Traditional FB - Queen 4180 or...?

[quattromori]

Hi folks!
So lately I've been wondering about getting a fixed blade for general outdoors use (hiking and camping).
For some reasons, I'm in the mood for trying something made by a traditional cutlery factory; my idea is getting something around 7"-8" overall, drop point, wooden handles, and there are a bunch of options out there that fit my idea.
Among these, the Queen 4180 seems to be ahead:

but there's also the CSC drop point hunter:

and the GEC H732:

So, anyone here owns and uses these blades?
What do you think about them?
Can you post some comparison pictures?
Queen's D2 sounds interesting...

Fausto

 

[Rsmith_77]

i have no experience with any of the above
but from the pics, i liking the look of the GEC H732

Now i spend some time in the outdoor forums and other bushcrafty places and what i HEAR is that D2 is a brittle steel. Not so much that you would notice it in a folder, but they have made me a little leery of using it in a bigger fixed blade. take that for what its worth (probably not a whole lot since its all hearsay)

but my 2 cents

 

[quattromori]

Ryan,
Thanks for your reply. I have little experience on D2 myself, and only in a folder; I do like it, but as you say it's a different use. I usually don't cut down trees when I'm outdoors though
As for the GEC, I do like the looks of it as well (although their FB seems a bit high in price to me).
I also know that picking a knife like the ones pictured above made by a slipjoint factory could not be the smartest idea, but hey, take me as I am

Fausto

 

[2Dead]

I don't have the Queen or CSC but do have the GEC. If you like, I can take some comparison pics with some GEC folders if you would like to see a comparison with any in particular. Size wise though, the H73's handle is the same length as the handle of a #73, the cutting edge being 3" with the tang being the 1/2" long. I've sharpened and used a stag version with end cap and it got super sharp and held its edge long enough for me. I can confirm the black canvas with lanyard hole is a lighter knife. Also, the black canvas is the newer run and the H73 sheath is a different than the original sheath. The brown sheath shown in the pic is a little more flexible than the lighter colored one used in the original run and the H23s. It also looks better IMO as it doesn't have the leaves decorating the leather.

Edit: Found a pic I already took that I hope helps a little bit. Top to bottom is an ESEE RC-3 (before they changed their name to ESEE), Izula-2, Bark River Bravo Necker-2 in 3V, and my user H73. I tried to line them up by their plunge lines.

 

[Alnamvet68]

I don't own any traditional fixies, just a Becker and a couple of ESEE's. That said, if I was in the market for one of the above, I would go for the Canal Street, and that's because the blade is a drop point, which is as close to my favorite blade shape, the spear point; aesthetically, the CSC is rather nice.

 

[MT Damascus]

Fausto, you can also find the Canal Street drop point hunter in 440C and reclaimed chestnut. I have a CSC drop point in 440C, nice even grinds, sharp, seems like a great heat treatment, full tang, very well made sheath.


Kris

 

[Bob W]

Drop point hunters are my favorite fixed blade.

The Canal Street is very nice.
That Queen doesn't speak to me, but I love their Light Hunter series. Most of those are clip point though.

Have to checked the For Sale by Maker section? I'm often amazed at how affordable many of the custom knives are, and there are many who put out amazing drop points.

 

[Bob W]

Despite some conjecture about the new Utica company, someone posted a current-production drop point with jigged bone handles that looked very nice.

 

[AddictedToGear]

Some good looking fixed blades, never thought too much about a fixed traditional, but they have peeked my interest a little.

 

[quattromori]

Fausto, you can also find the Canal Street drop point hunter in 440C and reclaimed chestnut.

Kris

Kris,
that's the version that I would get; I posted another picture just for visual reference of the pattern. Same goes for the GEC (bocote calls!)
Thank you for your replies. I know there are great custom FB in the knifemakers' sales section. I guess I'm just weird

Fausto

 

[Halfneck]

The GEC fixed blade I liked was the bird & trout in jigged bone. Nice size and a thin blade that I'm sure would get screaming sharp. Only thing that stopped me from getting one at the time is I have 4-5 fixed blades all around that size.

 

[Bob W]

Here's my Canal Street drop point, a Forager from Bark River, and an Effingham Blackjack.

 

[knarfeng]

what i HEAR is that D2 is a brittle steel.

Famous knife maker Bob Dozier doesn't think so. He makes all his knives out of D2, including the ones he designed for military and tactical use.

 

[gunstockjack]

Bark River in A-2 can't be beat for durability and edge retention.

 

[Rsmith_77]

Famous knife maker Bob Dozier doesn't think so. He makes all his knives out of D2, including the ones he designed for military and tactical use.

hey, i DID preface that with ..."its all hearsay". I have no true experience with D2 in person
but yeah i have heard that, but as you say it doesnt make it necessarily true

 

[SOFileworks]

Personally, I'd go with the Queen Cutlery, the D2 steel is amazing and takes an awesome edge. I do not have the 4180, but I have a 4185 and 2 4190's that seem to be holding up just fine. The only problem I have with Queen fixed blade knives is that the factory edge is quite obtuse, so if you don't mind doing a little reprofiling on the blade, it's a hands down winner...especially considering the price difference.

Scott