Dan Dennehy with both his sons. Kevin and John, experienced knife throwers as well. I followed in my father's footsteps as a Custom Knifemaker and Leather Artist.

Kevin followed his father's love for the military with a career in the Army.

Thank you Dad for your amazing talents as a knife maker and the legacy surrounding the Dennehy name.

Jamie and John Dennehy

John and Dan circa 1972

Dan and John just days before he passed away.

John Dennehy and Kevin Dennehy

Dan Dennehy was born Jan. 15, 1923 in New York City, the youngest son of Irish immigrants Daniel Francis Dennehy and Nora K. Hally. He attended Catholic schools in New York City. In 1940, he joined the U.S. Navy, serving during World War II in several Pacific campaigns, including Saipan, the Philippines and others. He also served in the Korean War and during Vietnam. He retired from active duty in 1970 as a chief petty officer.

Dennehy made his first knife in 1941 and started making them for fellow Sailors and for Marines fighting in the South Pacific. One of his achievements in the late 1960s was donating, to the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, first Bowie knife on display at the Alamo in San Antonio, where it still is located in the gift shop museum.

 Dennehy championed the use of Micarta, a prefabricated material that many knifemakers still use today for their handles. He helped to spread the popularity of the material by telling his friend and foremost knifemaker of the time, Bo Randall, about it - and it caught on quickly throughout the industry. For that and other achievements, he was inducted into the Cutlery Hall of Fame in 2007.

In 1970, he was one of the 11 founders of the Knifemakers' Guild, along with prominent knifemakers and friends, Bob Loveless and A.G. Russell.

Dennehy also was an expert knife and tomahawk thrower, gaining entry into the Knifethrowers Hall of Fame, and demonstrating his skills at knife shows nationwide. He taught hundreds of people how to throw knives, including his sons, John and Kevin, as well as Grandsons, Casey and Brian, who joined him at many of the demonstrations.

His Dan-D knives were featured in many International publications such as Sports Illustrated, Field & Stream,
Gun World, Sports Afield and many others.

Among the many owners of Dennehy knives were John Wayne, Lee Marvin, Clint Eastwood, Carlos Hathcock, Barry Goldwater, G. Gordon Liddy, musician Steve Miller and many other celebrities.

His knives, adorned with the Dan-D shamrock logo, have been used by U.S. military members in every war since World War II. Dennehy was proud that his knives were used by many elite forces including the Navy SEALS, Marine Force Recon and the Army’s Special Forces. He was an author and editorial writer, who was published in many newspapers and magazines.