Queen City Cutlery Fixed-Blade Hunting Knife
Estimated value
$30 - $60Rarity
Average(4/10)Category
MilitariaBrand
Queen City Cutlery Co.Era
Circa 1922-1940Origin
United StatesAuthenticity
QUEEN CITY CUTLERY FIXED-BLADE HUNTING KNIFE: IDENTIFICATION
A fixed-blade hunting knife featuring a carbon steel blade, a flat steel oval guard, and a heavily worn handle. The ricasso bears a cursive 'Queen' over 'City' tang stamp. A large, crudely incised letter 'A' is scratched into the obverse blade flat, likely applied by a previous owner. The blade profile appears to be a modified or heavily worn clip-point design.
CROSS-CULTURAL PARALLELS
Where This Object Echoes
The practice of carrying private-purchase civilian hunting knives into combat zones, a common necessity during the early years of World War II before standardized combat knives like the Ka-Bar were widely distributed.
Ritual & Ceremonial Use
- •The personalization of field gear, evidenced by the crude 'A' scratched into the blade, which served to identify private property in shared military or hunting camp environments.
ISSUE & SERVICE HISTORY
COLLECTOR NOTES
The founders of Queen City originally manufactured knives secretly on weekends while still employed by Schatt & Morgan, eventually leading to their dismissal and the formal creation of their own company in 1922.
SCARCITY
Typical antique shop fare. Requires some searching but regularly available. This is where most genuine antiques fall.
Typical Characteristics
- Standard antique shop items
- Regularly available
- Moderate collector interest
Confidence Factors
- The cursive Queen City tang stamp is accurate for pre-1945 production.
MILITARY HISTORIAN'S TAKE
Militaria Historian
The tang stamp is distinctly legible as Queen City, allowing for a precise dating window before the company's name change. The wear patterns heavily corroborate the era.
CONDITION & GRADE
Grading breakdown
Grade is severely limited by deep blade pitting, rust on the tang and guard, structural degradation of the handle, and aggressive modern reshaping of the blade profile.
Condition
The knife shows heavy environmental deterioration and significant material loss. Deep pitting covers the blade flats, and the edge geometry has been visibly altered by coarse grinding or sharpening (consistent with the diamond stone visible in the background). The handle material is severely degraded, and the guard suffers from active oxidation.
MILITARIA VALUATION
Updated: Aug 31, 2026
- Market comparables from auctions & retail
- Condition, completeness & craftsmanship
- Current collector demand & trends
- Low = quick sale, high = patient seller
For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.
YOUR INPUT VS. SCAN
How your provided context compares with Curiosa.com scanner findings.
What Aligned
- User identified the maker as 'Queen City', which is confirmed by the visible tang stamp.
- User suggested 'Ww2 pre 1940', which aligns perfectly with the 'Queen City' branding used between 1922 and the mid-1940s.
What Conflicted
- User described the condition as 'Minor wear', but the visual evidence shows severe pitting, active rust, handle degradation, and aggressive modern sharpening marks indicating heavy wear and poor condition.
ABOUT MILITARIA
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