Which brand Canoe knife ?

[Chibbi]

What's the best value for money Canoe knife I can buy ?

Rough Rider
Kissing Crane
Case XX (Case Brothers)
Boker (Tree Brand)
Marbles
Hen & Rooster
Schrade
Queen Cutlery
Schatt & Morgan

...and why ?

Or yet another brand ?

[Noddy]

German Eye is a good one, and affordable

Queen: there is one in D2 with jigged bone scales which is a good un - (sold it)

and replaced it with one of Queen's strawberry bone ones in 1095 - beeeeeezer!!!!

Look at Cumberland Knife Works page

[bardster]

I have a fantastic example of a marbles one, tiger stripe micarta. Don't think they are available anymore.

[pennillion]

I believe Schatt & Morgan are made by Queen cutlery.

Saying that, Silverpete gave me a Queen 'Canoe' knife for my birthday recently, and its the bees knees. Its very comfortable, smooth and well made.:)

[dkonopinski]

I'm with Noddy on this one. The German Eye canoe is excellent apart from the fact that you need a bit of Durafil to stop the blade hitting the spring on closing.

David

[Danzo]

Best value is without a doubt Rough Rider. Even their not so good ones are worth the money, and their good ones are as good as anything that Case currently do.

Danzo

[harryf3]

I don't know if it's close to best value for money but Dozier makes a perfect canoe knife in D2 for $195.00, the K-20 Canoe.

[Noddy]

.... knife in D2 for $195.00, the K-20 Canoe.

Ohhh! That looks like one for the birdntrout search - just going to see if I can borrow a pic of it from somewhere :D

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x308/nodney1/61os7s4.jpg





Image from Santi here: http://www.dozierknives.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6884&sid=05ca52982fc309dcaa4ae66fb00e24c7

[rlocock]

I'm with Danzo,regarding value for money,Rough Rider take some beating.

[mloc]

I have a Queen cutlery in D2 with some form of birds eye maple wood scales, it's a great knife but it wasn't the sharpest out of the box but with a little work they are good little cutters

mine is just like this one http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Queen-Canoe-2-Blade-Birdseye-Maple-Model-QN64BEM-NEW_W0QQitemZ180290140537QQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p3 286.m20.l1116
but I've never used this seller

[Ratel10mm]

Canal Street Cutlery do a nice Canittler

[Chibbi]

Cheers for the feedback everyone.

I think I'll try out a Rough Rider first and if the design pleases me, I'll probably invest in a Queen or Schatt&Morgan :happy14:

[Gmountain]

I'm late, but hve a nice one from Canal Street.

[mito0]

for years, i collected almost nothing but canoes, and i think the best knife for the money is queen's 1095 "queen city" canoe. there are 4 different jigged bone models to choose from (i'm partial to the strawberry bone myself). they were limited to only 100 pieces but they're still fairly easy to get.

http://collectorknives.net/other.html#Queen

or

cumberlandknifeworks.com

northwoods, schatt & morgan, robeson, the "msa" marble's and the standard queen D2 canoes are all made by the same folks and they're all excellent, but i think 1095 is a better steel for every day use than either D2 (northwoods, marble's, some robesons and queen) or 420HC (s&m and most robesons).
don't judge the canoe pattern based solely on the rough rider knife, or any other canoe for that matter.
every company makes it different, each with their own little idiosyncrasies and benefits.
i've sold all of mine except the queen-made models, but you'll almost certainly find one that fits all of your needs.
the marble's canoe whittlers (or cannitlers) are still available, but expensive.

http://www.bay-shore-resort.com/store/marbles/pocketknives/canoewhittler.asp

or

http://www.knivesshipfree.com/M.S.A.-Marble%27s/c524/index.html

the new marble's knives are made in china and i don't know anything about their quality.

[Franciscomv]

All the Queens I've owned came with VERY dull edges, they needed grinding, not just sharpenning. That coupled with D2 steel which is quite wear resistant, turned me off Queen knives. The fit and finish was exquisite, but they didn't cut.

Case, on the other hand, has been great so far. I love their CV knives and they have pretty good fit and finish as well as sharp blades (some do need sharpening, but nothing a few minutes on the stones won't fix). Plus they are cheaper than Queens.

[mito0]

yeah, queen has never been good at honing for some reason.
D2 is definitely hard to sharpen, but 1095 is one of the easiest steels to sharpen and they're priced right.
my biggest problems with case have always been their bland, generic designs and their "mystery" steels. for whatever reason, they won't disclose the actual steels they use. instead, they come up with made up terms for them. that has always seemed shady to me.

[fluffy]

The Schatt and Morgans I have are in ats34 and still cutting when the D2 had blunted.
Which was not what I expected.
Saying that they were about 4 times the price.
Then again they look better too.

[TOM STRATTON]

I like the Case Baby Butterbean, which is a small canoe model.They fit in my watchpocket of my Levi's so don't get all scratched up like carrying a knife in front pocket.

