W.R. Case and Sons Cutlery is one of the most well-known and well-respected makers of pocket knives in the U.S.A.
In 1889 William Russell Case and his three brothers began selling hand-made knives in New York from the back of their wagon. Now, over one hundred years later, W.R. Case is based in Bradford, Pennsylvania and has a stellar reputation as a maker of top-quality pocket knives.
Today, Case’s catalog includes over seventy different knife models including some that have been in production for decades. Recent additions to the line include the XX-Changer, the Cheetah and several others.
Case Knives are often marked “XX” or contain that term in their model number. The “XX” term was originally used by Case to indicate that a knife blade had been heat-treated not once (”X”) but twice (”XX”), ensuring quality and durability. Today, the “XX” has come to symbolize Case’s long-standing commitment to quality and craftsmanship.
Case knives are made with three different varieties of high-quality domestic steel. Chrome Vanadium is an alloy that is known for its re-sharpening ease. Tru-Sharp surgical steel is a high-carbon steel that offers corrosion resistance and edge-retention properties. Finally, ATS-34 is used in some premium knives. It’s known for edge retention and hardness, but may require special attention for re-sharpening.
Case handles are hand-crafted using such natural materials such as animal bone, ivory, mother-of-pearl and hardwoods. Brass, nickel and silver are used to make other knife components, such as bolsters, pivots and locking mechanisms.
Because of Case’s rich history and their process of dating and, in some cases, numbering each blade, many of their knives are now considered collectibles. Some hard to find models sell for hundreds of dollars on eBay. The Case Collector’s Club boats eighteen thousand members, which makes it the largest knife collector group in the world.
Posted on: Feb 9
Nearly twenty years ago, the head of W.R. Case Cutlery, Jim Parker, came up with the idea to make very high-quality reproductions of knives that had long been out of production. Some of these knives were originally produced by Case, but others were not. All of the new, reproductions, however, would …
Posted on: Jan 29
W.R. Case you probably already know — they are an American maker of high-quality knives with a hundred-and-twenty year reputation on the line.
But this knife you may not have seen before.
It’s a peanut knife featuring a just-under-three inch blade that made of Tru-Sharp Surgical Steel. Case tests this …
Posted on: Dec 27
Another high-quality knife from Case. This is an oversized pocket knife, measuring five inches closed. Includes a gut hook, drop point blade, and saw blade.
The clip is stainless steel, blades are made of Tru-Sharp surgical steel. Features rosewood handle with contrasting brass bolsters.
The problem with changer knives, of course, …
Posted on: Dec 23
An attractive folding knife built with the quality you’ve come to expect from Case. A member of the Image series and tested XX, this one features a smooth natural bone handle with scenes of Elk Trapping laser-etched on both sides.
Bolsters are silver, matching the accent colors elsewhere on the knife. …
Posted on: Dec 21
What an amazing set of knives — this is the Centennial Knife Set produced by WR Case in 1989 to commemorate their 100th anniversary of making high-quality knives.
I write about many Case knives on this site, but you won’t see one of these come around often. It’s very rare to find the set …
Posted on: Dec 19
A gorgeous, rugged knife, perfect for bass fishing. This knife features a fish scaler blade with built-in hook disgorger. Blades are Tru-Sharp surgical steel.
Also includes hook sharpener. The sharpener is included instead of a more-typical inlay shield. Handle features artwork of bass fishing, engraved with a precision laser on natural …
Posted on: Dec 17
A single-blade, collectible blade from W.R. Case & Sons. Always known for their quality workmanship, Case has taken this knife to another level.
The handle is what differentiates this from other high-quality Case knives. It is made of genuine Mother of Pearl harvested from the inner lining of oyster …
Posted on: Dec 15
One of Case’s most versatile pocket knives. Primarily intended for hunting, though would also be appropriate as a fishing or general outdoor utility knife.
A tough knife that comes with a variety of quickly-interchangeable blades. The handle is an attractive amber bone with inlaid brass bolsters. The pivot pin is oversized and made …
