Countertop display age

The W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company has a very rich history that began in 1889 when William Russell (“W.R.”), Jean, John, and Andrew Case began fashioning their knives and selling them along a wagon trail in upstate New York. The company has produced countless treasures and it continues to do so as one of the most collected brands in the world.
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Potechop
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Countertop display age

Post by Potechop »

A few years ago I bought a display case that was in original box and never had a knife mounted on it. The display board I drilled the holes and mounted some knifes that i didn’t have displayed. It didn’t come with the brass emblem that was usually on the board so I bought one of those. The knives I mounted were all straight XX and I put one USA canoe to fill the board. Wish I would have left it till I got the right year knives for it. I am thinking it could have been made in the late sixties or early seventies. I was hoping someone could tell me if there was a way to date the display. I saved the original box was going to toss it don’t know if it has any value there no markings on it that say case only the size of the display is wrote on it. I will post a couple pictures of the display and the box and the key it was in the cabinet in a case envelope. Was hoping it could date to the XX era
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Mumbleypeg
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Re: Countertop display age

Post by Mumbleypeg »

That style of display case was used in the 1960s though at least the early 1980s. Not sure whether it was in use early enough in the 1960s to include the XX era. Many are age-identified by the knives in them but since yours had no knives, that’s not possible. Someone here like knifeaholic may know more exact dates,

Ken
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Potechop
Posts: 104
Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2020 12:02 am
Location: Kentucky, Bluegrass

Re: Countertop display age

Post by Potechop »

Thank Ken I was thinking the same on the age of the display. Like you said most of the time you can tell the age by the knifes or the form inside the door. I have a floor model with the date stamped in the wood. The back of the display boards are neat how the person who put it together would put the name of the hardware or outdoor store it was going to. I have a couple that the person who put the knives on the board would sign there name and draw the fish Christian symbol on the board. I did have a display with all XXs in the seventies when I was a teenager and I sold it and I can’t remember what it looked like. I know I probably shouldn’t keep my knives in displays with the blades open but I enjoy looking at them. I always think about that display I sold when I was young so I guess that’s why I like them so much. I wish I new the history on the case I put the pictures of. It was odd to me that it was sent somewhere and never was put together at the factory. I wonder if case sent out many empty display cabinets. Thanks for the info. Mark
knifeaholic
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Re: Countertop display age

Post by knifeaholic »

Yeah I love the old displays too.

Ken is right that style of counter display was used from about 1960 - 1963 until 1983.

Prior to that the same style of display was used but the wood on front was rounded off instead of squared, and the logo was a different style.

After 1983, Case moved to all newer design display cases that would accommodate the vacuum-formed panels to hold the knives.
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