[Mike Bowler]

I have a Kissing crane in my pocket blade less than 3" long so legal to carry in UK

[Franciscomv]

yeah, queen has never been good at honing for some reason.
D2 is definitely hard to sharpen, but 1095 is one of the easiest steels to sharpen and they're priced right.
my biggest problems with case have always been their bland, generic designs and their "mystery" steels. for whatever reason, they won't disclose the actual steels they use. instead, they come up with made up terms for them. that has always seemed shady to me.

The mistery steel thing is quite obnoxious.

I've never tried a 1095 Queen, I only have a couple of their D2 knives (which didn't require sharpening, that would have been fine, they needed grinding). I'll add one to my wish list.

[Noddy]

they won't disclose the actual steels they use. instead, they come up with made up terms for them..

My guess is that they change the actual steel (source/composition etc) regularly enough for them to need to blur the fact - so, TruSharp, CV and so forth stand in as general descriptors for a stainless and a non-stainless. Probably not mystery steels in the sense of trade secret a al Coca Cola, more the fact that from one run to the next, they aren't precisely certain what they will be using.

Total guess

I am not a great fan of case, but apart from some bad patches, they make pretty good knives, easily sharpenable, whatever the steel turns out to be (just like Victorinox, I suppose)

[Chibbi]

Finally came around to buying a Canoe knife (well, two actually :D ).

Decided to try a Rough Rider for EDC and a CaseXX Limited Edition for the display ;)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3207/2983580315_6081be0e4e_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3140/2983581343_c28b058245_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3162/2984438848_c2141d2849_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/2983583389_5be61047b2_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2163/2984442456_6c7586bdf5_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3046/2983584619_87afc442a7_b.jpg

Must say that I'm VERY impressed by the Rough Rider which at 1/4th the cost of the CaseXX seems almost equally good. I say equally 'cause the handle material of the CaseXX definitely feels better. Otherwise, equally sharp, equally nice feel to the opening and closing, equally sturdy built. No idea how the steel will hold up of course, since I only just got them. They are roughly the same size. (Rough Rider looks smaller in the pics, but that's just the way I took the pics) The Rough Rider is a tad thicker and heavier then the CaseXX. Also the shape of the main blade is a bit pointier then the CaseXX. So I'm not sure if it's the correct shape for a Canoe knife.

[TOM STRATTON]

I really trust the quality of Schatt & Morgan,but Case has a nice canoe its just the canoe etch on the blade is a turnoff to me.I also like their Baby butterbean which is a baby canoe but the South won on this one.only Southerners here in America know what a butterbean is...LOL

[paulm]

Interesting to see the pics of the RR alongside the Case.

Have to say I couldn't live with the cheap looking scales on that particular RR regardless of how good value it was, the Case just looks a whole load classier to my eye, but I suppose if you just wanted a low cost edc maybe the RR is fine for that.

I picked up a new RR on the bay recently and the handle slabs look great, MOP with a piece of abalone inset, forget the price but around £15 or so I think, but the blades are very skinny, they don't spring fully closed, and the fit and finish is poor generally. Maybe it's worth the money as a no fuss edc but not a patch on the various Cases, Kissing Cranes, Bokers or even Henckels that I've picked up along the way, although not all of those are canoes.

Faves are probably the Case xx damascus (barlow and whittler rather than canoe though) and the Kissing Crane, but not necessarily the cheapest and not therefore perhaps best value but I always enjoy handling and using them, whereas I don't think I'll bother with any more RR's !

Cheers, Paul :)

[Noddy]

Northwoods - they are always there with the D2 :D I feel so sure that they are made by Queen that I must be wrong

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x308/nodney1/a91-1.jpg

[Hector]

I only have 2 Canoe knives...
a Case CV in Amber bone and a Bulldog with nice stag.

The Case blades are much thinner and will therefore be easier to call 'scary sharp', since they are easier to keep sharp.


The Bulldog has thicker blades and is a heavier knife, but the carbon steel is so easy to sharpen.... I use one of those disposal nail file thingies that are designed for synthetic nails. They are cushioned and last a long time and weigh nothing, so they fit in the pocket and can be taken anywhere.:)

I quite like the canoes pattern. Especially the sunk bolsters; they sit nicely in the pocket, without any sharp bits to attract lint.:lol:

[Hukk]

My guess is that they change the actual steel (source/composition etc) regularly enough for them to need to blur the fact - so, TruSharp, CV and so forth stand in as general descriptors for a stainless and a non-stainless. Probably not mystery steels in the sense of trade secret a al Coca Cola, more the fact that from one run to the next, they aren't precisely certain what they will be using.

