my brain go dead. I meant to say "Half Whittler", not Half Congress. Not sure where that came from. I guess I better go run around the house 10 times to reset my memory. :D
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Re: My newest Queen

Post by Reverand »

OLDE CUTLER wrote: Tue Nov 19, 2024 5:01 pm ...Did I get a deal for $6.00?
For real? The Knife Police will be there soon to arrest you for theft!!!
Jesus is life.
Everything else is just a hobby.

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treefarmer
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Re: My newest Queen

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OLDE CUTLER wrote: Tue Nov 19, 2024 5:01 pm I picked up this Queen 2 blade at a gun show over the weekend. Same size and shape as a Camillus 72, but has 2 blades. It is the Queen with the plastic version of the winterbottom handle material. It is not stamped, but is blade etched "Queen Steel #47". Hasn't been used much, but does have a few marks on the blade. Did I get a deal for $6.00?

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Great find and even greater price!
That one without the tang stamp would have been made between 1961 and 1971.
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OLDE CUTLER
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Re: My newest Queen

Post by OLDE CUTLER »

Thanks for the comments guys. I am keeping an ear tuned for any police sirens. lol
"Sometimes even the blind chicken finds corn"
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Re: My newest Queen

Post by QTCut5 »

$6.00 for an old Queen in good shape is pretty hard to beat for sure. Congrats, OLDE CUTLER, that's a "swell" knife and a great score! ::tu:: (rightly or wrongly, I've always called that pattern a Swell Center or Balloon Whittler) ::undecided::

Believe it or not, I got an even better deal on this 112½ Medium Toothpick: FREE!!! :shock: Yup, I didn't pay a single penny for this beauty because it was gifted to me by my good friend knifeaddict1965 :D

At 4½" closed it's what I consider the "Cinderella" size for a Toothpick; not too big like a #20 Large T-Pick, and not too small like a #16 Tiny T-pick. Not that I'm going to actually use it; this one is destined to be a safe queen and will be kept pristine in my ACSB collection. ::nod::

Thanks again, Kevin...once again, I am both amazed and delighted at your limitless generosity. ::super_happy::
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~Q~
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Re: My newest Queen

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Mini T Monkey was overjoyed to score this one-of-a-kind Prototype #51 for my Queen Mini Trapper sub-collection. I got it from Rookie's AAPK store. Amazingly fast shipping, too; only took TWO DAYS for it to get from PA to HI...during the holiday season, no less. Unbelievable!!! :shock:

I really like the Queen #51 pattern...actually like it more than the Case 07 Mini Trapper...especially the ones with this blade style having the swage and long pull. And this sweet little gem has a really nice crisp walk and talk snap that is far superior to any post-1970s Case 07 I've ever owned. I wish it had a tang stamp, but, I understand why it doesn’t (see Carl’s explanation below).

Here's Rookie's description that I copied directly from his listing (hope you don't mind, Carl 😬)

Queen Cutlery small single blade Trapper pattern # 51. This is the original 1 piece prototype that was made and submitted to the NKCA in 1997 for consideration for the 1998 National Knife Collector’s Association Youth Knife. It was not the chosen pattern, and so never went into production.

Made in Titusville, PA and it measures 3 9/16 inches closed. It has red Winterbottom style jig bone handles, long pull, brass liners, and nickel silver bolsters with lined features.

This knife does have a half stop. It did not come with a box. The blade is etched “199_ NKCA Youth Knife” and on the rear is engraved “PROTOTYPE”. Since this was a prototype, it does not have any tang stamps.
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~Q~
robpa
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Re: My newest Queen

Post by robpa »

How did I miss that little Queen?? Carl only live 15 miles from me and it takes more than 2 days for me to get there to pick up a knife!!
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Re: My newest Queen

Post by treefarmer »

That's a beauty, Q Congratulations! ::tu::
Eye catching color, can we still call the jigging Winterbottom?
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Re: My newest Queen

Post by Ivoryman »

Very nice Toothpick and Mini T Q. You've been raiding the Queens stash lately, good scores.

