All About Pocket Knives

Case seems to be the most collected or collectable knife. I'm curious. What does everyone think the real reason for this is? I'd like to hear some of your thoughts on why Case carry's this honor.

I think because they changed tang marks periodically it makes them easier to date.
Take Care
Blade Runner

Because men are drawn to things with multiple X's......think about it

I don't know why but it really is an infectious disease.

I've read that its partly because Case was the first knife to be listed in a price guide , they had a detailed pattern number that is easily decoded, and they have been around for more than 100 years. And most Case knives manuacture date can be determined fairly closely. All these are pluses in most collectors eyes. And Case knives were and can be purchased just about anywhere pocket cutlery was- is sold. I'll stick with my Remingtons though. There is not quite as much competition for them, and their time has passed, not having produced a knife for more than 60 years. Its a real treat to be able to aquire one that has not been sharpened, used or carried since it was made. Along with the old hardware store display cases that held the same knives, where most of the patterns sold for around $1.00 or under. Times were sure different back then.

At one time I owned nearly 400 CASE knives. The collector market went crazy in the early 1990's and that convinced me that I wanted to collect in a different field. Thus started by desire for knives made or related to Pennsylvania is some manner or form. My current collection stands at 60 and growing. They are much harder to find and of course much harder to fined in mint condition. Some will NEVER be mint. They don't exist or are out of my wallets range by a long shot. No problem though, my focus is the variety and not just the condition. I like this position as it allows me to search for a lot of different knives and patterns. CASE is wonderful, don't get me wrong. I am just one of those people that insists on doing things a little different from every one else. collect what you like, BUT like what you collect. I currently own three case knives. I prized CASE MFG Warren Pa, "my hometown" a CASE Little Valley NY for obvious reasons and a Newer Case elephant toe that was a gift in a great tang stamp display case. I wouldn't ever want them to stop producing knives but I will probably never buy anything newer than 1940's at best.

just my Opinion

Case knives have changed over time. Today, the firm wants and does produce collector knives. At one time, Case wanted to have a great using knife but today the market is for collectors. I am quiet certain that the Case knife today is not nearly as durable or effecient as it once was but the handles and the markings deliver just what is wanted by Case. And a collector customer is much better than a guy who buys a few knives in a lifetime to use.

TinyDee wrote:Case knives have changed over time. Today, the firm wants and does produce collector knives. At one time, Case wanted to have a great using knife but today the market is for collectors. I am quiet certain that the Case knife today is not nearly as durable or effecient as it once was but the handles and the markings deliver just what is wanted by Case. And a collector customer is much better than a guy who buys a few knives in a lifetime to use.

I agree and I have said it before that Case is no longer a company that makes knives, Case is a company that makes collectibles. They could just as well be making collectible plates or Christmas Tree ornaments. Not that I can blame them it is more lucrative to be in the collectibles business, and they do a superb job with customer service.

It is just bizarre to see a company transform itself from making "knives as tools" and developing a fine reputation that way...to making knives as collectibles with usefulness being the furthest thing from anyone's mind. And ironic that their knives became collectible only because originally they were made to be fine tools.

This is a very interesting thread/topic...and a question I've also had for
quite some time. I'm newer to this forum, and to collecting in general
than most of you, and I'm still learning. But I do have to admit...I hear and read "Case...Case...Case"...and I wonder why? I've supplemented
my reading with a recent subscription to "Knife World", and I see all kinds
of brands...Bulldog, Primble, Fight'n Rooster, U.S. Classic, Schatt & Morgan, etc., etc. Why is Case so popular? Are these others not made as well? What about the Canal Street knives? Why does Case seem to be so dominant?[/u]

i think its because there is more information available for case knives as compared to other brands and most people that get into collecting want to know what they are buying and know that they are making good investments. im not saying that other knives arent or wouldnt be just as good of an investment, but if a person cant find any info on that other knife, they will most likely go with what they know or can learn about. i collect some other brands also, but im mainly a case man. i have 37 case knives in my collection right now and some other brands as well, but most of the time when its time to sell something for one reason or another, the cases stay home.