Black Box

[enuf]

This has probably been answered already but I couldn't find it. What is the difference between the Winchester Black Box and the White Box with the Rider on them - anything besides the box?

[robpa]

different series, dates of production. Some black boxes have red print, some are yellow. Black boxes are 80s, other are 9os.

[enuf]

ok - quality knives though, not cheapened up any?

[knifeaholic]

ok - quality knives though, not cheapened up any?

If anything, the white box knives are the better ones - more variety in bone colors and some better patterns.

[enuf]

Right On

[robpa]

I have about 20 black box, same otherwise. Its my opinion that the black box are just fine very comparable overall. BUT, i am having some spotting problems on some black box including peral sowbelly and a nice honey swing gard. None of the white box have any problem.All carbon but some kinda different steel. No other knives out of a couple hundred have any signs of distress. ( I hate to say RUST)

[dsutton24]

Not all 'Black Box' Winchesters are created equal, unfortunately. The older ones from the 80s and 90s are pretty uniformly nice knives. But, the black boxes started turning up again around the mid 90s. I've seen black box Winchesters that were almost certainly made by Bear and Sons, and all that implies. The most recent ones I have are dated '22 and are nice knives. No idea who's making them.

[robpa]

I really dont know about the 90s black box and Bear?? Ive never come across any of these? But Tim Scott (Bluegrass) holds the rights to the brand and has been making knives for several years now in Ohio. His fatrher, dave, was an original Bluegrass partner along with FEW OTHERS. tHE NEW wINCHESTERS ARE GREAT.
Its my OPINION that Queen made the parts for all the Bluegrass Winchesters. They assembled most knives. But, I think some parts were assembled by bluegrass in Ohio. I think it was the large framed knives especially the sunfish , wit, all the sunfish knives handled by others in more exotic covers and sold by that TV knife show.

[enuf]

"Sunfish knives"??? please tell....

[C-WADE7]

"Sunfish knives"??? please tell....

Like an elephant toe but smaller. Usually equal ended with a jumbo spear point blade.

[enuf]

Thank you

[dsutton24]

I really dont know about the 90s black box and Bear?? Ive never come across any of these? But Tim Scott (Bluegrass) holds the rights to the brand and has been making knives for several years now in Ohio. His fatrher, dave, was an original Bluegrass partner along with FEW OTHERS. tHE NEW wINCHESTERS ARE GREAT.
Its my OPINION that Queen made the parts for all the Bluegrass Winchesters. They assembled most knives. But, I think some parts were assembled by bluegrass in Ohio. I think it was the large framed knives especially the sunfish , wit, all the sunfish knives handled by others in more exotic covers and sold by that TV knife show.

I passed on a couple of newer 'Black Box' Winchesters that were dead ringers for the newer Primble knives... Hence the Bear and Sons comment. Oversprung, nail nicks that looked like they were done with an abrasive wheel, generally cheap fit and finish. I should see the dealer who had them in the coming weeks, and I'll try to get some photos and dates of/for them. The newer knives have been good to very good, but not on par with the Queen stuff.

Bluegrass is one of the most guarded secrets in the entire world of Manufacuring. My take on Bluegrass is that they may have manufactured knives years ago, they certainly assembled knives for many years. I do not think they manufacture anything these days, aside for (maybe) some components. I'd be glad to admit that I'm wrong about this, but I've done lot of deep diving on this subject and demonstrably accurate information is just not out there.

Mostly I want to make sure everyone knows this: There is a revival of the Black Box Winchesters, and they are stamped with dates that are more recent than the white box knives. Some are very good, some are not. They are not the uniformly excellent knives that you expect when you see the words Black Box. Make sure you're inspecting them in person, or at least buying from a dealer with a liberal return policy.