Case Mfg. Co. - Warren, PA

[JohnDenham]

Just picked this up. Not in the best shape but seems to be pretty rare. The tang stamp on the main blade is almost completely gone. The tang stamp on the smaller blade is better.

This appears to have only existed a short time in 1911.

What is your opinion? Seems legit to me but just well used.

[olderdogs1]

That’s a very rare stamp. Looks legit from what I can see. What is the closed length? Interesting handles.

Tom

[1967redrider]

Cool find of a rare tang stamp.

[JohnDenham]

3-1/2” closed and 5-7/8” open. Attached more pics.

[jmh58]

John

[rea1eye]

Very nice knife!

Bob

[Mumbleypeg]

From Witcher’s Counterfeiting Antique Cutlery, which is one of the best resources for old tang stamps.

There is also some info about Case Manufacturing Co. in Lockwood’s The Case Cutlery Dynasty. To summarize, it says the company was operated by Andrew Case. Russ Case (President of W.R. Case & Sons) bought out Andrew (who was Russ’s uncle) and gave Andrew a minority stake in W.R. Case & Sons. Russ’s purpose was two-fold. He wanted to reduce the number of Case-named companies, which he believed was confusing to customers, and eliminate them as competitors. He had previously bought out John D. Case (another of his uncles). Second, Russ also wanted Andrew’s cutlery expertise and connections, to help replace the recent departure of his business partner and brother-in-law H. N. Platts, who had left and gone west due to health reasons. (H.N. Platts subsequently founded Western States Cutlery).

Ken

[1967redrider]

Great history lesson, thanks for posting, Ken.

[JohnDenham]

I have read that these were made for Andrew Case by Kane Cutlery in Kane, PA. Case Brothers was looking at establishing a manufacturing facility in Warren but it never materialized.