iKnife Collector
Daniels Family Knife Brands
The Daniels family have been involved in knives for five generations, from trading, selling, manufacturing, and now distribution.
This new chapter has begun for Ryan and Courtney Daniels. "Daniels Family Knife Brands" is offering the exiting new Excelsior Knife Company line of knives directly crafted by the knife makers that also design them. They also are continuing the very popular Tuna Valley Cutlery Co. knife brand, marketed towards the contemporary collector.
Thanks to everyone for all their support over the years, and we hope to talk with you in person at one of the many knife shows we attend throughout the year! We have many projects on the horizon, and hope you check here often to see what is coming next.
Old Tuna Group Thread - "TVC History"
Posted by Jan Carter on January 2, 2012 at 11:03am
Seems that the USA Knife world is a small community with some deep roots in the Pennsylvania area. There are a few collectors that seek out and find the many unique tang stamps that over the past few hundred years called that great state home. Here on IKC I know of two collectors that specialize in that. David Anthony and Knifegirl888. Both of them have impressive collections but even more impressive is their knowledge of the area and its ties to the knife manufacturing industry.
We have seen companies buy the rights to some of the names from that area and revive them, a few have achieved success in making them household names among knife collectors.
A few years ago an old friend, Perry Miller, purchased the name Tuna Valley Knife Company. That name is tied to a rare PA tang stamp that few folks had ever heard of. David Anthony wrote a spellbinding article about the original company in Knife World Magazine. I would love to get a copy of it to place in here but need David’s permission to copy it. I will work on that for us. While Perry did not own a knife manufacturing plant he wanted the name to be revived and synonymous with quality. He connected with a company that held that same belief when they revived the names Tidioute, Northfield and Great Eastern Knives. The knife below is one created from that collaboration.
So tying this back to the small world conversation is some exciting news. The Great Eastern Cutlery company is opening 2012 with Bill Howard (one of the two original owners) having acquired the ownership stocks from Ken Daniels. The three names associated with Great Eastern will remain with that exceptional company and we look forward to seeing same great quality and new spins on old patterns. That is after all Bill Howard’s Specialty as a knifemaker.
The name Tuna Valley Cutlery company will now be owned by the Daniels family. Ken and Ryan are “oldstock” in the knife world, well respected for their commitment to USA made knives. I look forward to seeing what will come next with Tuna Valley and the Daniels family. So show me some of the Tuna Valleys that you have in your collection, regardless of what era they are from.
Carl Bradshaw
Reply by David L. Anthony on January 3, 2012 at 7:11am
Here is a pic of Original TUNA VALLEY tang stamps Hens teeth are easier to find.
Apr 9, 2020
Carl Bradshaw
Reply by David L. Anthony on January 3, 2012 at 7:36am
I am watching this situation with GREAT interest. I hope someone will keep me informed. If I can find the digital version of the article I wrote, I will post it. It someone else can scan a copy that would be better as it has some GREAT pictures in it
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Reply by johnny twoshoes on January 3, 2012 at 7:59am
I think this is it, right David?
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Reply by Jan Carter on January 3, 2012 at 6:16pm
Excellent work Johnny, thanks. David, Thanks for allowing us to share that article!!! I will go online tonight and see if I can find some pics of the other Perry Miller era knife from Tuna Valley
Apr 9, 2020
Carl Bradshaw
Also to add to this thread. This is a photo of the original Tuna Valley knife that my grandfather bought at an auction in the 1990's, and is now in my collection.
Also, here is a group of 4 of the original pearl Tuna Valley knives that I saw at a knife show in Kentucky last year. I doubt anyone else in the world has 4 of them together in a collection.
Apr 9, 2020