5 from the Grinder: John D Dennehy (Dan-D Knives)
The response to our relaunch of 5 from the Grinder has been truly wonderful. A dozen makers have already submitted entries, and the comments from our readers have been overwhelmingly positive. For the foreseeable future, I will be running two a week until the backlog thins out. If you are a knifemaker who would like to be featured in a future 5ftG post, you can learn more here.
Today we bring you John Dennehy, son of legendary maker and knife thrower Dan Dennehy, and heir to the Dan-D label. The senior Dennehy was the a founding member of the Knifemakers Guild, and member of the Cutlery and Knife Throwers Halls of Fame.
John is keeping his father’s legacy alive, continuing to produce the classic Dan-D patterns that users and collectors alike have enjoyed for decades. I yield the floor to John Dennehy.
John Dennehy (right) with his brother Kevin and father Dan
Please introduce yourself and let us know what led you to making/designing knives
My father and member of the Cutlery Hall of Fame, Dan Dennehy got me interested in leather work at an early age and making knives followed.
What knifemaker(s) or designer(s) have had the biggest influence on you? Do you have any mentors?
Dan Dennehy, Bo Randall. Bob Loveless, John Nelson Cooper and Clyde Fischer.
What is your favorite knife pattern or style from history?
The Randall Model 3 Hunter has always been a design I find beautiful. The Iron Mistress Bowie is the other one.
What is the next big thing in knifemaking? / What direction do you see the industry going?
This is a great question and one that I have no definitive answer for. The possibilities are wide open.
Is there a knife from your lineup that you feel best exhibits who you are as a knifemaker/designer in terms of design elements, aesthetic or techniques used?
Since I carry on the DAN-D line, the Commemorative Alamo Bowie with the hand carved leather mount encompasses my skills in making the knife and leatherwork.
What is your EDC and why?
My EDC is a small Drop Point in our line up named the Mini Outdoorsman
You can see more of John’s work, both knives and his leatherwork at TheWildIrishRose.com, or by checking out his Facebook Page – dandknives.
cmeat
i have an old ass “gun digest book of knives” from the late ’70’s that features some dan- d stuff. gotta go dig that old tome up, it would mean much more to me these days.
i remember thinking the name “hunt” (i think) was stamped pretty irregularly. and i used to wonder why they included “tru- bal.” now those throwers are sought after.