"BACK TO THE FUTURE" W.R. Case & Sons

[Old Folder]

I was fortunate enough to acquire this a couple weeks ago. I do not only collect knives, but I am just as adventurous in seeking and collecting "Knife Related" items.
Take knife boxes for an example, they can be more valuable and rare than the knives that were within the box itself. Old cutlery books, catalogs, signs, inventory lists, letters, on and on.

If you have ever seen one of these before, please let us all know with any and all details you have. I am not an authority on Case products, however I do have many Case knives old and new and many books relating to Case knives and history. I have never seen this item in any cutlery related book or advertisement.

The block is Mahogany wood, 10 & 3/16" wide, 3 & 3/4" deep and 1 & 1/2" tall.
Sharpening stone is 6 x 1 & 1/2" x 1/2 tall glued on block.
The "Thumb Push" tin oil can (no mfg name) sits perfectly within a counter-drilled 2 & 3/16" bore hole.

The abrasive stone is made by "Norton Abrasives" An American Company founded in 1823 and still in business today. 193 years as of 2016.
Now, the most fascinating thing is? You guest it correctly! The label. Without the label this would only be "An old sharpening block assembly"
But with the existing label, now we have a "Historical old sharpening block assembly"
If you look closely at the picture below of the label you will note that the label itself is set within the mahogany block. A VERY SMALL indentation is cut or grooved within the block itself for the paper label to be perfectly placed. Case not only produced great craftsmanship in cutlery but also great detail and craftsmanship in everything they did, to include advertising.
Being a woodworker myself, all these details tell me that this was only one of perhaps many that were made.
But who were they made for?
I imagine this sharpening block assembly was not used within Case's production plants because new knives were not "Honed" prior to distribution.
Salesman or Jobber item? No, and I feel much too expensive for gifting in that era.
Store display? possibly.
Perhaps for sale through hardware stores for the consumer?
Now we come to "Age"
W.R. CASE AND SONS
CUTLERY CO.
BRADFORD, PA.
If this logo was on the tang of our Case Knife, the date would be 1905-1914.
Who in the Case family would ever imagine that someone would ever be writing about their sharpening stone assembly 100 years in the future?

[TripleF]

Very kniiiice!!

[Quick Steel]

A super piece of Americana.

[XX Case XX]

Wow!! That is incredible. I have never seen one of those before. And Old folder you are correct, without the label specifying WR Case & Sons, it would just be another knife sharpening system. That label brings it to another level altogether.

I'm wondering if maybe "new hires" were taught to how to sharpen knives on a stone first before they used a belt. Because the label has instructions, it must have been meant for people who didn't know how to use one of those correctly. Of course I'm just guessing but it sounds logical.

Thanks for sharing. I'm hoping Steve will chime in here and maybe he can shed some light on this and then tell me where I can get one!!!!

_____________
Mike

[Mumbleypeg]

Nice find! This is what's called a "counter hone". Cutlery makers made these available for retail dealers, who placed them in their stores for the convenience of customers, back in the time when hardware and sporting goods stores were locally owned and served as community social gathering places. I'm old enough to remember the well-worn example that sat on the counter in the local (now closed) hardware store when I was a youngster, and the men in their bib overalls that used them. Examples of these items can be found in old cutlery catalogs along with various dealer display cabinets. See this older AAPK thread for some discussion about them. http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... er#p410823. I've seen versions from Case, Queen, Robeson, and Remington and would be surprised if there aren't others.

Case made at least three different versions. The oldest version I know of had a green label with a round oil can. There was a subsequent version having a round oil can with a blue label, and the most recent had the blue label with an oil can having a rectangular base. The last case example I know of was in a catalog from the 1970s, after which I haven't seen it in any more recent catalogs.

Here's a few examples I have.

Ken

[TripleF]

Ken.....that is epic that you remember those days....simply EPIC!

I remember our local small town sporting goods store but that's about it. Bought a bicycle there. mmmm......life has changed.

[stockman]

I remember one in a lumber Yard in our town that the stone was used until it broke into from getting thin in the middle. Latter they had a new stone in it. I don't remember the maker. When the Lumber Yard went out of business
I went to try to but it, to late it was gone.

Harold

[knifeaholic]

Great Post, and thanks Mumbleypeg for posting the different versions.

This item was shown on the inside cover of the oldest Case catalogs circa 1930-1934 - see the orange image.

From then on, no Case catalog shows any sharpening stones until 1964. That catalog has a few stones shown but not this one. Then in the 1974 catalog the modern examples shows up (see image).

I can check to see when it was last offered, but I'm certain that it was discontinued in the early 1980's.

