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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Rookie
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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1 more I took today. I liked the way this moss covered rotted log makes the knife stand out.
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2015-tuna-valley-scout-mammoth2.jpg
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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I had to add 2 more pictures I have, of a 2015 Tuna Valley Muskrat with Buffalo Horn handles.
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2015-Tuna-Valley-Muskrat-Buffalo-01.jpg
2015-Tuna-Valley-Muskrat-Buffalo-02.jpg
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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3 recent knives I acquired.

2009 - first edition - Tuna Valley Scout Trapper in Burnt Stag
2012 - Tuna Valley Lockback Trapper in Burnt Stag with Engraved Bolsters
2014 - Tuna Valley Gunstock Jack in Mammoth Ivory with Engraved Bolsters
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2009-tuna-valley-trapper01.jpg
2009-tuna-valley-trapper02.jpg
2015-tuna-valley-lockback-engrave01.jpg
2015-tuna-valley-lockback-engrave02.jpg
2014-tuna-valley-gunstock-ivory01.jpg
2014-tuna-valley-gunstock-ivory02.jpg
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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2015 Tuna Valley muskrat in mammoth ivory.
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20154-tuna-valley-muskrat-ivory01.jpg
20154-tuna-valley-muskrat-ivory02.jpg
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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Nice day out today, the grass is mowed, the garden is watered. So I took this coke bottle out of it's tube and snapped some photos of it. These 2 turned out pretty nice.
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2013-tuna-valley-coke-bottle-amber-stag01.jpg
2013-tuna-valley-coke-bottle-amber-stag02.jpg
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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New one for me. Tuna Valley carpenter whittler with buffalo horn.
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2016-tuna-valley-carpenter-whittler-buffalo.jpg
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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Another shot from today. This is my buffalo herd.
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buffalo-group-01.jpg
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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Here are a few more shots. I posted these in the Photography forum also.
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2014-tuna-valley-tadpole-mammoth-01.jpg
2014-tuna-valley-tadpole-mammoth-02.jpg
2013-tuna-valley-sweybelly-trapper-amber-stag.jpg
2013-tuna-valley-sweybelly-trapper-amber-stag-2.jpg
2012-tuna-valley-sunfish-whittler-burnt-stag-01.jpg
2012-tuna-valley-sunfish-whittler-burnt-stag-02.jpg
2016-tuna-valley-carpenter-whittler-buffalo2.jpg
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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New ones to add to the pile.
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2016-tuna-valley-carpenter-whittler-burnt-stag.jpg
2016-tuna-valley-carpenter-whittler-burnt-stag2.jpg
2016-tuna-valley-teardrop-burnt-stag.jpg
2016-tuna-valley-teardrop-burnt-stag2.jpg
2016-tuna-valley-muskrat-burnt-stag.jpg
2016-tuna-valley-muskrat-burnt-stag2.jpg
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Re: Tuna Valley Picture Show

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Some mighty fine looking cutlery Rookie!
If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.

Wayne

Please visit My AAPK store https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/catalog/btrwtr
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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

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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 ?
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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

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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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