Case Kitchen Knives Review
By Bobby B. | January 8, 2021 | Knife Brands
Case, or Case XX as it’s sometimes called, is one of the very few kitchen knife brands that manufactures knives right here in the United States. The focus on sharp, durable, and comfortable knives built to last in any kitchen, backed by a lifetime warranty. We’ve decided to write a full review of the different Case kitchen knives to share our opinion on this great Amerian brand. Surprisingly, few people even know they make kitchen knives!
Who is Case the Brand?
W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company is officially the company that produces Case-brand knives, which is now owned by the Zippo Manufacturing Company. Case has produced knives in Bedford, PA for over 100 years, and as mentioned above, is one of the few remaining, and in our opinion one of the best American made kitchen knives. While Case got its start in cutlery, during World War I, they began to make military knives for service men and women.
In 1949, in a joint venture with Alcoa, they started another cutlery company that has since been bought out and turned into the Cutco Corporation. Today, Case is best known for their pocket knives. In particular, there are tons of collectors that focus specifically only Case’s pocket knives as a hobby.
Case Kitchen Knives
As it relates specifically to kitchen knives, Case has two main types. The first, and most popular is the wooden handles. They’re made with solid walnut and look just like the knives my grandmother had back in the day. Yes, the old Case kitchen knives. The other has a more modern-looking black synthetic, non-slip handle. All of Case’s kitchen knives are stamped and use their Tru-Sharp™ stainless steel, which is actually a surgical steel. Surgical steel is good for corrosion resistance, but is not has hard as many other high-carbon steels used in kitchen knives that are more expensive.
While you can purchase individual Case knives at Amazon, most consumers purchase their knives in sets that come with a knife block and all the necessary knives your kitchen needs. Below you’ll find reviews on the top Case kitchen knives sets currently available.
CASE XX WR 9-pc Cutlery Set (#10249)
Case Household Cutlery Review:
These Case kitchen knives give me a nostalgic feeling immediately upon seeing them. I feel like my family had this same set while I was growing up years ago, and it’s a great reminder of the utilitarian feeling of products from that era. They were built to be used and built for function and beauty at the same time.
While these aren’t the most durable knives and certainly aren’t the most expensive knife set you can buy, they do have good corrosion resistance and the set provides all the essential knives we suggest you need in the kitchen. These knives do have stamped blades and solid walnut wood handles, so you’ll need to ensure proper care.
The most important topic to cover would be to never let these knives soak and to encourage you to not place them in the dishwasher. Both of these will shorten the life of the knife due to the wooden handles. The wood will become saturated and will damage over time.
- Tru-Sharp Surgical Steel Blades
- Solid Walnut Handles
- Hardwood Knife Block for Storage
- Limited Lifetime Warranty
- (8) Knives Included: 3″ Paring, 5-1/2″ Tomato Slicer, 6″ Boning, 7″ Santoku, 8″ Chef, 8″ Serrated Bread, 9″ Slicing, and 10″ Sharpening Stick
Case Kitchen Knife Set
Case Kitchen Knife Set Review:
This 9-pc Case kitchen knife set is virtually the same as the one above with one major difference, the handles. Rather than the solid walnut handles that require extra caution to ensure the knives don’t soak in water, this knife set by Case has black, synthetic handles.
These knives were built with durability and comfort in mind. The same knives are included and the blades are the same stamped surgical steel as the set reviewed above.
- Tru-Sharp Surgical Steel Blades
- Black Synthetic Handles
- Hardwood Knife Block for Storage
- Limited Lifetime Warranty
- (8) Knives Included: 3″ Paring, 5-1/2″ Tomato Slicer, 6″ Boning, 7″ Santoku, 8″ Chef, 8″ Serrated Bread, 9″ Slicing, and 10″ Sharpening Stick
CASE Steak Knives Set – 4pc (Natural Bone)
Case Steak Knives Review:
One of the more popular knives in their kitchen cutlery collection are the Case steak knives. This is mainly because they aren’t just your ordinary kitchen steak knives. Just like Case’s collectible pocket knives, their steak knives could be considered collectible as well, and they come in a very nice presentation gift/storage box.
These steak knives are mirror-polished, serrated, and made with the same Tru-Sharp surgical steel their standard kitchen cutlery uses. The handles are made of a smooth, natural bone material and have a center bolster. No attention to detail was spared on these 5″ steak knives. And, remember… MADE IN AMERICA!
Warranty / Care
As you might expect with a durable product being made in the United States for over 100 years, Case backs up their products with a lifetime warranty, although, they’re banking you’ll never need it as long as you take care of your knives. As a brief reminder, there are extra precautions to take with wooden-handled knives.
1. Don’t soak the knives – prolonged soaking in water could damage the handles
2. Avoid extended exposure to direct sunlight – excessive heat could cause the wood in the handle to dry out
3. Oil the handles – Thoroughly oil your knives regularly (at least once per year)
4. Wash and dry them by hand, immediately after each use – This is the best way to keep it clean and health
Case Kitchen Knives Summary
Case makes decent knives and they’re one of your best options, if not the best option, for kitchen knives made in the USA. They’re rugged, nostalgic, and just look like true Americana. As far as kitchen knives go, you can certainly buy better made kitchen knives. Clearly we’ve reviewed some higher-end, hand-forged knives that would put these to shame in a slicing contest. But that’s like comparing apples to oranges.
The consumer buying these knives isn’t buying slicing knives for sushi, they don’t care about Japanese Damascus steel or even fake pakkawood handles. They want the real deal. Real American made kitchen knives, made with real wood and real American steel. If this describes you, these knives made by Case fit you perfect!