- Joined
- Feb 3, 2001
- Messages
- 32,354
I remember the fascination I had as I started "collectin'/accumulatin'" knives back in the 70s, there were a lot of changes and a lot of history still being written back then. By far the most interesting and notable of them, as well as probably being the best documented was the Case Dynasty and all the companies that it encompassed.
I think many of the folks new to knife collecting aren't aware of the far reaching influences the Case companies had within a really small part of our country back then. The US knife industry was born in the foothills of Pennsylvania, the valleys of upstate New York and everywhere between the two places with the bulk of the industries products being distributed out of brick & mortars in the port towns and big cities of Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.
This little triangle of states held the children of the old world cutlers who had left Europe and given birth to the cutlery industry in this country. Eventually the best of the best came here to make and teach how to make a knives. Back then you bought a knife for pennies, an expensive knife most likely still came from Europe and cost $5-$7 but the quality was always getting better here. Where over on the other side of the big pond their methods hadn't changed much in hundred years over here because they had to start from scratch they were a lot more tolerant of change, in most cases even embraced it in the US.
Most times they didn't have the manufacturing equipment here so they had to build/invent it. Eventually they were supplying knives not only within our borders but back to the other side too and in greater quantities than they could over in Europe and the UK. We had to come up with manufacturing processes that would allow us to meet the increasing demands here and abroad. We had to learn how to mass produce knives for the growing market's demand.
If I had to liken the cutlery industry to anything it would be the music industry. Much like the music industry you had your innovators who everyone would eventually try to emulate but rarely duplicate the popular trends. Like the music industries you had your rock stars, your old standbys and the new kid on the block. Also just like the members of the bands would spin off on their own for solo work so did the players and rock stars of the cutlery industry. I think a lot of collectors don't know the real history of the industry beyond GEC, the now defunct Canal Street Cutlery company and Buck, at least in the traditional genre. I left out Case because that's the reason for this long preamble to an informative link about the Case Dynasty and what it hath wrought.
Hard to believe I wrote all this just for a link but if you know me than you know it's really not unusual for me.
If I can educate and share the information I've garnered over the years with the community, if I can encourage some healthy discussion in the community where I also get to learn new things everyday, I feel like I'm paying it forward and as a result benefiting as well from these exchanges. History is important in that exchange, before you can have an intelligent discussion you need to know the history of what you're discussing and Case has probably the most interesting history of the American knife companies. Take a few minutes to read about the history of the Case Dynasty, you may be surprised at how many knife companies came out of Case. I hope you learned something from this or at the very least had an entertaining morning read as I'm sure before I log off tonight I'll have learned at least a chapter of new information
.
The History of WR Case & Sons and Related Companies
The story of knives branded with the name Case encompasses dozens of markings and as many members of a family who would make cutlery history.
To study the brand that is recognized by most collectors as the king of factory knife collectibles, W. R. Case and Sons Cutlery, it is important to include information of other companies...
Hope y'all have a great day where ever you are.
I think many of the folks new to knife collecting aren't aware of the far reaching influences the Case companies had within a really small part of our country back then. The US knife industry was born in the foothills of Pennsylvania, the valleys of upstate New York and everywhere between the two places with the bulk of the industries products being distributed out of brick & mortars in the port towns and big cities of Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.
This little triangle of states held the children of the old world cutlers who had left Europe and given birth to the cutlery industry in this country. Eventually the best of the best came here to make and teach how to make a knives. Back then you bought a knife for pennies, an expensive knife most likely still came from Europe and cost $5-$7 but the quality was always getting better here. Where over on the other side of the big pond their methods hadn't changed much in hundred years over here because they had to start from scratch they were a lot more tolerant of change, in most cases even embraced it in the US.
Most times they didn't have the manufacturing equipment here so they had to build/invent it. Eventually they were supplying knives not only within our borders but back to the other side too and in greater quantities than they could over in Europe and the UK. We had to come up with manufacturing processes that would allow us to meet the increasing demands here and abroad. We had to learn how to mass produce knives for the growing market's demand.
If I had to liken the cutlery industry to anything it would be the music industry. Much like the music industry you had your innovators who everyone would eventually try to emulate but rarely duplicate the popular trends. Like the music industries you had your rock stars, your old standbys and the new kid on the block. Also just like the members of the bands would spin off on their own for solo work so did the players and rock stars of the cutlery industry. I think a lot of collectors don't know the real history of the industry beyond GEC, the now defunct Canal Street Cutlery company and Buck, at least in the traditional genre. I left out Case because that's the reason for this long preamble to an informative link about the Case Dynasty and what it hath wrought.
Hard to believe I wrote all this just for a link but if you know me than you know it's really not unusual for me. If I can educate and share the information I've garnered over the years with the community, if I can encourage some healthy discussion in the community where I also get to learn new things everyday, I feel like I'm paying it forward and as a result benefiting as well from these exchanges. History is important in that exchange, before you can have an intelligent discussion you need to know the history of what you're discussing and Case has probably the most interesting history of the American knife companies. Take a few minutes to read about the history of the Case Dynasty, you may be surprised at how many knife companies came out of Case. I hope you learned something from this or at the very least had an entertaining morning read as I'm sure before I log off tonight I'll have learned at least a chapter of new information
.The History of WR Case & Sons and Related Companies
The story of knives branded with the name Case encompasses dozens of markings and as many members of a family who would make cutlery history.
To study the brand that is recognized by most collectors as the king of factory knife collectibles, W. R. Case and Sons Cutlery, it is important to include information of other companies...
Hope y'all have a great day where ever you are.
