Tuna Valley Picture Show

[edge213]

Carl! Beautiful Barlows!

Thanks David! Many more still to show. I didn't want to post the whole collection all at once.

You have an amazing collection.

[Rookie]

Carl! Beautiful Barlows!

Thanks David! Many more still to show. I didn't want to post the whole collection all at once.

You have an amazing collection.

Thanks David, I'm happy to be able to share it here for other collectors to view and learn from.

[Rookie]

Here are some variations on the 2016 carpenter whittler pattern. These were from 2018. Buckeye Burl wood handles. The copper bolsters were a 1-of-5 release, and the nickel silver bolster was a 1-of-1.

[Quick Steel]

Carl, you have some exceptionally good looking knives.

[Rookie]

Carl, you have some exceptionally good looking knives.

Thanks QS, I'm glad folks are enjoying the photos. Still many more to come.

[Rookie]

There are quite a few different varieties of handles on the prototypes for the Phoenix Jack pattern. Here is a handful.
Rough Buffalo Horn w/ Damascus
Burnt Stag w/ 154CM
Superman Burl w/ Damascus
Purple Mammoth Tooth w/ 154CM

[QTCut5]

The Phoenix Jack just plain looks classy regardless of how it's dressed; great pattern. Beauties all.

[Quick Steel]

Great selections, Carl. I must admit to being increasingly envious.

[Sharpnshinyknives]

These are all beautiful knives, thanks for sharing these. Maybe you answered in an earlier post, but how did you acquire all of these?

[Rookie]

The Phoenix Jack just plain looks classy regardless of how it's dressed; great pattern. Beauties all.

Thanks QT, I agree!

Great selections, Carl. I must admit to being increasingly envious.

I appreciate that Quick Steel. I enjoy being able to show them off to those who are interested in them.

These are all beautiful knives, thanks for sharing these. Maybe you answered in an earlier post, but how did you acquire all of these?

Thanks Sharp! I'll give you the condensed version of a long story.

It all started when my grandpa came across one of the old original 1906 pearl Tuna Valley knives in the late 80's or early 90's at an estate auction. He bought it, but didn't know anything about it. He asked around his knife buddies, and took it to knife shows, and nobody could say where the name was from. All they could tell was that it was old, looked to be German made, and nobody could say any more about it.

In the early 2000's knife historian David Anthony was doing research on a knife he owned with the same stamp, and eventually uncovered that the knives were related to the Case family, imported from Germany in 1905 during the Case/Platts merger, and sold in 1906 by Case dealers (since Casey didn't have much inventory to sell while their new factory was being built and set up.) Bradford, PA is in the Tunungwant River valley, and locals there have called it the Tuna Valley for over 200 years. Case needed a name for their knives they were selling, but were importing instead of making themselves.

In 2007 Perry Miller filed for the trademark to the name, and had knives made by GEC, and the modern revival of the Tuna Valley name began. Eventually the name was acquired by the Daniels family, who had knives made by Queen for a while, and now from a solo knifemaker.

One Christmas about 10 years ago, my grandpa asked me if I could have any 1 knife from his collection, which would I want. I chose the little Tuna Valley knife, because the history behind it was so unique, and because my grandpa had that knife for 15-20 years in his knife display for sale at shows, and nobody could ever shed light onto it. That was my first Tuna Valley knife.

I decided I wanted to collect more of the brand, because there were not very many of them (only 2-3 releases per year), and were made in limited quantities (25 or 50 each handle type), and had only been made for a handful of years. I started building a collection, and eventually met Ryan Daniels at knife shows where I could buy the knives from him directly. After a few years of that, we became more friends than just a dealer/customer relationship, and I offered to assist with his business by taking photos of his knives, and operating his website. It also helped that I live only 20 miles from the knifemaker who is making them currently, so it is easy for me to grab a few knives for photos without having to mail everything back and forth.

So, short version, I was just a collector who met Ryan Daniels and became friends, and I kept getting more and more.

[Rookie]

I thought I'd show a few more prototype Phoenix Jack knives. These ones have copper bolsters, and cutouts instead of nail pulls.

[Sharpnshinyknives]

Thank you for the detailed explanation. Sometimes I feel like I am missing information or out of some loop where great knives like these can be purchased. It sounds like you are in a unique position to collect these wonderful knives. Makes me feel better that I didn’t miss something somewhere when it comes to acquiring these. I have a few Tuna Valley knives, a Phoenix Jack and a few Old Man Norman Barlows but nothing compared to what you have. I admire a collector who has this kind of focus. Keep ‘em coming.

[Rookie]

Thank you for the detailed explanation. Sometimes I feel like I am missing information or out of some loop where great knives like these can be purchased. It sounds like you are in a unique position to collect these wonderful knives. Makes me feel better that I didn’t miss something somewhere when it comes to acquiring these. I have a few Tuna Valley knives, a Phoenix Jack and a few Old Man Norman Barlows but nothing compared to what you have. I admire a collector who has this kind of focus. Keep ‘em coming.

Yes as far as prototypes go, they don't often get sold publicly (but do occasionally). A few are floating around on Facebook or ebay, and sometimes they change hands at knife shows. But the bulk of the knives, the production runs, are all sold through the dealer network.

[Rookie]

The TimeKeeper series was a collaboration with Garrett Finney, who took the knife skeletons and did all the filework, engraving, and handles made with antique pocketwatch parts encased in resin. There were 5 different patterns made between 2015 and 2017. As of now, I'm still on the hunt for the moose pattern one.

[Madmarco]

Those are totally unique and super cool, Carl, thanks for showing them to us.

[Rookie]

Those are totally unique and super cool, Carl, thanks for showing them to us.

You're very welcome. Glad you are enjoying the show!

[Sharpnshinyknives]

I remember seeing these before and I had forgotten about them. I really like the looks of these, what a creative idea for a knife.

[Quick Steel]

Rookie, your Timekeeper is sensational. Congratulations on such a wonderful acquisition and thanks for showing it.

[Ivoryman]

I thought I'd show a few more prototype Phoenix Jack knives. These ones have copper bolsters, and cutouts instead of nail pulls.

Man I like those two. Beauuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeefuuuuuuuuuuul. Also looooooove a through and through.

[Rookie]

Wow guys! Thanks for the comments and good vibes.

[Rookie]

Today I'll show a few of the muskrats from 2015.

[Quick Steel]

Each of your Muskrats has strikingly good looks, Carl.

[Rookie]

Each of your Muskrats has strikingly good looks, Carl.

Thanks QS!

1 more muskrat to show, there were only 2 of these ones made with red maple burl handles.

[Dan In MI]

That is an exceptionally knice Muskrat!

[Rookie]

That is an exceptionally knice Muskrat!

I like it too Dan. Unique handles, and great design.