Tuna Valley Picture Show

[Rookie]

Some new Tuna knives for me. First is the 2012 lockback with clip blade in amber stag (made by GEC). The 2nd is the newly released 2018 humpback whittler in mammoth ivory. This run was some of the last knives to come out of the Queen factory before they stopped production.

[kootenay joe]

Whoa, i sure like the 2012 Lockback 1
kj

[Rookie]

I got some nice photos today of some Tuna knives.
2009 burnt stag trapper
2014 amber stag gunstock
2015 amber stag railsplitter
2018 ivory humpback whittler

[kootenay joe]

WOW ! times 4 !
Queen is Tops for the best of handle materials.
I think the Tuna Valley knives might one day be seen as the best Queen made knives of the last 75 years and thus become even more collectible.
kj

[Rookie]

I agree, the handle material is top grade. As good on some pieces as to what custom knife makers use.

[Rookie]

Few more new shots of knives that have already been shown.
2012 lockback, spear point, burnt stag, engraved bolster
2012 cotton king, ebony wood
2014 gunstock, burnt stag

[kootenay joe]

Very impressive knives. I especially like the Gunstock with the dramatic saber ground clip blade and absolutely The Best Stag handles i have seen for ages.
Do you know if the Tuna Valley knives will live on despite the loss of Queen ? Except for a small custom shop, GEC is the only manufacturer that can make this quality of traditional folding knives. I have read that GEC is already fully booked for SFO's and is not looking for any more contracts.
kj

[Rookie]

The Tuna Valley name was not part of the Queen Cutlery umbrella. It is separately and privately owned, and the Daniels had worked a deal with the owner to use the name for their high end line of knives from 2012-2018. Rumors I've heard is that the knives may make another comeback in the future, but I'm not sure which company would be making them. I imagine there won't be anything new released from Tuna Valley for the rest of this year, and perhaps longer.

[kootenay joe]

Sounds like there will be a hiatus before any more Tuna Valley knives get made. First a manufacturer will need to be found. There are a few small cutlery shops like "Rock USA" started by Wallace Rockwell from Camillus, so there is hope for high end knives.
kj

[Rookie]

Here are a few new Tuna knives I can show off. The burl wood knives are the final Tuna knives made from the Queen umbrella.

2013 tadpole, amber stag
2018 carpenter whittler, burl wood with copper bolsters
2018 carpenter whittler, burl wood with nickel bolsters

[Rookie]

Photos of some newer Tuna knives for me.

2012 Sunfish Whittler - Amber Stag
2018 Knife Picks - Buckeye Burl Wood, and Burnt Stag
2018 Humpback Whittler - Mother of Pearl
2018 Yankee Muskrat - Orange Maple Burl

[kootenay joe]

Rookie you have the finest Tuna Valley collection anywhere. Perhaps even Ken Daniels does not have an example of all the ones you have.
If no more T.V. knives are made the collector demand for T.V. knives could decrease. I wonder if K.D. is trying to line up cutlers to make T.V. knives for him ? The former Canal Street Cutlery cutlers might be available for work.
Thank you for showing all these very attractive knives and for such well composed and 'sharp' pictures.
kj

[Rookie]

Thanks KJ! These latest ones from 2018 really had a lot of variety. I like what the Daniels were doing with changing up the handle materials. I spoke with Ryan Daniels at a knife show earlier in the year, and he mentioned that they are holding out hope to be able to continue the TV line. It was not part of the Queen umbrella, so they still have the rights to the name.

[Sharpnshinyknives]

Thanks KJ! These latest ones from 2018 really had a lot of variety. I like what the Daniels were doing with changing up the handle materials. I spoke with Ryan Daniels at a knife show earlier in the year, and he mentioned that they are holding out hope to be able to continue the TV line. It was not part of the Queen umbrella, so they still have the rights to the name.

Rookie, You do have the most incredible collection of Tuna Valley knives. Admire your focus on getting so many of these. Well done.
SSk

[Rookie]

Thank you SSK, I am happy to share it with my friends here

[Rookie]

Well, it finally happened. This is the knife I've been wanting since I started collecting Tuna Valley knives. I've found a few of the 2012 SwingGuard over the years, but usually the guard is broken off. Finally found one in mint shape with killer stag!

[peanut740]

Why would the guard be broken off a new knife?

[Rookie]

I was told the pin that holds the guards in place is delicate, and can be broken if the blade is closed without making sure the guard is clear. I don't plan on using this one to find out, it's too rare and took me too long to find it.

[tunefink]

Congrats Rookie! Now, if I could only find a burnt stag Cotton King! Y'all keep an eye out. I'll pony up for one.

[Rookie]

Definitely Mitchell, I've still got my eye out for you.

[Rookie]

Here are a few more new photos for the Tuna thread.

2012 Cotton King - Amber Stag
2014 Fish Scaler - Burnt Stag
2018 Teardrop - Red Maple Burl

[Doc B]

Those are nice! I'm gonna vote fish scaler!!!

[Rookie]

Thanks! Those fish scalers are 5 inches closed, and they really found some killer stag to fill up that much handle space.

[Rookie]

I had to make use of the nice weather today. I took a walk in the woods and took a few shots of some Tuna knives.

2013 Coke Bottle - Amber Stag
2017 Cattleman - Mammoth Ivory
2017 Humpback Whittler - Smooth Rams Horn

[doglegg]

Great series of photo's. Perfect light.