Winchester knives??

[robertj298]

I'm wondering about the quality of the Winchesters made by Queen from the late 1980s through the 1990s. Is there a way to discern which knives were made by Queen and which weren't? Thanks Bob

 

[MerryMadMonk]

I'm wondering about the quality of the Winchesters made by Queen from the late 1980s through the 1990s. Is there a way to discern which knives were made by Queen and which weren't? Thanks Bob

I believe the Winchester knives from that time period (except metal handled ones) were made by Queen for Blue Grass Cutlery.

I own about a dozen and, IMHO, the quality is comparable to Great Eastern Cutlery. I have read here and elsewhere that Bill Howard (formerly of Queen Cutlery and now the owner of GEC) was the guiding hand behind the Queen-made Winchesters.

Maybe others with more knowledge will chime in.

ETA: This a really good thread on "Black Box" Winchesters

 

[silenthunterstudios]

I had one of the well regarded Winchester moose patterns. Excellent fit and finish, I traded it to a knife buddy for his son at Christmas.

 

[Campbellclanman]

These are EXCELLENT knives, I have owned many over the last few years, still retain about 10 or so - just so well made - I agree with Al - they are on the same level as GEC and that is a big thing to say - as GEC are just fantastic- right up there.
Bluegrass Cutlery commissioned Queen to make these knives, the Utica Bone imo is just gorgeous - very dark - but often the jig work is fantastic, in good daylight you see better colour in the bone. Just really good knives

 

[kamagong]

You could argue that the black box Winchesters are better than GECs. The ones that I've seen had superior swedging. The guys at Queen knew how to high polish a blade, while maintaining its crisp lines.



- Christian

 

[MerryMadMonk]

The weather cleared up enough to allow me to get some fairly decent pictures.

Left to right #1924 Toothpick (1987), #3964 Stockman (1987), #2857 Teardrop Jack (1987), #2991 Equal End (1988)

Close-up of the stockman. The bone looks black at first glance. It's actually dark brown.

#39097 Whittlers (1996)

#3995 Whittler (1991), #2904 1/2 Trapper (1989)

#39101 Whittler (1992 - White box) flanked by two GEC Northfield #89 whitttlers

Group shot of Winchester whittlers. The clip point is #390119 (1998 - White box)

Another group shot with the #29105 Banana Trapper (1994) at the top.

 

[Pipeman]

This is a recent gift from Duncan (thanks Brother))) a three spring whittler. Wonderfully build, beautiful scales. This one is a black box 1988.
Best regards

Robin

 

[quattromori]

I own one, and recently sold another (both belonging to the black box series).
If I should give an opinion on Winchester knives based on the ones I've handled, they're great knives

Fausto

 

[puukkoman]

The few I've handled, at a gun show a few years ago, were some of the nicest I've seen built by anyone.
Figures, that they're a Bill Howard project.

Some beautiful Winchesters here, guys. Thanks so much for showing them; I was unaware of some of these varieties. The big red whittler is spectacular! :thumbup: