Hi, my name is Vonnie Clark.  Here's a little bit about me and my 13 years at Case (wow time flies).  I started out running the wash tank.  I bid on a job opening 9 months later in the Hafting department.  It was a challenge trying to fit in among all the guys and gain their respect (I think there were only 3 women that were primary hafters at the time), but I had the privilege of hand-crafting the finest knives around, and it was worth it. 

I have always been good with my hands (art was my favorite hobby).  I remember back when I was hired, one of the things I said about myself.  It was how my Grandparents raised me and how my Grandmother always said, "Do it right the first time, and you won't have to do it again."  That was true to the many chores I had to do back then, just as it is in making the beautiful works of art that come out of the Case factory today.  In fact, it's funny because it's kind of a Case motto now. 

Since my hire in '95, the area of the factory originally set up as the hafting department is now where the hunter and lock mods are located.  I am currently in mod 1, which is one of six pocket mods. 

I have learned to do so much more.  Today I can assemble a knife, haft it, finish it, which includes buffing the fronts, buffing the blades, honing, polishing the edge to make it sharp, and gloss buffing it to a mirror like shine (I know, not bad for a girl, huh?).  But I'm only one of many who can do all these things.  We all do our best, and we do it with pride every day. 

I hope that you enjoy your Case knife, whatever pattern(s) you choose.  My personal favorite is the Pocket Worn.  I love to haft it.  It takes more time to do, because you have to take off a lot more material.  The bolsters need to be more rounded and thin, and the covers are cut deeper on the edges.  Then the whole thing gets hard buffed.  The cover is rolled to round it up and at the same time gives the jig that worn look and feel.  The edges you cut get rolled over and blended into the cover.  But you have to take care not to go too far.  One of the first things you learn in hafting is that you can always take more material off, but you can't put it back on.  Did I mention that my favorite color is that deep red of "Old Red" used on the covers?

My husband, Jerry Clark, works in the bone room.  He does the jigging and dying on the covers.  My Father-in-law, Dale Clark, is my boss (and they say Mothers-in-law are bad!).  Just kidding, he's really a great guy and a wonderful grampa.  There are many families within the Case family that will carry on the craftsmanship for generations, as well as the many people who will carry on the tradition of collecting Case knives for generations. 

Thank you for being a Case enthusiast, and God bless you and your family.

Vonnie Clark