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.
This dating system featured a “Round C” on the Case logo.
This 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.”
Case suspended “Dot Dating” and the actual year was stamped on the tang.
Case returned to “Dot Dating” using the Case “Long Tail C.”
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.”
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.
Case introduced a new tang stamp design that recalled the early use of the “ten-dot” dating system. Each year, one dot was removed.