I have a stack of the stickers that show the sharpening instructions. I had been sending them with my books to be used as bookmarks.

[Old Folder]

Very kniiiice!!

Thanks Scott;
I did not realize we had a "Sharpening Stone Thread" until now. As I read all the older threads I see your participation is numerous. You seem to of had obtained more hones than anyone.

[Old Folder]

A super piece of Americana.

Thanks Quick Steel;
We never know what we will find or learn next.

[Old Folder]

[quote="Mumbleypeg"]Nice find! This is what's called a "counter hone". Cutlery makers made these available for retail dealers, who placed them in their stores for the convenience of customers, back in the time when hardware and sporting goods stores were locally owned and served as community social gathering places. I'm old enough to remember the well-worn example that sat on the counter in the local (now closed) hardware store when I was a youngster, and the men in their bib overalls that used them. Examples of these items can be found in old cutlery catalogs along with various dealer display cabinets. See this older AAPK thread for some discussion about them. http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... er#p410823. I've seen versions from Case, Queen, Robeson, and Remington and would be surprised if there aren't others.

Case made at least three different versions. The oldest version I know of had a green label with a round oil can. There was a subsequent version having a round oil can with a blue label, and the most recent had the blue label with an oil can having a rectangular base. The last case example I know of was in a catalog from the 1970s, after which I haven't seen it in any more recent catalogs.
Ken

Thanks Ken;
"Counter Hone" Excellent description.
Great AAPK thread also.

[Old Folder]

Great Post, and thanks Mumbleypeg for posting the different versions.

This item was shown on the inside cover of the oldest Case catalogs circa 1930-1934 - see the orange image.

From then on, no Case catalog shows any sharpening stones until 1964. That catalog has a few stones shown but not this one. Then in the 1974 catalog the modern examples shows up (see image).

I can check to see when it was last offered, but I'm certain that it was discontinued in the early 1980's.

I have a stack of the stickers that show the sharpening instructions. I had been sending them with my books to be used as bookmarks.

Thank you Steve;
I printed your pictures out.
I also purchased your beautiful 2nd edition book earlier this year. (I should have bought if direct from you, just for the sticker)

[TripleF]

Very kniiiice!!

Thanks Scott;
I did not realize we had a "Sharpening Stone Thread" until now. As I read all the older threads I see your participation is numerous. You seem to of had obtained more hones than anyone.

I do have quite a few and I just added a LEE'S sharpening steel......like I needed another one of those!

[knifeaholic]

Great Post, and thanks Mumbleypeg for posting the different versions.

This item was shown on the inside cover of the oldest Case catalogs circa 1930-1934 - see the orange image.

From then on, no Case catalog shows any sharpening stones until 1964. That catalog has a few stones shown but not this one. Then in the 1974 catalog the modern examples shows up (see image).

I can check to see when it was last offered, but I'm certain that it was discontinued in the early 1980's.

I have a stack of the stickers that show the sharpening instructions. I had been sending them with my books to be used as bookmarks.

Thank you Steve;
I printed your pictures out.
I also purchased your beautiful 2nd edition book earlier this year. (I should have bought if direct from you, just for the sticker)

Give me your address and you will have a sticker - PM me if you would like.

Steve

[rea1eye]

Very nice piece. Looks like it is in good shape too.

Thanks for sharing!

Bob

[Old Folder]

Give me your address and you will have a sticker - PM me if you would like.

Steve[/quote]

Thank you Steve.
PM sent.

[Old Folder]

Very nice piece. Looks like it is in good shape too.

Thanks for sharing!

Bob

Your welcome Bob;
Thank you, and everyone that responded to my "Case Sharpening Stone" questions.
All your contributions and years of your own personal research gave me a great education.
Great bunch of AAPK members.

[Mr. Chips]

Interesting that the instructions on how to sharpen a pocket knife have changed.

In the OP the instructions say to hold the blade at a 10 degree angle (the way I do it), and in one of the later posts I see that the instructions say to use a 20 degree angle, (which is way too blunt for good whittlin' in my opinion).

[knifeaholic]

Interesting that the instructions on how to sharpen a pocket knife have changed.

In the OP the instructions say to hold the blade at a 10 degree angle (the way I do it), and in one of the later posts I see that the instructions say to use a 20 degree angle, (which is way too blunt for good whittlin' in my opinion).

Good catch on that.

Here are the sharpening instructions from a Case Brothers Catalog circa 1904.

[victoryanthems]

I love the old stones and oils! This is actually an old picture, I have a few more currently.

[Quick Steel]

victoryanthems: You have a very fine and impressive display. Thank you for showing it.