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Re: Clarence Risner Website
Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2013 3:11 pm
by coffeecup
Keystone wrote:This latter discussion seems important enough to me that it should be its own thread --beyond an add-on to Clarence Risner business,
I have no inside connection with Queen Cutlery, just buy their knives when I see a nice one from my perspective. I am struck by disclosure during the recent acquisition about how small the company is - 24 employees. I am sure they are paddling as hard as they can to keep producing knives, set up new special production, while learning about a business that is famous for casual record keeping. I say patience is desirable right now - Certainly keeping expectations high, raising expectations, but patiently.
They have greatly improved the company website - under servotronic it was essentially empty and took you to Ontario offices. They have added contacts for all key administrators, and more images of knives. I complained to Ryan Daniels that some of the images (Queen ACSB) were too small for my vision.. I got no response, but they did increase most of the images shortly thereafter. They have added a much mproved list of distributors.
http://www.queencutlery.com/
They are clearly working on some new, high quality knives - "New Dawn", new "Classics." I especially like some of the treatments of the Mountain man they are showing on their site. I hear lots about customer service and my own priority is sharper knives from the factory (put some work into these nice D2 blades), but I strongly feel things are headed in the right direction and current management is more committed to quality than prior management.
I say "Good luck, Queen"
Hmmm. Having had past dealings with Queen, my original suggestion to the folks seeking an SFO from Queen was to try to do so through Mr. Risner. My thought was that being a Queen retailer, he'd know how to go about it (or at least who to contact and how to contact them). I've not heard why this wasn't done--or perhaps they were following Mr. Risner's suggestions. I simply don't know.
The folks seeking to arrange the SFO were trying to be Queen customers: not on the onesy-twosy scale of most folks, but on the order of 400-500 knives. They received no response to their queries before the sale, and none after. That doesn't seem to be much of a change. Are you seriously suggesting they should be "patient?"
Re: Clarence Risner Website
Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2013 3:39 pm
by Keystone
Coffee cup,
You are right. Especially on this kind of forum. My comments were just meant to describe my own approach. I have had good service from Queen as a very small scale customer. I am patiently optimistic
Others should pursue whatever customer strategy feels right for their experience. A glance through their history shows a lot of missed opportunities and difficult times, from Schatt & Morgan's move to Titusville, on through the modern period. The company leadership's contact information is now quite accessible for dealing directly with them over any concerns.
The attached picture was taken out of the Titusville Herald this summer, about the time negotiations for sale would have been underway.
Re: Clarence Risner Website
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 4:49 pm
by Quick Steel
Although the photos don't do it justice I believe the Queen/Joe Pardue Cannliter I have is the equal in quality of any production knife made today. A terrific knife.
Going thru my collection I found an Easy Opener S&M I had forgotten about. I examined it carefully and can find no flaws. I ask myself: Am I biased about my knives; unable to admit defects? Nope. Will willingly point out issues with other of my knives. But with regard to these two Queens, somebody knew how to make a knife.
Re: Clarence Risner Website
Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2013 10:45 pm
by 1967redrider
wazu, that's a pity on such a sweet knife.
I recently ordered from Risner and everything went perfectly. He even let me mail a money order since I don't deal with PayPal. No complains here.
Re: Clarence Risner Website
Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 5:00 pm
by Quick Steel
Don't think I have shown this S&M MOP before. I wish my photos could bring out the MOP better; the scales have a beautiful luster. Fit & Finish couldn't be better. Strong walk and talk, lots of snap. Using a lightly applied finger running from the bolster onto the scales, it is not possible to feel any transition. Am also going to show this in the EDC forum as I am carrying this today.
Re: Clarence Risner Website
Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2013 12:31 am
by 1967redrider
Gorgeous pearl!
Besides the Norfolk, I picked up a whittler from his website and I already had a botanists jack that I'm not sure where I got it. For the price, I think they make some beautiful knives. Sad to read their quality control needs some tweaking, I really like their patterns and the "old school" materials they use.
Re: Clarence Risner Website
Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2013 12:45 am
by jerryd6818
1967redrider wrote:Sad to read their quality control needs some tweaking,
What problems have you had with the three you posted?
I have the whittler and the horticulturist and they're fine. Nor have I found anything wrong with any of the eleven S&Ms and half dozen Queens I have.
Re: Clarence Risner Website
Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2013 12:50 am
by 1967redrider
Just referring to the posts on the Norfolk that people posted here and on other sites and wasu's e-toe. The 3 I have are perfect; no complains here.
*Edit to my above post- horticulturists not botanists, thanks to jerryd on that one.
