Mike, In your research on the subject did you ever come across any mention of a patent on the process, or formula, used to make these cases? I would think that whoever came up with the process might have had the smarts to patent his ( or her) idea, since it was used widely to fulfill the markets demand for the product. Ed ( James, I would be happy to donate a case for forensic analysis, however I'm fresh out of them, having used my last one to case an old Iver Johnson I sold to a pigeon for big bucks ! I will accept donations, however.)