How To Determine The Year Of A Case Knife

By learning the simple Case Dating System, you can easily determine the year a Case knife was manufactured.

In 1970, Case added dots beneath the “USA” on the tangs of all knives. As each new year passed, one dot was removed. So, nine dots appeared in 1971, eight in 1972, and so on.

CASE XX
U.S.A.
..........

In the 1980’s, the same dating systems was used -- with two subtle differences. First, a “Lightning S” appeared in both “CASE” and “USA.” Secondly, the dots were placed above the “USA”. Just like in the 1970s, one dot was removed each year.

CASE XX
..........
USA

From 1990 to mid-1993, the dot system was replaced with a stamping of the actual date. By popular demand, however, the dot dating system was used on all Case knives through 1999.

Casexx
USA
.....

And now, to celebrate the turn of the century, we are introducing a new tang stamp and dating system using a combination of Xs and dots to date the production of each Case knife. From 2001 through 2005, we will remove one dot for each year. From 2006 through 2009, we will remove one X each year.

.X.X.
CASEXX
X.X.X