Collectible Folding Knives

Case knives are the premiere collectible brand in the industry. While we make the product, we let the collecting community establish the worth of a knife after the retail sale. Many of our knives have increased in value over time. However, the use of knives as an investment is a risk like any other investment. The value of a Case knife is usually determined by how much a collector is willing to pay to add to his or her collection. We encourage collectors to reference the many books and pricing guides available about Case knives.

The Case Collector magazine Knife offers available ONLY to Case Collector Club members. Sponsorship of two Junior Club Members for free Updated information on Case events and tour schedules

Yes. Case Cutlery remains committed to handcrafting each and every knife in the United States. The majority of our knives are made in Bradford, PA, where Case has been manufacturing cutlery for over a century.

All Case knives are covered by a limited lifetime warranty against defects in workmanship and materials for the life of the owner. Our warranty does not cover normal wear, missing parts, accidents, altering, theft, loss, misuse, neglect, fire damage, and bent or broken blade tips. Warranted repairs cannot be determined until the knife has been inspected by one of our technicians.

If your knife is not covered under warranty, we may be able to repair your knife for a fee. A repair invoice will be mailed to you before any repairs will be performed. Once you've received the invoice you can decide if you would like to pay the fee to authorize repairs or have the knife returned to you at no charge without any repairs made.

If you have a knife you wish to submit for evaluation, follow these 3 simple steps:

Step # 1 Prepare your knife for shipment. For the safety of our technicians, we ask that you please clean away any dirt or debris such as blood or animal matter from your knife.
Step # 2 Package your knife securely in a box or padded envelope. Be sure the knife cannot move or shift while inside the package. Shipping your knife in a regular paper envelope is NOT recommended, as the knife could easily fall out and get lost. Click here to print a repair form to include with your knife. Please be sure to fill out every section and print clearly.
Step # 3 Send your package to the W.R. Case Repair Center insured and via a traceable method to:
Case Repair Center
50 Owens Way
Bradford, PA 16701 It is recommended that you do not send in any collectible boxes, tins, tissues or original paperwork with the knife. Please allow 6-8 weeks for service.

At this time, factory tours are not available.

Case is located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the city of Bradford. Bradford has nearly 10, 000 residents and is situated near the Allegheny National Forest. It is 80 miles south of Buffalo, NY.

A Genuine or Authorized Case Collectible is any product that is either marketed by Case or has been approved as a genuine quality collectible. Case has two symbols, the “Long Tail C” serialization and the Genuine Collectible Medallion, that ensure the integrity of a commemorative. Look for one or both of these when adding to your collection to ensure it is a genuine Case knife collectible.

The Case Dating System is a method for identifying the year a knife was manufactured. The dating symbols are found on the tang stamps at the base of the blade.

In 1970, Case added ten dots beneath the “U.S.A” on all knife tangs. Each year a dot was removed. In 1980, the same dating system was used. The differences are the “lightning” form of the “s” in “Case” and “USA, ” as well as the placement of the dots above the “USA.” From 1990 to mid-1993, the actual date was stamped on the tang. The dot system was used again from mid-1993 through 1999. In 2000, Case introduced a new tang date stamp: five Xs and five dots. From 2001 through 2005, one dot is removed each year. From 2006 through 2009, an X is removed each year.

The number stamped on the tang of the main blade of every Case knife identifies the pattern. The first number symbolizes the handle material (6 for example is Bone), the second number is the number of blades and the third number is the factory pattern number (54 for example is a Trapper).

There are a number of ways to tell is your knife is stainless steel or chrome vanadium. The stamp on the blade tang can identify the steel. For example if the stamp says “USA 6207 SS”, SS indicates that the knife is made of stainless steel. The chrome vanadium steel will be indicated in the same place with a “CV” instead of an “SS”. The knife box or packaging has an item number on the UPC label that includes the “SS” or “CV” abbreviations. Most stainless steel knives come in a dark green Case knife box, while the chrome vanadium knives are packaged in a white box.