Case knives are produced by W.R. Case & Sons, an American manufacturer of premium, hand-crafted knives that are passed down for generations. Based in Bradford, PA, Case knives offerings include knives that fit virtually any need, from traditional folding pocket knives, to fixed and folding blade hunting knives to limited edition commemoratives and collectible Case knives. While many companies are looking overseas for knife production, Case Knives are still made in the U.S.A.
The history of Case knives began in 1889 when William Russell (“W.R.”), Jean, John, and Andrew Case began making their Case knives and selling those handcrafted Case knives from the back of a wagon along a wagon trail in upstate New York. A unique tang stamp dating system has been used since the very early days of Case Knives. This stamp dating system has helped to make Case knives one of the most recognized and collectible knives in the industry.
In January 1900 the Case brothers incorporated to form Case Brothers Cutlery Company. Today the Case Company is owned by Zippo Manufacturing, another family-owned business based in Bradford.
J.R. Case, who named the company after his father, W.R., formed W.R. Case & Sons as it is known today. The company moved to Bradford, PA in 1905. By that time the Case knives brand had been established as one of the most respected names in the American cutlery industry.
Beginning with World War I, the government has called upon Case to make military knives for U.S. servicemen and women. During the 1965 flight of the “Molly Brown,” astronauts Gus Grissom and John Young used special Case knives on a NASA space mission. Famous admirers and avid collectors of Case knives have included former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower and country music star Randy Travis.
In 2007, Case celebrated the 160th anniversary of the birth of W.R. Case, the first man to serve as President of the Company. His leadership was critical to Case knives in stabilizing the company’s early finances while building the Case knives reputation as a dependable producer of high-quality products.
Today, Case credits its associates with maintaining its industry position by blending innovative design with an inexhaustible array of materials. Case’s pioneering spirit is shown in several of its original knife patterns, like the CopperLock®, Baby Butterbean®, Sod Buster®, XX-Changer®, Baby Doc, Tiny Trapper, and the all-new Hunter Trapper, Tiny Muskrat, and Jr. Scout.
To further expand its product offerings, case knives has secured licensing agreements with several American icons including: Boy Scouts of America®, Ducks Unlimited®, John Deere, Sturm, Ruger and Company, Inc., Johnny Cash (under license from the John R. Cash Revocable Trust), John Wayne (under license from Wayne Enterprises), and others.
W.R. Case & Sons is committed to producing quality Case knives and making sure the quality of Case knives does not slip. It takes 125 pairs of hands to create one of the many Case Knives. Case knives handles are made from Brazilian cattle bone, Buffalo horn to more delicate substances such as rosewood, mother-of-pearl, and stag. Metals like brass, nickel, and silver are used to create Case knives that are not only beautiful, but that will last for years.
The Case knives Collectors Club is the largest knife collecting association in the world with 18,000 members. Club members enjoy exclusive Case knives offers, a quarterly publication entitled The Case Collector, and other benefits including an open invitation to participate in a “Walk and Talk Tour” of the Case knives factory. The company co-sponsors a biennial Swap Meet with Zippo that lures Case knives enthusiasts from around the world to Bradford, PA to buy, trade, and share their most prized Case knives collection pieces.
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