Tuna Valley Picture Show

Tuna Valley Cutlery Co., Excelsior Knife Co., & Napanoch Knife Co. are three popular brands currently controlled by The Daniels family. These are old names that went dormant for years, but have since been brought back to life with modern offerings. This forum is here to discuss & show off knives & related items with brand names under the Daniels Family umbrella.
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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Thanks Wayne, I appreciate that. These knives to me are like jewelry to women. Can never get enough.
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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teardrop in ivory
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2016-tuna-valley-teardrop-ivory.jpg
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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other side of the ivory teardrop.
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2016-tuna-valley-teardrop-ivory2.jpg
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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latest release from Dec 31, 2016. Cattleman stockman, this one in burnt stag.
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2016-tuna-valley-cattleman-burnt-stag.jpg
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

Post by kootenay joe »

Rookie, i just read this thread and so enjoyed looking at your excellent Tuna Valley knives. Thanks for doing the work needed to take these pictures and post them for others to see.
Do you have a Tuna Valley that you carry & use ?
How are the blade grinds ? Queen has a reputation for too thick primary grinds and dull edges at times as well. I would hope that on this premium offering, only blades with the best grinds would be installed. But is this the case ? I think they are intended more for the collector than user so it is possible that thick primary grinds are not a concern ?
I have just looked at the Tuna Valley knives at dealer a site. I see that the mammoth handled ones, regardless of pattern are $500, whereas the Stag, etc are $200. It is very nice mammoth and i collect ivory & mammoth handled knives but $300 extra is considerably more than i will pay.
Rookie i see that you have a few T.V. with mammoth handles. Do you feel pleased enough with these knives that paying over twice the price is worthwhile ?
Does this $300 extra put others here off buying a mammoth Tuna Valley ?
kj
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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Hi Joe, I started collecting these after my grandfather gave me one of the original pearl 1906 Tuna Valley knives. It made for a perfect centerpiece to focus the collection around. You are correct, all my Tuna are collectible/display pieces, I don't use them.

The blades have a mostly uniform grind, maybe a few weren't perfect. Typical to fashion from Queen, the blades don't come razor sharp from the factory.

Most of my knives I acquired are 2nd hand, or bought at shows. In both cases you can pick up a knife for quite a bit less than full dealer price. I've spoken to Ryan and Courtney Daniels on many occasions (and bought knives from them), and they introduced me to some of the dealers, so I can also buy from dealer sites with a discount price occasionally.

I love the mammoth ivory, and all the Tuna knives I've seen have premium ivory. So much character and each knife has perfectly matched handles. And there is a lot of variety from knife to knife, so lots of different colors to choose from (white, brown, red, blue, green). Part of the reason that the mammoth handled knives are more money isn't just the ivory, but also the ivory is fluted on the ends, and then the bolsters are each hand engraved by Oiseau Metal Arts, so that adds to the cost, and they are also limited to only 25 pieces. At knife shows, you can often find an ivory Tuna Valley knife in the $350-$400 range, but even still, you are correct that most won't pay that much for a factory made knife. I've never found a flaw with any of the ivory handled knives, and I would say they are higher quality than factory made, but not quite up to custom made quality. But I like them, I'm blessed to be able to buy them when I wish, so I keep buying them. :D

Here is a newer one that I just recently got pictures of. The carpenter whittler in ivory.
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2016-tuna-valley-carpenter-whittler-mammoth-ivory.jpg
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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Thank you Rookie. Your reply really helps me understand these knives.
Did T.V. use elephant ivory on any of it's knives before the ban went into effect ?
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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All Tuna knives use mammoth ivory only.
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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I liked these pics I got today walking in the woods with my camera and a newly acquired Tuna knife. 2012 Cotton King with Ebony Wood handles.
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2012-tuna-valley-cotton-ebony-01.jpg
2012-tuna-valley-cotton-ebony-02.jpg
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

Post by kootenay joe »

Another fine Tuna Valley knife & well photographed as well.
Rookie you sure are putting on a great knife show here. I like the Burnt Stag & Mammoth ones best but so far i don't have one to post.
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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Thanks Joe! Here are a few new ones I took today.
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2012-tuna-valley-spear-lockback-amber-stag02.jpg
2012-tuna-valley-spear-lockback-amber-stag03.jpg
2010-tuna-valley-cigar-redbone02.jpg
2010-tuna-valley-cigar-redbone03.jpg
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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Wow ! More spectacular knives. Is this 2 knives or 4 knives ?
These Tuna Valley knives you have would make a stunning display if all shown together like on a display board/cabinet.
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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Those are just 2 knives, I posted 2 shots of each one. They are the 2012 lockback in amber stag, with spear point blade (made by Queen Cutlery). And the 2010 4-blade cigar congress in jigged redbone (made by Great Eastern).

