All About Pocket Knives

Has anyone bought any knives through Clarence Risner's website recently?

I only ask because I was thinking of buying a few Queen knives (he has great prices). However, a couple of years ago I had a bad experience trying to buy through is site. I picked a couple of knives, put them in my cart, checked out through PayPal, paid immediately. Then I never got the knives. Sent him several emails over the course of two-three weeks, never got any response.

So I went into PayPal and opened a case. I eventually got a check in the mail. No explanation, no apology.

Just wondering what others experiences have been before I try it again.

Steve I have bought from Clarence and have had no problems. If you want I can pm you his phone #, let me know.

Bill

I've bought a couple from his site and have exchanged an email or two with him before buying to ask questions. I wouldn't hesitate to buy from him again.

If you buy anything from him make sure he has it in stock before you go through paypal, i learned the hard way.

Thanks for your help everyone.

Steve, you can buy with confidence from Clarence. Suggest calling or e-mailing him though. He rarely up-dates his web site and sometimes it still shows knives that have been sold out. Clarence is a great guy.

I am in the works of being a first time Clarence buyer, ordered a Schatt Congress from him, and awaiting the invoice. Thus far he has been very timely with questions and responses.

TAB

I need to update my response. I never got the deal done, I awaited an invoice from the gentleman and never received it. I moved on and got something different. I will look elsewhere before trying to buy there again. I waited 5 business days before settling on a different vendor.

TAB

Wosey,

I had emailed about a schatt series 6 3 blade congress. He said it was available And that he would send me an invoice via email to pay for said knife if I agreed. I did, never never rec'd an invoice.

I guess I got lost along the way?

Tab

Just purchased two knives from Clarence Risner this past weekend. The transaction went very smoothly. I sent an email on Sunday asking if the knives were available for sale and he replied yes. Over the course of a couple of emails, we established the price and he sent an invoice. I paid and he said the knives would be shipped on Monday. I received them in yesterdays mail. Very nice knives and I'll get pictures today and post them.

The only thing I would have had happen differently regards the USPS tracking number. I sent an email on Tuesday asking if there was a tracking number and if so would he please provide it. No answer. The knives came in good order so I guess that's nit picking.

Bottom line? I'm a satisfied customer and would buy again from Clarence Risner (and may).

I have bought both cheap and very best knives from Clarence Risner. He is a gentleman and great to deal with. I have had two instances where stuff was out of stock, and once I had to complain. Call him. He IS RELIABLE, will correct accounts with Paypal, and switch funds to other knives if available, whatever it takes. I usually order onliine with Paypal (unless his site(s) say to contact him for rare stock) and it always gets sorted out. He ships fast, soif there is a delay, I'd get on the horn. He has some nice stock no one else has available and the best prices i have found especially for the higher end Schatt and Morgan pieces in MIB condition.

I have no idea how big or busy he is, but I check with him before I buy elsewhere. Of course, each customer has to make decisions based on their own experience.
Thanks,
Dan

I had a good experience that included shipping oversea. Will buy again.
Mike

I ordered a Schatt SFO lockblade hunter, emerald green from Clarence. Wed night 8/29 at 10 PM for $80, including 3.66 shipping his cost. It was in my mailbox by 11 AM on Saturday 9/1. I am fine with that.
Dan

He is trying to revive the knife show / flea market at Washington Courthouse, Ohio. They have a knife show on the last weekend of Sept. there.

I have had alot of dealingswith Mr. Risner. Never had the first problem. Once ordered a knife that was out of stock and had an email explaining offering a full refund or another similar knife. Good service, fast shipping from a great guy to deal with!

The only dealing I had with Clarence was a warranty issue with Queen that had nothing to do with Clarence but he offered to e-mail Queen for me. After a day or two he said he had sent them my e-mail along with my issue and they should get in touch with my within a couple of days. As we all know Queen had quit doing any warranty work and they simply stopped answering their phone. To this day I have heard nothing. Not from the old owners and not from the new owners. Their warranty that comes packaged with their knives is one of the prettiest little documents I've ever seen It means nothing more than that It's a shame because I like their knives but I am going to have to see some customer service before I spend another dime on their entire line. So I guess I'm saying don't count on any help from Clarence unless it's actually an issue with him.He seemed like he really wants to sell a quality product just don't let him pass the buck to Queen

wazu013 wrote:The only dealing I had with Clarence was a warranty issue with Queen that had nothing to do with Clarence but he offered to e-mail Queen for me. After a day or two he said he had sent them my e-mail along with my issue and they should get in touch with my within a couple of days. As we all know Queen had quit doing any warranty work and they simply stopped answering their phone. To this day I have heard nothing. Not from the old owners and not from the new owners. Their warranty that comes packaged with their knives is one of the prettiest little documents I've ever seen It means nothing more than that It's a shame because I like their knives but I am going to have to see some customer service before I spend another dime on their entire line. So I guess I'm saying don't count on any help from Clarence unless it's actually an issue with him.He seemed like he really wants to sell a quality product just don't let him pass the buck to Queen

Try contacting Ryan Daniels directly. I had sent two knives to Queen for warranty issues back in August before the ownership change. Ryan got me squared away and I got both knives back repaired soon after.

Do you think they would cover the problems with this Baby Sunfish? It has some pin cracks and the blades block each other from closing. It really is a beautiful knife. I am thinking about getting it re-handled with pre-ban Ivory but the blade problem keeps me from doing it.
Thanks,
wazu013

knifeaholic wrote:Try contacting Ryan Daniels directly.

Hahahahahahahahahaha! You can "try" all you want, that doesn't mean he'll bother to answer.

Sorry to hear that people are having problems. Not a good sign. Ryan actually PM'ed me, he did it immediately after I had posted on the Queen fprum questioning how repair knives would be handled that were sent in before the buyout. They took care of me right away.

I'm glad things worked out for you, and you got your knives back! I'd think the uncertainty of dealing with warranty work during a change of ownership might be a bit unnerving.

As for Daniels, I know of a couple of folks who've tried to contact him about having Queen do an SFO, and before that they were trying to get a response from Queen. I heard they decided Queen didn't want their business, so they gave up on the idea and went with something else.

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"

Keystone wrote:I say "Good luck, Queen"

I agree!
I don't collect Queen knives, and don't even know a great deal about them, however for the sake of our hobby, I hate to see another American knife company fail.

I hope Queen grows and thrives along with all American knife companies, especially those who make their knives in the USA!