OUR HISTORY

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 NEW museum.

 Dennehy championed the use of Micarta, which he discovered in the Navy, and showed to Bo Randall. Dan was inducted into the Cutlery Hall of Fame in 2007.

In 1970, he was one of the 11 founders of the Knifemakers' Guild. 

Dennehy also was an expert knife and tomahawk thrower. He was one of the first group inducted into the Knife Throwers Hall of Fame. Through demonstrations of 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 Alamo Bowie adorned the front and back covers of the very first Gun Digest Book of Knives.

His knives, adorned with the DAN-D shamrock logo, have been used by U.S. military members, first responders, outdoorsmen, and celebrities for over 80 years.

Today the legacy is carried on by John D Dennehy in Wellington, Colorado.