Bradford, PA  (February 1, 2007)- Over the years, Case has produced pocketknives to commemorate the individual contributions of Case family members.  These relationships are important to the knife industry’s history, because they gave rise to some of the very first knife companies in the United States.   Case will bring two early influences in American cutlery back to life with a pair of pocketknife series for 2007.

William Russell Case Series
William Russell was a member of the famous Case Brothers knifemaking team, and is considered one of the most pioneering knife makers of the late 19th century.  He was named the first president of W.R. Case and Sons Cutlery Company by his son, John Russell (“Russ”) Case, who started the company.  Together, this father-and-son team managed the company in all respects.  W. R. Case provided invaluable support to his son, leveraging his knowledge as an industry veteran and stabilizing the company’s early finances.

Now, more than a century later, Case honors W.R. Case with eight patterns for 2007, each adorned with a Coat of Arms Shield, a William Russell Case blade tang stamp, and a silhouette image of W.R. wearing a hat embellished onto the main blades.  The patterns include: Trapper, Whittler, Medium Stockman, Cheetah, Peanut, Barlow, Tiny Trapper, and Canoe.  Each features Tru-Sharp Surgical Steel blades and Russell Jigged Chestnut Bone handles.

Crandall Cutlery Series
Crandall Cutlery is considered one of the most critical of all of Case Cutlery’s industry acquisitions.  The Crandall name connects to the Case family through John Russell Case’s sister, Mary Theresa Case, who married Herbert Crandall around the turn of the century.  Herbert Crandall founded Crandall Cutlery in 1903, and quickly gained a reputation for producing high quality pocket knives.  Crandall was an inventive entrepreneur, and even secured a patent for Radium Electric steel finishing, one of the earliest American advances in stain resistance technology.  Crandall eventually joined his brother-in-law at the Case factory in 1911, cementing the “s” into the name, “W.R. Case and Sons Cutlery Company”.  Crandall Cutlery remains a valuable and sought-after vintage pocketknife brand.

In 2007, Case will produce a new series of classic Crandall Cutlery pocket knives.  Case’s Crandall patterns will include: Tuxedo, Seahorse Whittler, Half Whittler, Medium Congress, Medium Toothpick, Medium Stockman, Trapper, Peanut, Small Gunstock, and Swell Center Folder.  A vintage Crandall logo (characterized by a “Long Tail C”) is stamped into the knives’ exclusive bowtie shields. All blades are made of Tru-Sharp® Surgical Steel.  The traditional Green Bone handle color is befitting of this historic brand.