Not too happy with 1st knife from S & M "might be the last"

[knives-are-quiet]

I ordered a Shatt & Morgan knife and received it today.
041269 BARLOW from series 11.
It is a nice looking knife but I'm a little disappointed as the blade has a very slight play in it.
Also the blade when opened isn't in a straight position.
Is this a common thing with this brand of knife?
I have never had any problem like this with any other brand new knife I ordered online.
I was contemplating on sending it back but the camping trip I want to take this knife along on is in just a few weeks. I'm sure it will take much longer than that to have it repaired.
I myself can make the repairs fairly quickly but that's not the point.
I can tell these are quality knives by the materials they are made of but the companies quality control is least to be desired. These problems should have never left the factory.
With a $20 dollar knife I'd expect something like this. This knife wasn't cheap...
I am going to take the knife with me on my trip as is. See how the knife holds up and if the play gets any worse I'll repair the knife myself.
A few taps with a plastic hammer will fix the play problem. Trimming the run up will fix the blade position problem.
If I was collecting this knife as an investment I would send it back for a refund.
I will be sending Clarence an email with my disconcerts about the minor problems with the knife. I also explicitly ask him for a shipment tracking number when I ordered the knife which I never received.

"I thought PA knives were supposed to be the best"

J W

[mito0]

the "drooping blade" is indeed a common occurrence with queen-made knives, and has been for years.
as you said, it's an very easy fix, so it's baffling why they've never figured out how to do it at the factory.
blade play is uncommon, except on their mountain man pattern.
i understand your frustration.
i guess most folks either aren't too picky, or just fix the problems themselves.
queen was at their peak, quality-wise, in the mid-1990s up to the early 2000s.
it seems like most stuff made before or after that time frame seems to be a step or two lower in quality.
knives from that period, though, are quite nice.

[wazu013]

I had trouble with Schatt and Morgan's Baby Sunfish not once but 3 times. When I called them they were a little less helpful than Case or Buck. A few of the members in this forum let me know that S&M and Queen were first rate and gave me some names and numbers to call. They sent them via a PM so I don't have them anymore. If they see this I'm sure they will do the same for you. Maybe if you call them you will have time to mail the knife and get a replacement. I was lucky because I bought from a dealer who just gave my money back and let me keep the knives. Another member here said he could re-handle one of my knives but he wanted more than I paid for it so I just threw them in my tool box. I get some looks when I use one to screw down something at work using a nice looking knife. I have to say they do take a beating
Good Luck
wazu013
I found the old e=mail. Here are the names and numbers.

Here is the direct number to Queen Cutlery Company: 1 (814) 827-3673
You can either stay on the line or use one of the Ext: 301 Jennie Moore, 302 Bob Brenton, 303 warranty questions, 304 Don Brockett, 305 Eliane Lytle, 306 Pat Rogers

Someone can answer your question.

[gino]

I hate to tell you this JW but nothing is made like it used to be! The last three new knives I purchased I had to send back. Case, GEC and Buck. All three USA made and problems with all three. Its a real shame.

[knives-are-quiet]

I hate to tell you this JW but nothing is made like it used to be! The last three new knives I purchased I had to send back. Case, GEC and Buck. All three USA made and problems with all three. Its a real shame.

I hear you Gino~
The quality in the materials are there but I think the problem lies with hiring cheap labor.
Probably got a person who was landscaping or picking mushrooms yesterday putting together these knives today.
The more I think about it the more aggravated I get.
A hundred bucks is a pretty good amount of money.
I'm just gonna' bring one of my home made folders along with me on my wilderness trip and send this Barlow back to be repaired.

J W

[justold52]

Well I just want to add my 2¢ worth.

I see most work places call it better management. Cut cost and more production. Witch comes out to less workers doing the same amount of work. Makes the employed get unhappy at the work place. Cutting retirement plans on the new workers and over loading the old workers production. In the work place changing job, and job titles and in 2 years they have no need for that job so they lay people off. I think the CEO should do every week, some job for a full day that the company asks the employed to do... O and get the same pay for it that day too. Now there is a place to cut cost. If any worker calls in sick he can fill in then. When a company makes a profit why does that not get shared with the works?
This is all washing down from the President that opened the gates to CHINA.

Well I think you should return that knife to the person you bought it from. Because even when you get it back from Queens fixed. You will never be happy with it.

Thats my 2¢ worth......

[jmh58]

What happened?? Update.. John

[knives-are-quiet]

I repaired the knife myself tapping the bolster pin with a small plastic hammer which took the play out of it.
I also had to hand sand the hammered pin area because it got a little scared up in the repair process.
I left the sagging blade problem alone, It doesn't concern me that much and doesn't affect the performance of the knife.
Never had anymore problems with the knife and use it a lot when I go camping or fishing.
I sent an email to where I bought it and was told to send it back.
I didn't have time to wait so I made the repairs myself.
Like I said if I were collecting and not using this knife I would have sent it back.
If I ever decide to buy another S&M and something is not to my satisfaction I'll send it back.

JW

[atlatl55]

As much as I like my Queens & schatts I have to say, I sent in a new Queen to be fixed all most 3 months ago and has not been seen yet. It had a gap in the back spring. I would say if a new Queen needs repair, just return it for refund instead of waiting for repairs.
With that been said... I have seen all Major knife makers with quality control problems. It's getting to be like a roll of the dice to get a good one.
I also think some sellers are getting seconds and selling them for good ones. Just my opinion.

[lxplumm]

Maybe The Daniels Family will make changes for the better, iif they buy the company.

http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... 84&t=30120

[jmh58]

Maybe The Daniels Family will make changes for the better, iif they buy the company.

http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... 84&t=30120

Just hope they dont turn it into another GEC or TV... John

[Billswfl]

Maybe The Daniels Family will make changes for the better, iif they buy the company.

http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... 84&t=30120

Just hope they dont turn it into another GEC or TV... John

I'm with you John. GEC and Tuna Valley are great knives, but I like the Schatt Morgans and Queen knives. I'd like to see some more Queen Classics in old factory found bone.

Bill