What is the general consensus about the quality of Moore Maker knives

[texaztea]

What do you all think about the quality of these knives, and, what knife company would you say is their equal. Would you consider them to be a true Texas knife? Thanks.

 

[SVTFreak]

I've had two. A 3 blade stockman and a 5 blade sow belly. Both where good quality. The stockman has a minor blade rub but that's about normal. The 5 blade I think didn't have any. Fit and finish was as to be expected. Mine are both the more expensive of their lines. I don't recall who makes each level, queen maybe made them? Or csc? Either way, I'll say that the quality of my pair is on par with gec, better than case. It's what I expected for the price. Would recommend.

 

[supratentorial]

What do you all think about the quality of these knives, and, what knife company would you say is their equal.

The quality varies with the manufacturer and the year of production. Queen, Bear & Son, and Utica are their equals since they manufacture(d) their knives. Queen can be hit or miss in terms of quality. Bear & Son and Utica make (made) their less expensive knives.

Would you consider them to be a true Texas knife? Thanks.

Moore Maker is located in Matador, TX. The knives are made by Queen in Titusville, PA and Bear & Son Cutlery in Jacksonville, AL. Some of the older knives were made by Utica in NY.

I'm not aware of any knife companies in TX. There are custom knife makers in TX. Bill Ruple is a well known custom knife maker in TX... born and raised in TX iirc. In addition to his customs, he's done some production knife collaborations with Queen.

 

[r8shell]

What do you all think about the quality of these knives, and, what knife company would you say is their equal. Would you consider them to be a true Texas knife? Thanks.

Queen made their higher end line of knives, and I believe most are currently made by Bear & Sons. (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) I haven't been too impressed by the Bear & Sons I've handled: not great fit&finish, and the steel was softer than I prefer. I'm not saying they are terrible, but I'd advise inspecting a few before buying.

I see them for sale at gun and knife shows in Central Texas, and a lot of folks think they're "true Texas knives." Not actually manufactured here, but a Texan owned company. From Moore Maker's website:

Q: Are your knives made in USA, Texas, etc?

A: Our knives are 100% made in the USA with American made materials. All of our knives are contract manufactured for us by American companies in various states. We own the patents and materials and in many cases the jigs and dies as well. We do not build knives in Matador, TX currently we only build some dehorners and fencing tools in Matador.

 

[supratentorial]

 

[neal70]

There was a beautiful black-horn cattlemen stockman just up in the exchange. Hard to tell from just a photo, but the quality looked to be there. Based on appearance, I would guess a Queen make, but idk for sure. It just looked...right, if you know what I mean.
Thanks, Neal

 

[cilohaefink]

Currently:

Queen makes Moore Maker's more expensive line of knives. Most of these have natural handle materials - bone, stag, horn, but Queen makes some delrin handled models.

Bear makes some, both with natural and delrin handles.

Utica makes many models, both with bone and delrin handles. These are the lower priced knives.

Regarding Bear, I do not know whether they still make knives for MM, or whether the lower end production has now all gone to Utica.

In the past:

Camillus made a lot of knives for Moore Maker, in yellow delrin and in black buffalo horn. MM may still have some of these for sale.

Canal Street made a limited number of knives/patterns.

Boker (Solingen) made a few knives/patterns - these would be the only Moore Makers NOT made in the USA.

 

[supratentorial]

Currently:

Queen makes Moore Maker's more expensive line of knives. Most of these have natural handle materials - bone, stag, horn, but Queen makes some delrin handled models.

Bear makes some, both with natural and delrin handles.

Utica makes many models, both with bone and delrin handles. These are the lower priced knives.

Regarding Bear, I do not know whether they still make knives for MM, or whether the lower end production has now all gone to Utica.

In the past:

Camillus made a lot of knives for Moore Maker, in yellow delrin and in black buffalo horn. MM may still have some of these for sale.

Canal Street made a limited number of knives/patterns.

Boker (Solingen) made a few knives/patterns - these would be the only Moore Makers NOT made in the USA.

You should write a book

Good info !

 

[JustinR]

From what I have seen the slim single blade lockbacks are CSC pinch knives. I have one in white tail antler and have also seen them in mesquite.

I have had several of the queen made knives, never had an issue with them.

Fairly easy to tell the queen knives from the others.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

 

[Woodrow F Call]

I'd be fine with Queen made knives.. honestly, the Bear and Son knives I've delt with were not very impressive even at the price.

 

[neal70]

I had no idea about the CSC connection. That's a good thing to know, as scarcity is driving up prices(or lack of new production, what have you). It also speaks to quality of the higher end products, as rarely do you hear/read of complaints about them, albeit they are defunct. Hmmm...more options for acquisitions in that arena are always good.
Thanks, Neal

 

[Horsewright]

I've got one, a locking two bladed trapper from 1998. Yellow bone scales. Don't know who made it but fit and finish is excellent. I used this sucker so much its now my doctoring knife. The main blade is about 1/3rd the size it was. Been sharpened a bunch Steel is soft, not much on edge holding.

 

[black mamba]

I think I've seen their 1095 listed at 55-57 HRc, so they are a little on the soft side, pretty similar to older Case CV.

I've had 4 or 5 of the Queen made ones, and they're very nice. My favorite is the 4⅜" #5304 stockman in burnt white bone.

 

[navihawk]

I have an older Queen made small stockman that reeks with quality. I almost think that Queen puts a little more effort in their contract knives. I did have an issue with it early on, I can't remember what it was. I bought it on eBay and MooreMaker replaced it for me no questions asked. I also have a couple of the horn Camillus made knives which are nice. Safe Queens now that Camillus is gone. I think Knifeswapper has a few older Queen made knives, not sure.

 

[brownshoe]

I've got one, a locking two bladed trapper from 1998. Yellow bone scales. Don't know who made it but fit and finish is excellent. I used this sucker so much its now my doctoring knife. The main blade is about 1/3rd the size it was. Been sharpened a bunch Steel is soft, not much on edge holding.

That's a Camillus, I think. IIRC, it is a pattern unique to Mooremaker and Camiillus. I think Camillus had the patent. It's a classic and for awhile (I think after Camillus removed it from their line) the only thing unique about the brand.

The Mooremakers I've seen in the last 20 years were hit/miss in quality and always %20 higher than the original manufacturer's price for the pattern with their brand. The only thing Texas about them is Mooremaker contracts and sells them from Texas and they sometimes come with a tall tale about being from Texas and of high quality to please the ranch hand who's hard on knives

 

[navihawk]

That's a Camillus, I think. IIRC, it is a pattern unique to Mooremaker and Camiillus. I think Camillus had the patent. It's a classic and for awhile (I think after Camillus removed it from their line) the only thing unique about the brand.

The Mooremakers I've seen in the last 20 years were hit/miss in quality and always %20 higher than the original manufacturer's price for the pattern with their brand. The only thing Texas about them is Mooremaker contracts and sells them from Texas and they sometimes come with a tall tale about being from Texas and of high quality to please the ranch hand who's hard on knives

The thing that appealed to me on MooreMakers is the shield was cool.

 

[Captain O]

This further reinforces my decision to buy the #69 1/2 pattern Queen Barlow. It looks as if, when it arrives it looks as if it will co-star with my Curly Zebrawood Stockman as "Belle Of The Ball". I'll go back to bed now and have some Queen Barlow "sweet dreams".

 

[Jolipapa]

I guess that Utica made show a "U" in the pattern n°.