Total guess

I am not a great fan of case, but apart from some bad patches, they make pretty good knives, easily sharpenable, whatever the steel turns out to be (just like Victorinox, I suppose)

I'm not a great fan of Case either BUT I do like Case CV steel. It is a modified 1095, essentially 1095 with Chromium and Vanadium added. This is one of the more common carbon steels in the cutlery industry, however it is rarely called by 50100-B - the true name of the steel. Cold Steel calls it Carbon V, Camillus calls it 0170-6C, and Case calls it "chrome vanadium", or CV. Here is a link from which I got my information http://www.cutleryscience.com/reviews/blade_materials.html#C_50100B The authors compare 50100-B with W7, but I don't know about that - I also don't know much about W7 other than what's in my Heat Treater's Guide. The 1095 comparison makes far more sense to me.

Performance of this common (likely the most common of all cutlery steels) cutlery steel will of course vary because each company heat treats the steels differently.

Case uses so much of the Tru-Sharp stainless that they probably have it made just for them. Since it's known to be a High Carbon Stainless Steel it is probably 420 HC stainless Steel. The steel is very common and Cheap.

[silverpete]

Yes the Queen canoe knives do come with blunt edges, but once you have got a good edge on the blade they are excellent knives and beautiful finished. Having said that I was going to say look for a Case canoe which is what you bought, they are also great knives and more easily available.

Peter :)

[Bazza]

I'm on the lookout for a canoe and must say the Queen model is very appealing, however why buy a knife that's blunt, is it some sort of liability protection on their part?

Barry

[Draven]

I'm on the lookout for a canoe and must say the Queen model is very appealing, however why buy a knife that's blunt, is it some sort of liability protection on their part?

Barry

I've wondered that myself, the edges that come on Old Hickory knives are about 1mm thick. To be honest, I assumed that it was because they wanted a thicker edge for heat treat, and didn't want the bother of having to grind them down again with a slow grinder so as not to ruin the HT. But that's just a guess and I don't know if it fits for other companies...

More on topic, I got a Rough Rider canoe last week and love it :D Brilliant EDC, nice and non-threatening, and small enough that you won't notice it in your pocket until you need it.
http://neo-thought.parallel-worlds.net/canoe3.JPG
Pictured with my RR Elephant's Toenail.
The fit and finish on the scales is great, the springs are nice and tight with a reassuring click on opening. finish between springs is also good, and the blades are supurb, with great edge retention through the bit of whittling and box cutting I've done with it - I had no idea 440 could be as good as this.

Excellent value for money, Rough Rider and Svord Peasants are the Moras of pocket knives IMO.

Good to see the pics of the Rough Rider with the Case too!

Pete

[silverpete]

I'm on the lookout for a canoe and must say the Queen model is very appealing, however why buy a knife that's blunt, is it some sort of liability protection on their part?

Barry

Well the edge is not actually blunt its just that it could be better, AND I think it varies from knife to knife as I have other Queen knives that were perfect straight out the box. But having said this once they are sharp they are excellent, and that D2 blade holds an edge forever :)

Peter.

[Ropeman]

I've got two, a Queen in D2 and Birdseye Maple, it's been heavily stropped so it can actually cut things now but it gets regular pocket rotation. The other is a titchy litle Rough Rider, that is amazing value for money, I think mine cost £5 :lol:

[Texas Dave]

I only have a Rough Rider in faux Abalone. I bought it as a proof of style knife but it came VERY sharp with good fit and finish and snap and I can't afford anything else just now anyhow.

[Ryano]

Canal Street Cannitler gets my vote...

[Texas Dave]

Well sure, if you can afford it. My Rough Rider slices paper dang near as good as any of my knives!

[silverpete]

Value for money the Rough Rider's win hands down, fantastic for the price :D

[JMS]

Queen Cutlery, D2, and MY edges :-)

http://outdoors.free.fr/upload/images/James_DSC04181.jpg
http://outdoors.free.fr/upload/images/James_dsc04175.jpg
http://outdoors.free.fr/upload/images/James_dsc04182.jpg

[Ash]

I voted Queen.

I just got one of the Cozy Glen City Canoes in strawberry bone and 1095 carbon steel.

It's a beauty. I thought i'd take some pics before I get a patina on the blades....this one's gonna get used.

Very smooth pocket friendly design.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee228/neilashton/fs3348.jpg


Two very useful blades.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee228/neilashton/fs3352.jpg


With the BB standard unit of measure for comparison.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee228/neilashton/fs3354.jpg


Nice and slim due to the single spring design.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee228/neilashton/fs3356.jpg


Great F&F for a production knife.

Yep, I like this one :D

Ash

[silverpete]

That's a beauty Ash, gotta love those canoe's :D

Peter :)

[Noddy]

There is a lovely Fight'n Rooster in stag on the Bay at the moment - just the name of the company in the etch:) Suh-weet!!, as they say in Knightsbridge

[Texas Dave]

If I had molested anything else but my RR Canoe I'd be heartbroken.

I dremeled off some of the spring so the main blade would open farther (straighter out) and it weakend the spring pretty bad.

I put that end in a vise and gave it friction and it does open almost straight out.