Question about Tuna Valley Cutlery knives

Rookie82

Rookie82

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I'm trying to figure out the production knives that have been offered by Tuna Valley. I know in 2012 the Daniels took over, and the knives produced since then are pretty well documented. And I know Perry Miller had the brand originally, making 1 pattern in 2009, and 1 pattern with 3 different handle options in 2010.

What I can't find is if any knives were made in 2011, and if so what they are. (pattern, handle type, quantity)

Is anyone here able to help fill in the information? Thanks.
 
I was unaware that the Daniels didn't own the brand outright. I remember looking at some of the GEC made wares that Ryan Daniels brought to the now defunct Chesapeake Knife Show. I did trade for a Queen made Tuna Valley from him later on. I was always under the impression they were part of the Daniels Family brand of knives, like the Workhorse that was made by Blind Horse Knives for them.

You may want to check with Great Eastern in their records. Some day, someone will write a book about the Daniels Family knives, keep this information man, maybe you are the one to write the book.

Maybe you already are ;)...
 
Haha, I don't know if I'm quite up to the task of writing a book, at least not now. But who knows in 20 years.

Yes, I believe the Daniels do own the name outright now, but I don't think they acquired it until 2012. The name was revived in 2007 by Perry Miller, and he had GEC make knives for him. (The name originally came from early 1900's and was used by Case to import knives from Germany to sell during their transition from Little Valley to Bradford.)

I guess I just assumed that since Perry had Tuna Valley knives made in 2009 and 2010, and the Daniels had Tuna Valley knives made from 2012 thru 2015, that there should have been knives from 2011. Maybe there aren't any, that would explain why I can't seem to find any.

I think I'll have to contact the Daniels family directly, and ask them about it.
 
Well, I have an update for anyone interested. I contacted the Daniel's family directly, and was told that there were no knives made in 2011. That was the transition year between owners. So that clears up my question.
 
If anyone needs information about the knives offered under the Tuna Valley name, I have acquired quite a bit of info on these from various sources, including the Daniels themselves.
 
GEC Production Totals for 2010 show a 53 made for Tuna Valley in 3 different handle materials. If I remember correctly, these were ordered by Perry Miller, but then he was unable to take delivery on them and they were marketed through GEC's Distributors. Thereafter, at some point, the Brand came into the Daniels possession
 
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Adding this to my knife history books. The fine details are important to record. Thx.
rma100 said:
GEC Production Totals for 2010 show a 53 made for Tuna Valley in 3 different handle materials. If I remember correctly, these were ordered by Perry Miller, but then he was unable to take delivery on them and they were marketed through GEC's Distributors. Thereafter, at some point, the Brand came into the Daniels possession
Click to expand...
 
Correct, Perry sent the order in to GEC, having 75 of each handle type made (some sources say a few cracked handles came out, and therefore only 72 or 73 or each actually hit the market.) The 3 handle materials were burnt stag, jigged red bone, and Brazilian cherry wood. Every knife was serialized on the bolster.

Some of the knives were sold, but less than 1/2 of each handle type. Then the Daniels took over the name, and acquired the unsold inventory of knives. They had the bone and wood handled knives refinished with dimpled bolsters (covering up the serial numbers), and then sold them as a "2012" Tuna Valley knife. And they sent the leftover stag knives to Damon Soileau of Oiseau Metal Works, to have the bolsters engraved with a vintage leaf pattern (covering up the serial numbers). Again, sold as a "2012" pattern. They all sold out within the first 12 months of being offered.

After this, the Daniels started creating new designs for their lines, made by GEC. But within the first 6 months or so, the Daniels bought out Queen Cutlery, and so 2012 has Tuna Valley knives made by either GEC or by Queen Cutlery, depending on the pattern. Every knife from 2013 on was/is made at Queen.
 
Thanks for the concise history. That's good information.
 
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