This is another fine one Q picked up and had Bighead put Burlap on for me. This thing has such sweet action, solid all around, no wobble, great snap. And I love the covers. Thanks again Q for a sweetie. ::handshake::
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Re: My newest Queen

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QTCut5 wrote: Sat Dec 14, 2024 1:21 am Mini T Monkey was overjoyed to score this one-of-a-kind Prototype #51 for my Queen Mini Trapper sub-collection. I got it from Rookie's AAPK store. Amazingly fast shipping, too; only took TWO DAYS for it to get from PA to HI...during the holiday season, no less. Unbelievable!!! :shock:

I really like the Queen #51 pattern...actually like it more than the Case 07 Mini Trapper...especially the ones with this blade style having the swage and long pull. And this sweet little gem has a really nice crisp walk and talk snap that is far superior to any post-1970s Case 07 I've ever owned. I wish it had a tang stamp, but, I understand why it doesn’t (see Carl’s explanation below).

Here's Rookie's description that I copied directly from his listing (hope you don't mind, Carl 😬)

Queen Cutlery small single blade Trapper pattern # 51. This is the original 1 piece prototype that was made and submitted to the NKCA in 1997 for consideration for the 1998 National Knife Collector’s Association Youth Knife. It was not the chosen pattern, and so never went into production.

Made in Titusville, PA and it measures 3 9/16 inches closed. It has red Winterbottom style jig bone handles, long pull, brass liners, and nickel silver bolsters with lined features.

This knife does have a half stop. It did not come with a box. The blade is etched “199_ NKCA Youth Knife” and on the rear is engraved “PROTOTYPE”. Since this was a prototype, it does not have any tang stamps.
Glad to see it find a good home in Hawaii where it will be enjoyed. For a long time my main focus was NKCA knives, and then the prototypes. I bought a lot directly from Bruce Voyles, who was authorized to sell off a lot of National Knife Collectors Association and National Knife Museum overstock knives in order to raise funds to keep the doors opened. He had an auction in 2009, and I bought quite a few at that time, and then over the years tracked down some others and bought them as well.

I was told that prototype was likely handmade completely by Bill Howard when he was still at Queen. It's a great knife. My tastes changed over the years, so I'm slowly selling off my NKCA collection.
Carl B.
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Re: My newest Queen

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Ivoryman wrote: Sat Dec 14, 2024 7:17 pm Very nice Toothpick and Mini T Q. You've been raiding the Queens stash lately, good scores.

This is another fine one Q picked up and had Bighead put Burlap on for me. This thing has such sweet action, solid all around, no wobble, great snap. And I love the covers. Thanks again Q for a sweetie. ::handshake::
Thanks, Ivoryman. It's true, I've been chasing the Queens quite a bit lately, mostly for the ACSB but I'm also always on the lookout for more #51s. ::nod::

You are very welcome, my friend...glad you like it. I wasn't sure if you would because other than being a Barlow pattern, it is a bit different from the types of knives you usually collect and/or carry (like GEC). In addition to the closed back spring, the #22 has an aluminum frame so it's super lightweight and doesn't feel particularly substantial in the hand. Not sure how you feel about that, but at least it won't be an anvil in your pocket if you ever do carry it. The original covers were sawcut Delrin and although I know you like sawcut bone, I was pretty sure you're not into the synthetic version, hence, the OD Green Burlap Micarta. Also, and both BIGHEAD and I learned something new about knife construction when he did this mod, the pins are actually part of the aluminum frame. He had never seen that before and I didn't realize such a thing could even be done. Unfortunately, that meant the micarta covers could not be pinned on, so Barry had to use structural epoxy. At least you'll never have to worry about the covers falling off! :D
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Closed back spring and original Delrin handle
Closed back spring and original Delrin handle
Integral aluminum pins & frame (BIGHEAD's photo)
Integral aluminum pins & frame (BIGHEAD's photo)
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Re: My newest Queen

