All About Pocket Knives

I read this thread a couple of times, and I will confess that I am just as confused now as I was before reading it. Even Roger, who has been in the factory, did not actually see any manufacturing happening. Unless someone who has seen knives being made at the Bluegrass factory chimes in, I am thinking that Bluegrass is just a name, like Bulldog or Tuna Valley.

I think your right on the money Mel. I am chomping on the bit to see if Bluegrass will start manufacturing knives themselves. If they do a good job, I will try to get them to SFO knives for me. I think I am going to take the jump on reviving a old brand. I already have found a very special company that had roots in the beginning of knife manufacturing in North America. Stay tooned and fingers crossed

cody6268 wrote:Gerber's low-end Carolina Knife and Tool division has had the Winchester license as long as Blue Grass has.

I do not claim to absolute truth. I just compare the facts:
The Blue Grass website has no knives made after 2010.
In 2011, Winchecter knives appeared on the gerber-tools.com website.
In 2013, the inscription "Gerber now owns the Winchester name with regard to knives" appeared on the gerber-tools.com website.

I do not believe in the revival of the good Winchester knives by Blue Grass , but this is my personal opinion.

I was at the Queen bankruptcy auction, and the main buyer there was a representative from Bluegrass. They bought machines, dies, presses, handle materials, blades, pins, sheetstock, tables, vices, etc. Everything that didn't get a bid automatically went to them.

Word on the street from guys at knife shows say that Bluegrass was the winner of the trademark auction for Queen/S&M, and that they plan on producing knives in Ohio (if they haven't already).

Rookie wrote:I was at the Queen bankruptcy auction, and the main buyer there was a representative from Bluegrass. They bought machines, dies, presses, handle materials, blades, pins, sheetstock, tables, vices, etc. Everything that didn't get a bid automatically went to them.

Word on the street from guys at knife shows say that Bluegrass was the winner of the trademark auction for Queen/S&M, and that they plan on producing knives in Ohio (if they haven't already).

I hope you are right that Bluegrass will either continue to make or start making knives in the USA. The murkiness of the situation regarding Bluegrass and the source of its knives is kind of wierd.

Years ago i read that the inside of the Queen factory looked much the same as it did in 1932 when Queen City took over from Schatt & Morgan, including all the exact same machinery. These machines were at that time about 100 years old and down time for repairs was not uncommon and these 'hold ups' were expensive for Queen.
If Blue Grass Cutlery is going to be manufacturing knives, using antique machinery i think adds risk to their chance of being successful.
Does anyone know if GEC started out with relatively new equipment or with very old machinery ?
kj

Very good question Roland
Could it be that they are getting all the antique equipment rebuilt? That's maybe why we haven't heard anything yet.

Well, I guess all of you are correct on some things about Bluegrass Cutlery & Queen Knife factory. My name is Gilbert Cooper, most of you don't know me. I was the Guy at the Queen Knife Auction That bought those ' OLD' Machines from the 1930's LOL. We also purchased most of the Knives, Stock, etc. about 95% of the Auction. I was there on Behalf of Bluegrass on Some Things, Like Winchester Dies that they owned and had to buy back to keep them, Because much of their tooling that they owned was in the plant at the time of Closing.
The Main reason I was there was because I personally believe that some of the Best Knives made in our great Country the Good old U.S.A. was made by Queen Cutlery on those Old Machines. I went there with a dream to buy the Trademarks and the Machines to Restart the Machines here in Southern Ohio In Winchester, Ohio. Well my dream is about to come true. The first Schatt & Morgans will be made in Winchester, Ohio in mid 2020 as it takes time to Build and Move everything with Riggers etc. We will start slow, But I believe those Machines will once again be Making Knives, You are right when you said they are old. But Schatt and Morgan was once known as the best knife Money could buy. We will move forward with that vision. Please Wish me luck, As I need it.
Now about Bluegrass Cutlery, It is a Big Building. The Building used to be a huge Bread Factory. 2 story's with a Basement. Tim Scott Runs the Operation. Tim took over after His Father Dave Scott, A true Knife Visionary passed away. Dave was my Mentor and Friend. I knew Dave for 45 plus years as we both Collected Knives and Indian Artifacts. I have known Tim for about as long. They have in the Past been key in Having Many Knives made at the Queen Factory. They worked Closely With Bill Howard on the Case Classic line, Winchesters, Primble, Fighting Bulldog, and Kinfolks and more.
They have always have had a Knife Shop in the Bread Factory as I worked there, years ago, Part Time. They also Make Wood Display frames there also, and soon will be bringing their Riker display frames from their Ruddles Mills, Kentucky factory to the bread factory, all under one Roof. They are currently making Green Bone Handled Barlows. I have worked there, I have seen it. THEY do make Knives. Tim and his Dad were and are Very Secretive, but that's the way they do business. So I guess everyone was right. Happy Collecting, Gil

Neato! That is something to look forward to next year or so!

Sa-weeet baby!
And finally the mystery of Bluegrass Cutlery is solved. Thank you Gil.
Now I know why you have so many Winchesters/Schatt&Morgans listed on ebay. Oh and by the way, i'm William Onofreychuk from up in Saskatchewan, Canada. I purchased a few knives from you awhile ago. Super pleased with them! Gave 2 of them to Dad for his birthday (June 6th). He really likes them also.
Super happy your dream (my dream too) is coming to pass If you ever are looking for a willing learner to train up in classic cutlery production, let me know! I would be willing to make the move down to you from here, get me green card/immigrate and all. It would be pretty much my dream job, making knives the way our forefathers did
Anyway, glad the air is all cleared up on this one and good luck to you Gilbert
William (Willy) Onofreychuk
MacNutt, Saskatchewan, Canada

Willy, Thanks so much. We appreciate it. Got soooo much to do before we start hiring But I will keep you in mind. Thanks again, Gil

Gilbert, thank you for the inside story & I wish you the best of luck.