That is actually my long term goal, if I ever get "man cave" built in my house, I'm going to create a nice wooden/glass display with black velvet liner, and soft light inside. That's probably a 10 year goal at this point though. :D
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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Time for a photo update. Here are a few new shots from during the past few weekends while I'm out walking in the woods behind the house.
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2016-tuna-valley-carpenter-whittler-mammoth-ivory02.jpg
2016-tuna-valley-carpenter-whittler-mammoth-ivory03.jpg
2016-tuna-valley-teardrop-amber-stag02.jpg
2016-tuna-valley-teardrop-amber-stag03.jpg
2010-tuna-valley-cigar-congress-brazil-cherry-01.jpg
2010-tuna-valley-cigar-congress-brazil-cherry-02.jpg
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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Another couple I took today, of the 2012 version of the cigar stockman with brazillian cherry.
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2012-tuna-valley-cigar-brazil-cherry02.jpg
2012-tuna-valley-cigar-brazil-cherry03.jpg
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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Thanks Rookie. You are showing us the best Tuna Valley Picture Show anywhere online i do believe.
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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Thanks Joe! I like walking in the woods, I like Tuna Valley knives, and I like taking photos of them. So I would probably be doing this even if nobody was watching. haha
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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Amazing knives and pics!! Thanks for posting!! ::tu::
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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Thanks Scott, much appreciated. :D
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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Some new ones to show.
Attachments
2012-tuna-valley-lockback-ebony2.jpg
2012-tuna-valley-lockback-ebony3.jpg
2012-tuna-valley-cotton-burnt-stag-01.jpg
2012-tuna-valley-cotton-burnt-stag-02.jpg
2012-Tuna-Valley-Lockback-Clip-Burnt-Stag.jpg
2012-Tuna-Valley-Lockback-Clip-Burnt-Stag2.jpg
2015-tuna-valley-railsplitter-ivory.jpg
2015-tuna-valley-railsplitter-ivory2.jpg
2016-tuna-valley-cattleman-burnt-stag2.jpg
2016-tuna-valley-cattleman-burnt-stag3.jpg
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

Post by kootenay joe »

Can you give me a few details on the black handled "Stabber Jack". I am pretty sure i need one.
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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Sure KJ, here is what I know about it.

They were released on April 18, 2012, in a limited 50 piece run. The Certificate of Authenticity lists it as "Ebony Wood Lockback pattern". They were made by Queen Cutlery, with the Tuna Valley tang stamp. Original dealer selling price was $120. They are 4 1/2 inches long closed. Blade is made of ATS-34 steel. It has Nickel Silver pins, liners, and bolsters.

They also made 50 more in burnt stag handles in the Swing Guard pattern instead of the lockback. But the handle size/shape and blade/tang are all identical. I've yet to find one of those for sale that wasn't modified, or missing the tube/coa. The hunt still continues for that one.
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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Thanks Rook, 4 1/2" is the same as the GEC # 23. Does this T.V. have a flush & square joint ?
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

Post by 313 Mike »

Fantastic pics of some beautiful knives Rookie, thanks for sharing them . I too like walking in the woods and taking pics of knives, so I can relate! Just curious, when you are woods walking with your TV knives, do you carry them in a special bag or pouch so they don't get all scuffed up? If I am taking multiples into the woods for pics I will sometimes use a fold over style shotgun shell holder with individual velcro sleeves for each shell (or knife).......other times I just load up my pockets and go! :lol:
...always have to be sure to do a little inventory count after pics though so no knife gets left behind....one time I took a bunch of pics of an old wooden Robeson jack atop a big rock off the trail, got about a mile down the path and realized I left the knife perched atop the rock! Hustled all the way back and it was still there thankfully. I was worried some greedy squirrel was going to snatch it up and scurry up a tree with it. That rock is now named "Robeson Rock" in my mind, and I think of it every time I hike past it. :lol:

Another question if you don't mind... I read that you don't carry any of your Tuna knives....what do you edc? It must be something nice I bet, since you have such fine taste in cutlery.....
Mike

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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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Joe, yes the lockback when fully opened is flush. Here is a pic I found of it open, this isn't my photo, just one I had found online a few years ago.


Mike, if I'm taking more than 1 knife in the woods, I usually take a small backpack with me, with the camera, tripod, knives, and a clean cotton cloth to wipe off fingerprints. All the Tuna knives come with a black velvet sleeve, so I keep them in those until they are ready for a photo, and then afterwards they go right back in. I have knives that are users, for in the tackle box or in my hunting pack, but the TV knives are for a display collection only.

I'm a little different than most. I researched for a long time to find my ideal carry knife, and it rides in my pocket every day. I don't have a knife rotation like most, I just have this one and it will be my only one until it fails me or I find something I like better. It is a 2012 S&M sowbelly in stag. This photo was from the day I bought it. It has been sharpened and dropped a few times since then, and the stag isn't as vibrant a color, and the bolsters and blades have some surface scratches on them. But I still like it.
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