Queen #45

A

augustus88

Joined
Oct 13, 2006
Messages
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I don't see much mentioned about the Queen #45 "Big Chief," so I decided to share my experience with one of this year's Christmas gift knives. After a weekend of using it as a serious utility knife, I can honestly say that the #45 is one FUGLY, hard working tool. It's built like a tank and looks to be nearly indestructible. If you can get past the stainless steel blade, aluminum handle and cheesy name, the BIG CHIEF is an affordable well made tool. This knife would be quite at home in a wet environment like on a boat or tackle box, etc.

Closed length: 4 7/8"
Blade: 4"

Right out of the nice black and white box the blade was butter-knife dull (typical Queen). The fit and finish isn't pretty, but there is absolutely no blade play. Plenty of snap! It feels almost like a lockback without the lock. On Saturday I sharpened her up with my belt sander and Sharpmaker to a hair popping, razor sharp. I spent the rest of the day doing some major home repair projects for my mother-in-law. I used the Big Chief to cut rope, asphalt roof shingles, insulated wire, numerous clamshell packages, garden hose, wood, cardboard, trimmer line, twine, tree roots, de-burred and scraped paint from PVC pipe, etc. I gave that knife a serious workout over my 14 hour "day off." The blade edge made some pretty hard contact with metal when I was cutting both barbs off the garden hose.

On Sunday morning I found the knife in the pocket of my carpenter shorts(laundry pile) covered and jammed with dirt, mulch and paint chips. The blade was still 50% shaving sharp. The rest just needed a touchup on the sharpmaker to bring it back. Even the part of the blade that made contact with metal. Not sure what steel Queen uses on these knives, but it holds an edge quite well. Not bad for a USA made $18 knife. You may want to give this knife a try instead of a cheap Chinese made "toolbox beater" or Opinel.

Queen451.jpg


With an Opinel #8 for comparison.
Queen452.jpg
 
Those are actually a pretty decent knife!

I first saw them in boating shops in the mid 80's, both on the eastern shore of Maryland, and in Bradenton Florida when I was visiting a friend.

It has the advantage of being near impervious to water, decent cutting, easy blade touch up. I saw some versions with an easy open notch, and a bail for a lanyard.

Very practical knife.
 
wow, I thought they only started making them. Btw, Jackknife, how do you know how long they been makin em? I sure wish they's make a barlow out of that knife. I am really glad that there still are nice American made work knives been produced at great prices.

God Bless
 
Big Chiefs are nice fishing knives for cutting bait. I have given several away to friends who fish. I don't anymore...

I wonder if they are named for Naval Officers or Native American Chiefs? Cheesy Name ???
 
d.parker said:
I wonder if they are named for Naval Officers or Native American Chiefs? Cheesy Name ???
Click to expand...
I just assumed they were named after Native American Chiefs. Big Chief just sounds trite to me. Chief perhaps, but BIG CHIEF?!?! I really hate political correctness, but this one just doesn't feel right to me. Perhaps when it was originally introduced, but not so much anymore. I remember a large stiletto knife that was given to me years ago that had THE RIPPER engraved on the handle. Both fall into the cheesy category along with the Jim Wagner REALITY BASED BLADE and the Klingon Warrior knives available on QVC.

IMO Big Chief is an Unfortunate name for an excellent tool. I probably would've never given one a try just because of the name.
 
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Big Chief is a trite name, and has been for centuries. But every body wants to make a Dollar off a Native American even themselves. I hope I'm not sounding to PC for you, but it is sad to me...
 
I have a couple of these #45's. When I was a lad, er, um, a few years ago, I used to lust after the one my father had, so I know they have been making them for some time. I used to sneak his knife out and carry it in the woods.

I eventually got that knife from him. The other was a used one I got in an ebay lot, it's been used a bit, but still a solid knife.

Good knife, not too much in the looks dept. but a good user. The blade, like most Queens I have handled, was thinner than some knives, so you had to keep that in mind, but other wise a good performer.

Glenn
 
Wonder why it doesn't have a bail. It looks like the type that SHOULD have one. I mean being perfect for fishing and all.
 
I'd seen these in my quest into barlows a while back, but didn't know they were still makin' 'em..

hmm..
 
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