I have a 1989 Winchester Stag Banana Trapper that is 2nd to none in quality, heft,
and blade steel. Its just a great knife all the way around !!!

Stag

Gilbert, thank you for posting. It is so much better to hear first hand so we do not have to rely on speculation. I wish you the very best of luck with all the hundreds of 'steps' along the way that are needed to get knife production set up and functioning well.
GEC has shown that a reliably well made traditional style folding knife, made in USA, sells well at a price necessary to make a profit. Their more popular patterns sell out in minutes and often get double the price on the secondary market. I believe this shows there is room for another manufacturer as long as the quality and reliability can be matched. I emphasize reliability because part of Queen's demise was poor quality control. Even though you might have received an outstanding knife, you could also receive a knife with 'issues' and the deep disappointment felt is something you do not want to experience again. Hence you stop buying new Queen knives. GEC has been successful at nearly always sending out close to 'perfect' knives; i.e. the chance of disappointment is very low and this is why the buyers keep returning for more.
I will buy one of your Blue Grass Barlows when they come out. Maybe when the time comes you could start a new thread telling us where and when we get buy the new Blue Grass knives.
kj

Gilbert wrote:Well, I guess all of you are correct on some things about Bluegrass Cutlery & Queen Knife factory. My name is Gilbert Cooper, most of you don't know me. I was the Guy at the Queen Knife Auction That bought those ' OLD' Machines from the 1930's LOL. We also purchased most of the Knives, Stock, etc. about 95% of the Auction. I was there on Behalf of Bluegrass on Some Things, Like Winchester Dies that they owned and had to buy back to keep them, Because much of their tooling that they owned was in the plant at the time of Closing.
The Main reason I was there was because I personally believe that some of the Best Knives made in our great Country the Good old U.S.A. was made by Queen Cutlery on those Old Machines. I went there with a dream to buy the Trademarks and the Machines to Restart the Machines here in Southern Ohio In Winchester, Ohio. Well my dream is about to come true. The first Schatt & Morgans will be made in Winchester, Ohio in mid 2020 as it takes time to Build and Move everything with Riggers etc. We will start slow, But I believe those Machines will once again be Making Knives, You are right when you said they are old. But Schatt and Morgan was once known as the best knife Money could buy. We will move forward with that vision. Please Wish me luck, As I need it.
Now about Bluegrass Cutlery, It is a Big Building. The Building used to be a huge Bread Factory. 2 story's with a Basement. Tim Scott Runs the Operation. Tim took over after His Father Dave Scott, A true Knife Visionary passed away. Dave was my Mentor and Friend. I knew Dave for 45 plus years as we both Collected Knives and Indian Artifacts. I have known Tim for about as long. They have in the Past been key in Having Many Knives made at the Queen Factory. They worked Closely With Bill Howard on the Case Classic line, Winchesters, Primble, Fighting Bulldog, and Kinfolks and more.
They have always have had a Knife Shop in the Bread Factory as I worked there, years ago, Part Time. They also Make Wood Display frames there also, and soon will be bringing their Riker display frames from their Ruddles Mills, Kentucky factory to the bread factory, all under one Roof. They are currently making Green Bone Handled Barlows. I have worked there, I have seen it. THEY do make Knives. Tim and his Dad were and are Very Secretive, but that's the way they do business. So I guess everyone was right. Happy Collecting, Gil

Gil, thank you for this post. It restores my faith in the brand. I will have to reconsider becoming a dealer. With this information I feel more confident about doing that. Glad there will be another USA made brand brought back. Good luck with this venture.

Gilbert - thank you for the information. I will be keeping an eye out for the new knives!

Hi Gilbert!
I bought from you several Winchester knives on ebay (you too can remember me if you do not ship the knives to Russia very often ) and I am glad to see you here .
I have a few questions:
Is Blue Grass the owner of a plant in Winchester, Ohio?
Does Blue Grass have a Winchester knives license now?
In 2010, the knives from "Rifle", ".270 cartridge" and "Buffalo Head" series were made by the Queen?

Yes Vit I do Remember you We have a few customers from Russia, You guys got an eye for well made Knives. No Bluegrass doesn't, We own the Buildings in Winchester. Yes. Bluegrass has the Winchester License to produce them. The 2010 Winchesters Were all made by Queen When Bob Breton was President. They were still making Great Knives then. Thanks Gil

Thanks to you all !!
We will do our best to make you proud of, Made in America by Schatt & Morgan. Gil

Gilbert wrote:Yes Vit I do Remember you We have a few customers from Russia, You guys got an eye for well made Knives. No Bluegrass doesn't, We own the Buildings in Winchester. Yes. Bluegrass has the Winchester License to produce them. The 2010 Winchesters Were all made by Queen When Bob Breton was President. They were still making Great Knives then. Thanks Gil

Thanks Gilbert.
Thus, since you are not an employee of Blue Grass, what is the name of your company? Are you planning a collaboration with Blue Grass on the production of Winchester knives?

Good luck Gil,from Scioto County.

Quite an undertaking, not an easy task, God bless.

Did you get the jigging machine Gil?

Best of luck Gil - glad to hear a new (and hopefully improved) S&M is on the horizon

Good luck Gilbert!