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treefarmer wrote: Sat Dec 14, 2024 3:30 am That's a beauty, Q Congratulations! ::tu::
Eye catching color, can we still call the jigging Winterbottom?
Treefarmer
Mahalo, Philip ::handshake:: I think you can tell I'm very happy to have it. ::super_happy::

As for whether or not the bone is actually Winterbottom, I'll leave that up to the experts, of which I am not one.
Here are some other 51s from my collection for comparison...the three at the bottom of the photo are verified Winterbottom Bone...the two red S&M Keystone knives have jigged bone that looks more like the bone on my new NKCA Prototype 51. Doesn't really make much difference to me what it's called, but I could see calling it "Winterbottom-adjacent" jigged bone!! :lol:
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Re: My newest Queen

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Rookie wrote: Sat Dec 14, 2024 9:13 pm Glad to see it find a good home in Hawaii where it will be enjoyed. For a long time my main focus was NKCA knives, and then the prototypes. I bought a lot directly from Bruce Voyles, who was authorized to sell off a lot of National Knife Collectors Association and National Knife Museum overstock knives in order to raise funds to keep the doors opened. He had an auction in 2009, and I bought quite a few at that time, and then over the years tracked down some others and bought them as well.

I was told that prototype was likely handmade completely by Bill Howard when he was still at Queen. It's a great knife. My tastes changed over the years, so I'm slowly selling off my NKCA collection.
As you can see from the photo above, your Prototype 51 is fitting right in with my #51 family (this is only a small fraction...probably have to get an updated family group portrait with the newest family member).

Mahalo for the backstory, Carl; I'm always interested in learning any tidbits of history associated with the knives in my collection. 8) ::tu::
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Re: My newest Queen

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Very excited about this recent find ::super_happy:: 1922-1932 Queen City single blade small trapper. Closed length = 3½"--mini trapper size--so Mini-T Monkey is over the moon. First, the Prototype #51 from Rookie, now this sweet little Queen City...both my arms are covered with bruises because I have to keep pinching myself to make sure I'm not dreaming! :lol:
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Re: My newest Queen

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QTCut5 wrote: Wed Dec 18, 2024 10:00 pm Very excited about this recent find ::super_happy:: 1922-1932 Queen City single blade small trapper. Closed length = 3½"--mini trapper size--so Mini-T Monkey is over the moon. First, the Prototype #51 from Rookie, now this sweet little Queen City...both my arms are covered with bruises because I have to keep pinching myself to make sure I'm not dreaming! :lol:
That is quite a showpiece! Great knife for the collection. I love the look of old bone. You can tell from across the room that is an oldie with lots of character.
Carl B.
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Re: My newest Queen

Post by doglegg »

Rookie wrote: Wed Dec 18, 2024 10:36 pm
QTCut5 wrote: Wed Dec 18, 2024 10:00 pm Very excited about this recent find ::super_happy:: 1922-1932 Queen City single blade small trapper. Closed length = 3½"--mini trapper size--so Mini-T Monkey is over the moon. First, the Prototype #51 from Rookie, now this sweet little Queen City...both my arms are covered with bruises because I have to keep pinching myself to make sure I'm not dreaming! :lol:
That is quite a showpiece! Great knife for the collection. I love the look of old bone. You can tell from across the room that is an oldie with lots of character.
Just what Carl said.
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Re: My newest Queen

Post by QTCut5 »

Mahalo Carl & Floyd ::handshake::

The newest addition to my royal court is this ACSB Stockman: 3¼" closed, 3 blades, 1 tang stamp, no shield and no etch
I believe its Queen pattern number is #26 ::undecided::
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Re: My newest Queen

Post by doglegg »

A Q for Q!
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Re: My newest Queen

Post by Corn Creek Cutlery »

Yes Sir, it's a Beautiful Queen Q!
Tony .. https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/corncreekcutlery ...
It's only money .. give the Lord His .. pay the bills .. give the wife hers .. and buy yourself another knife. ::nod::
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Re: My newest Queen

Post by Rookie »

Wonderful looking handles on that one!
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