Book excerpt: Knife collecting has grown tremendously in the last thirty years, and the most collected brand by far is Case. The long history of Case knives dates to 1896, when brothers John, Jean, and Andrew Case began producing knives with their stampings. Author Tom McCandless, a longtime knife collector, explores the history of Case knives from their beginning to 1920 in Old Knives, XX, and More. He also chronicles his own experiences as a collector in building knowledge, networking with dealers and vendors, and finding answers to questions of value and authentication. Early Case knives, current-production knives, or knives from any period between are all collectible. Some collectors focus on patterns such as whittlers, stockman, or trappers. Other collections are based on handle materials such as stag, bone, pearl, greenbone, and redbone. If you want to know more about collecting knives—including pattern numbers, handle materials, grading conditions, and pricing—this book is an essential resource.