Cutco Corporation, formerly Alcas Corporation, is a U.S.-based company that sells knives, predominantly through direct sales or multi-level marketing. It is the parent company of CUTCO Cutlery Corp., Vector Marketing, Ka-Bar Knives, and Schilling Forge. Its primary brand is named Cutco. The company was founded in 1949 by Alcoa and Case Cutlery (hence "Al-cas") to manufacture knives. Alcoa purchased Case's share in the company in 1972, and Alcas management purchased the company from Alcoa in 1982. In 1985, the company acquired Vector Marketing Corporation.