Queen Steel in 1976

[TAB2you]

I recently pikced up a Rogers bone Queen toothpick with a Q76 tang stamp on it from a fellow AAPK member. Thanks Paladin!

We both didnt know the steel used in the blade at the time, I know current runs are typically D2, but in 1976 I've read they've used stainless steel. I'm posting a picture, in hope someone might be able to tell me via the tang stamp or view wha they were using. It doesnt have the heft to D2 to me, so I was thinking 440 or 420 steel?

Here's the knife (picture robbed from Paladin):

Queen toothpick.jpg (34.8 KiB) Viewed 3938 times

Thanks as always for any insight ya'll might have.

TAB

[knifeaholic]

Queen did not use D2 at all prior to 2002 wen the D2 lines were introduced. I believe that every Queen knife in D2 has a special tang stamp that includes "PH-D2" indicating D2 steel heat treated by Peters Heat Treat. If it does not have those letters then its not D2.

In the years up to and including 1976 as far as I know Queen's standard blade steel was 440C. I have in my archives a 1976 factory letter to that affect.

Starting in about 1979 or a bit later they switched to 440A and then later maybe late 90's to 420.

As far as I know starting in 2002 to the present day if it does not have the D2 stamp and its not one of the F&W series in ATS-34 than it is 420.

[Colonel26]

TAB, regardless of what the metal is that is a beautiful knife. I've never been a big tooth pick guy, but that one is gorgeous. I know you're proud to own it as you should be! It gets prettier every time I see a picture of it.

[TAB2you]

Knife-

My gosh, that was amazing. Thank you so much for the info. I'm excited to see it being 440 most likely, as I have had good luck sharpening it. Not sure I can turn this inot a user though. Too pretty. It'd be my first safe queen!

Thanks again for the info.

TAB

[Aimus Moses]

I've heard the guys on knivesliveTV from S.M.K.W. on DirectTV say that the PH-D2 marking meant precipitation hardened for the D2 steel Queen uses in their knives blade steel. No disrespect and not disputing Steve's statement on Peters Heat Treat being the meaning of the PH-D2 marking on the Queen knives. Of coarse I've also heard those same guys on knivesliveTV tell me what great deals I'm letting get by me on everything they sale when I don't call and order it all at their prices too.

Aimus

[knifeaholic]

http://petersheattreat.com/

Aimus, every source I have read says that the PH is for Peters Heat Treat. See the website above, note that one of their specialties is blades.

[Aimus Moses]

I don't doubt you one bit Steve and if I were a betting man I'd bet you are absolutely right. I was just passing along what I heard on knivesliveTV. I have known the guys on the show to be wrong before, not intentionally (that I know of) but still yet wrong. Peters Heat Treating company looks to me like they know what they are doing, which is more than I can say for myself about heat treating blades. BTW, wouldn't the description of precipitation hardened just be a 'water' dunking of a hot blade? Thanks for the link. I've got a couple of welded firearm receivers that are in need of a heat treating job. I'll contact them to see if they do any firearms.

Aimus