Join in the fun on the weekend of July 23 in Bradford, Pennsylvania, when the famous brand of Case Knives celebrates the 35th anniversary of the Case Collectors Club® (CCC®) with a weekend of activity open to the public, plus member-only CCC® club events. Case knives, along with a wide range of product categories - from traditional folding pocket knives and fixed blade sporting knives to limited production commemoratives and collectables - are still proudly manufactured in America, in Bradford, PA.
35th Anniversary Celebration public events include a Collector Knife Swap Meet, Tony Bose knife making, Tony Foster knife appraisals, Case on Canvas, Swap Tables, Pin Trading, and Collector Trading Cards. These events do not require pre-registration. Other events do require registration for both non-members and members. Non-members can register to attend by phoning Case Consumer Relations at 814-368-2926. Current Club members will receive event registration forms by mail.
The Zippo/Case Museum, located at 1932 Zippo Drive, will host a variety of activities for all ages. The Collector Knife Swap Meet will take place from 11am-3pm with 100 tables of knives expected to be filled for members to buy and sell while giving Club members a chance to meet fellow collectors. Family-friendly activities are scheduled throughout the day, including bubble gum blowing contests, apple peeling competition, and Case trivia challenge.The Swappers Tent will be open to the public. Food vendors will be onsite from 8am-4pm, and parking at the Zippo/Case Museum is free!
Case celebrities and employees will be available to answer questions about knives and the history of the Case brand. Renowned custom knife maker, Tony Bose, will offer fans a demonstration of some of the finer points of his craft. Tom Wolfe, professional wood carver and accomplished author on the subject, will be on-hand to teach attendees how to whittle. Other special guests include a local artist who specializes in knife paintings, a professional knife sharpener, and an appraiser of vintage Case knives.
“As in past years, we eagerly await the Case Collectors Club event, as it provides an opportunity for the Case family to express its appreciation for our most passionate and dedicated fans, “ said John Sullivan, Director of Marketing, Case. “It’s a chance for Case fans to come together, make new friends and reminisce with old, all while taking a welcomed break from their daily lives. We are especially grateful to be able to celebrate three-and-a-half decades of the Case Collectors Club and reflect on how much it has grown over the years.”
The company’s rich history began in 1889 when four brothers - William Russell (W.R.), Jean, John, and Andrew Case (a.k.a. “The Case Brothers”) began fashioning knives and selling them along a wagon trail in upstate New York. W.R.’s son, John Russell (Russ) Case, a former salesman for the Case Brothers brand, launched W.R. Case & Sons around the turn of the 20th century. Russ’s father acted as his son’s consultant, helping to stabilize the company’s early finances while building a reputation as a dependable supplier of high-quality cutlery.
Today, Case is owned by Zippo Manufacturing Company, makers of the world famous Zippo® windproof lighter, another family-owned business based in Bradford. The company’s original knife concepts and manufacturing methods have been recognized with awards and features from major print publications, international trade organizations and events, broadcast television shows and major motion pictures.
A unique tang stamp dating system used since the very early days of its history has made the Case brand one of the world’s favorite collectable brands. The Case Collectors Club, with 19,000 active members, is the largest known knife collecting association in the world.
Case’s commitment to quality is evident in the many pairs of hands that it takes to create just one knife. Case knives start with carefully shaped handles made from a wide range of genuine materials like cattle bone, stag antler, buffalo horn, mother-of-pearl, exotic woods and stones. Brass, nickel, and silver components highlight each form, bringing together knives that are not just beautiful, but able to stand the tests of time and use.
For more information about W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co., or the 35th Anniversary Celebration, call 800-523-6350 or email info@wrcase.com.
