
W.R.
Case & Sons Cutlery Company is an American manufacturer
of premium, hand-crafted knives that are built to be
passed down for generations. Based
in Bradford, PA, Case's offerings include a wide variety of knives that fit virtually
any need, from convenient, traditional pocketknives to fixed blade sporting knives
to limited edition commemoratives and collectibles. The
company's rich history began in 1889 when William Russell ("W.R."), Jean, John,
and Andrew Case began fashioning knives and selling them along a wagon trail
in upstate New York. Today the Case Company is owned by Zippo Manufacturing Company
(makers of the world famous Zippo® windproof lighter), another family-owned business
based in Bradford.
Case credits its 350 associates with maintaining its
industry position by constantly pioneering the use of
new materials in ever-changing knife
designs. Case's innovation is underscored by several original knife design patterns,
such as the popular SlimLock®, CopperLock®, RussLock®, Baby
Butterbean®, Cheetah®, Hobo®, Sod Buster®, Mako®, Mini-Blackhorn® and
XX-Changer®.
Case's
offerings have expanded to include product licensed to
several well-known American icons, including Boy Scouts
of America®, Ducks Unlimited, John Deere, Orange County
Choppers, and Sturm, Ruger and
Company, Inc.
Case's commitment to quality is evident in the 125 pairs of hands it takes to
create one knife. Blades are stamped from high-quality domestic steel and hardened
with precise heat treament. Artisans craft handles using the finest natural materials,
ranging from natural Brazilian cattle bone, genuine India Stag and Buffalo horn
to more delicate substances like Mammoth Ivory and mother-of-pearl. A variety
of exotic hardwoods and precious stones are also used. Metals like brass, nickel,
and silver highlight each
form, bringing together a knife that's not only beautiful, but also stands the
tests of time and use.
A unique tang stamp dating system that's been used since the very early days
of its history has cemented the Case brand as one of the most recognized and
valuable collectibles in the industry. The Case Collectors Club's 18,000 members
make it the largest known knife collecting association in the world. Club members
enjoy offers for exclusive, limited knife productions, a quarterly publication
entitled The Case Collector, and other benefits including an open invitation
to a "Walk and Talk Tour" of the Case factory. The company co-sponsors a
biennial Swap Meet with Zippo Manufacturing Company, luring enthusiasts from
all corners
of the globe to Bradford, PA for a weekend of buying, trading, and sharing their
most prized collection
pieces.
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