Tuna Valley Teardrop Thread

Rookie82 · Mar 3, 2016

There were a few comments from another thread that hinted at starting a Tuna Valley thread for the new 2016 Teardrop pattern. So here it is.

They are very similar to the GEC #85 pattern, just a tad longer. These are 3 7/8 inches closed, and have 154CM steel. 50 made in burnt stag, 50 in amber stag, and 25 in buffalo horn. Currently in production are the same pattern with the Time-Keeper handles, which are not yet released.

Here is mine, in buffalo horn handles.

supratentorial · Mar 3, 2016

Nice looking knife, Rookie82! What are "time-keeper handles"?

Pjake · Mar 3, 2016

Really nice looking knife! I can deal with length, but not scale materials. For those who partake.....ENJOY!

Peter

cbr1000 · Mar 3, 2016

supratentorial said:
Nice looking knife, Rookie82! What are "time-keeper handles"?

Looks like someone took apart a watch and put the pieces in acrylic.

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Nice Rookie, hows the finish on it.. the other thread someone posted that there was a couple things they didn't like with the finish, but didn't elaborate.

rarreola · Mar 3, 2016

Rookie82 said:
There were a few comments from another thread that hinted at starting a Tuna Valley thread for the new 2016 Teardrop pattern. So here it is.

They are very similar to the GEC #85 pattern, just a tad longer. These are 3 7/8 inches closed, and have 154CM steel. 50 made in burnt stag, 50 in amber stag, and 25 in buffalo horn. Currently in production are the same pattern with the Time-Keeper handles, which are not yet released.

Here is mine, in buffalo horn handles.

Beautiful one, congrats.

MrBitters · Mar 4, 2016

supratentorial said:
Nice looking knife, Rookie82! What are "time-keeper handles"?

Time-Keeper...

Jolipapa · Mar 4, 2016

Very special, not for me.

Same for the filed blades. Too much sophistication but not at the right place IMHO.
I wonder if someone someday tried to make a watch with knife parts?

GaiusJulius · Mar 4, 2016

As a watchmaker, this just seems weird.

screened porch · Mar 4, 2016

Time-lord of Misrule.

Rookie82 · Mar 4, 2016

The Time-keeper handles are done by Garrett Finney, Finney Knives. He uses old watch parts, cast in different resins. He then does custom engraving on the blades/springs/bolsters. This was a new handle option starting in 2015. It's not attractive to me personally, but I'm sure it's appealing to some. So far these are the knives made with time-keeper theme.

2015 - gunstock pattern - quantity 10
2016 - scout pattern - quantity 8
2016 - moose pattern - quantity 2
2016 - teardrop pattern - (currently in production, looks like quantity of 10-15)

Rookie82 · Mar 4, 2016

cbr1000 said:
Nice Rookie, hows the finish on it.. the other thread someone posted that there was a couple things they didn't like with the finish, but didn't elaborate.

Quality on this particular knife is 100%, I can't find a thing to nit-pick about. Very tight, centered, and clean. Perfect 7 pull, strong snaps and 1/2 snaps. This one is as good as any GEC knife I've handled. Handles have nice contrast, but are polished perfectly smooth. I'm a happy camper.

cbr1000 · Mar 4, 2016

Rookie82 said:
Quality on this particular knife is 100%, I can't find a thing to nit-pick about. Very tight, centered, and clean. Perfect 7 pull, strong snaps and 1/2 snaps. This one is as good as any GEC knife I've handled. Handles have nice contrast, but are polished perfectly smooth. I'm a happy camper.

I considered getting one as I don't have any knives with buffalo horn. The site I was looking at had 8 or so available so I kicked it around for a few hours and when I went back they were sold out already. The stag on these look exceptional, but a bit $$. Hopefully someone will post up their stag - There was one in the GEC 85 thread.

mrknife · Mar 4, 2016

as a watch lover and time piece collector, im appalled

guy0783 · Mar 4, 2016

mrknife said:
as a watch lover and time piece collector, im appalled

+1000 definitely not for me.

I also collect and love watches. It doesnt work for me, even though there are plenty of watches with little or no value and that are past saving.

Strikes me as similar to taking old barlows and setting them in an acrylic gun stock.

The knives look good though, I especially like the tear drop.

supratentorial · Mar 4, 2016

Do the watch collectors recognize the timepiece? Was it a valuable oldie? I suppose I feel somewhat similar about parts knives.

I'm a bit conservative when it comes to "bedazzling". Anything more than coined liners (like on some of the old Remingtons) would be too much for me. I don't like filework on production knives or custom knives.

I like that they didn't pinch the bolsters. I never like the pinched bolsters on the Schatt & Morgan knives (or GEC knives). The lined bolsters on the teardrop have just the right amount of embellishment, in my opinion.

The grind and swedge on the blade look a lot cleaner than on the knives prior to the Daniels family ownership. I also saw a photo of the well with the blade closed on a dealer website. It looks like they are making an effort to improve the grinds and taper.

guy0783 · Mar 4, 2016

Most of the parts in the knife shown are unidentifiable, but most of them appear to be from ladies watches and don't really have a collectors market.

I can't make out the name on the dial but, unless it is something really high-end, 99% of ladies watches are worth only what their materials are worth (to most collectors at this time).

Still, it's sad to see what was once a living, ticking machine and booming industry being dismantled for decoration. I understand it, the nostalgia in me dislikes it.

But, if someone else likes it, have at it. That is until we're putting Patek Phillipe's in an Pukko....

mrknife · Mar 4, 2016

guy0783 said:
+1000 definitely not for me.

I also collect and love watches. It doesnt work for me, even though there are plenty of watches with little or no value and that are past saving.

Strikes me as similar to taking old barlows and setting them in an acrylic gun stock.

The knives look good though, I especially like the tear drop.

precisely, i just spent around $500 on several pocketwatches, and although i can only dream of repairing them to make them work, i know in my heart of hearts, i will probably never get to it. I will probably go to my watchmaker that I buy pocketwatches from to see what he can make of these.

i really hope that they just took apart scrap chinese junk automatic watches for these parts and sprinkled them into acrylic to make the handles. tear drop is a pattern i just got into, one of my more recent purchases before i took a big pause on the knife hobby for my watches. loving my schatt and morgans, however im not digging that easy open they cut into the tuna

supratentorial · Mar 4, 2016

oops. I had multiple windows open and posted in the wrong thread.

Victorinox made a Timekeeper with a working analog clock. It was discontinued a while back. Now a lot of folks use their cell phones instead of a watch.

Jolipapa · Mar 4, 2016

supratentorial said:
oops. I had multiple windows open and posted in the wrong thread.

Victorinox made a Timekeeper with a working analog clock. It was discontinued a while back. Now a lot of folks use their cell phones instead of a watch.

I suppose we shall soon see a knife with cell phone bits handles?

Rookie82 · Mar 4, 2016

supratentorial said:
I'm a bit conservative when it comes to "bedazzling". Anything more than coined liners (like on some of the old Remingtons) would be too much for me. I don't like filework on production knives or custom knives.

To be fair, the knives are marketed and advertised in the "Art Knives" category. Still, seems like a novelty to me. I like Tuna Valley knives, but my collection will be focusing on stag and horn only.