The Case Cutlery Dynasty: Tested XX [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Brad Lockwood (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 2005

The Case Cutlery Dynasty: Tested XX is the extraordinary story of America's oldest and largest family of knife makers. Since the Civil War, four generations of relations have started over 30 cutlery companies, creating some of the most collected knives in the world. Their products are as rugged as the masters who made them. The Case family was, and remains, a melting pot of personalities - some as wild as the West they helped to settle. The book is written by a Case descendant, Brad Lockwood, who is an award-winning author of four books and was raised in Little Valley, New York - once known as 'The Village of Knives.' Covering 140 years of artisans in business, all related by blood but fiercely competitive, The Case Cutlery Dynasty shows how history becomes mythology over time, money is sometimes thicker than blood, and how a single family from humble beginnings came to dominate an important American industry.

Editorial Reviews

Review

I'm a huge fan of author Brad Lockwood, having read all of his novels ("Wink" rules and "Sellout" will be a great film) but I was a bit confused when I saw he had a non-fiction book coming out. Now, I don't know anything about knives, only from using them in my kitchen, but this book is truly amazing. I knew Brad could write, but I never realized how far he could take the story of his family - almost 2 centuries of knife makers - and make a very "testosterone heavy" industry...-Emily Amgen

About the Author

Brad Lockwood grew up in Little Valley, New York, 'The Village of Knives' and is a Case descendant, the great-great-grandson of Sara Jane Wyatt and Andrew Jackson Case. The award-winning author of four novels, including Sellout and Wink, The Case Cutlery Dynasty Tested XX is his first major nonfiction work. The father of a daughter, Haylei, and now living in New York City, Brad was inspired by his grandmother's stories, as well as her curious avoidance, to write the history of the Case Family.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Collector Books; Ill edition (July 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574324632
• ISBN-13: 978-1574324631
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,392,949 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I never knew any of this, August 15, 2005

By 

Emily Amgen "Em" (NYC, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Case Cutlery Dynasty: Tested XX (Hardcover)

I'm a huge fan of author Brad Lockwood, having read all of his novels ("Wink" rules and "Sellout" will be a great film) but I was a bit confused when I saw he had a non-fiction book coming out. Now, I don't know anything about knives, only from using them in my kitchen, but this book is truly amazing. I knew Brad could write, but I never realized how far he could take the story of his family - almost 2 centuries of knife makers - and make a very "testosterone heavy" industry so interesting. Wow! Buy this book - It isn't just about forging steel, it's about the women who put up with their husbands being away for months on end, and somehow kept the family together. A great, fast, truly informative historical read. It took me 3 days. Rereading it took 4.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great piece of historical literature, January 13, 2006

By 

John Burrell Jr. (Southbury, CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Case Cutlery Dynasty: Tested XX (Hardcover)

I must warn you that this review may be prejudiced; I am a direct decendant of Jean Case, the son of the last Case decendant still manufacturing knives and a high school acquaintance of the author. Still, I would like to share an objective view of this text from a historical point of view. My undergrad degree is in American Civilization and I am currently completing my Masters in 20th Century American History. I found Brad's book thoroughly engaging and though provoking from this perspective. Following the Case family is a microcosm of westward expansion, the industrial age, the progressive era, the Great Depression through the catastrophic effects of free trade and foreign importation. Historians, sociologists, anthropologists and economists could all benefit from reading this compelling text. I am going to recommend that members of our faculty use it in 19th or 20th cen. Am. Hist. classes.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting, August 14, 2007

By 

cville77 (United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Case Cutlery Dynasty: Tested XX (Hardcover)

Was very interesting to find out how many family ties Case had to other companies. Gives a great insight to how foreign imports have affected U.S. manufacturing over the years.