Our Story

Every day, a small piece of America’s heritage is carried around in the pockets of a nation. A small but solid reminder that anything worth doing is worth doing right. At Case, our knives are built by people with integrity for people of integrity. That’s the way we’ve done it for over a hundred years, and that’s how we’ll do it for the next hundred years to come.

Our roots extend back to 1889, when four enterprising brothers—William Russell (W.R.), Jean, John, and Andrew Case (a.k.a. “The Case Brothers”)—began selling handcrafted knives from the back of a wagon in upstate New York. John Russell (Russ) Case, the son of W.R., formed W.R. Case & Sons, as it is known today. Russ’s father acted as his son’s consultant, helping to stabilize the company's early finances while building a reputation as the most respected name in American cutlery.

From designs that tamed the American wilderness, landed on the moon, and defended freedom for our country, our knives have earned their place in some of our nation’s defining moments. And because they’re carefully crafted with the finest materials and twice tested for durability, Case knives are not only passed down for generations, but they have found their way into the hands of famous admirers and avid collectors, including some famous prize-winning bull riders, country music greats, and even former U.S. presidents.

Today Case is owned by Zippo Manufacturing Company, makers of the world-famous Zippo® windproof lighter, another family-owned business based in Bradford.

Here’s a quick look at how our highly skilled cutlers craft the knives that have become a symbol of uncompromised American quality.