In 1970, Case began a new dating system referred to as “Dot Dating.” Each decade started a new cycle of identifying the date of manufacture with a series of symbols, e.g., dots. Ten dots represented the beginning of each decade. Each year a dot was removed until one remained, which indicated the final year of the decade.
The 1970-1979 dating system featured a “Round C” on the Case logo.
The 1980-1989 dating system featured a “Square C” and “Lightning Bolt S.”
An exception to these stamps was a version that had dots in a triangular pattern on each side of the “Lightning Bolt S.”
From 1990-1993 Case suspended “Dot Dating” and the actual year was stamped on the tang.
From 1993-1999 Case returned to “Dot Dating” using the Case “Long Tail C.”
From 2000 - 2009 Case began using “X’s & Dots.” A dot was removed each year from 2001-2005, and an X was removed each year from 2006-2009. Note the hook on the tail of the “LongTail C.”
From 2010-2019, markings include “X’s x Dots,” similar to the previous decade. A dot was removed from 2011-2015 and an X was removed from 2016-2019.
For 2020-2029 Case introduced a new tang stamp design that recalled the early use of the “ten-dot” dating system. Each year, one dot was removed.
