Case Hammerhead dating

[Watson1!]

Trying to date this knife.
Stumped as there is no shark etching and the placement of the dots has me pondering.

[treefarmer]

Howdy, Watson1!, to AAPK!
I believe your knife fits in the 1980-1989 era. There is a note on one of my Case tang stamp charts that says in addition to the regular 10 dot system there is an exception that had the dots in a triangular pattern, refereed to as "floating dots". This is probably how your knife is dated. If this is correct, your knife is an '83. Can't find a definite, positive, for sure answer but I believe this is correct. I'm not sure I have seen that stamp before.
Treefarmer

[knifeaholic]

Howdy, Watson1!, to AAPK!
I believe your knife fits in the 1980-1989 era. There is a note on one of my Case tang stamp charts that says in addition to the regular 10 dot system there is an exception that had the dots in a triangular pattern, refereed to as "floating dots". This is probably how your knife is dated. If this is correct, your knife is an '83. Can't find a definite, positive, for sure answer but I believe this is correct. I'm not sure I have seen that stamp before.
Treefarmer

You're in the right direction, but the floating dots was 90-99.

[treefarmer]

knifeaholic,
, wasn't the 1990-93 when they had the actual year stamped on the tang then went back to dots during part of 1993?
Treefarmer

[tallguy606]

Hope I'm not hijacking the thread. But I have noticed that some Hammerheads have a blade that is not much bigger than that of a Mako, but the lower portion of the blade is a large smooth notch, whereas on other Hammerheads, the blade bevel extends almost to the tang, in the usual way. The first blade shape seems odd, as the lower inch of the blade is useless for cutting. I have put them side by side with a Mako, and the actual cutting part of the blade is almost the same size in both knives, despite the Hammerhead being a MUCH larger frame than the Mako. Wonder when they changed this?

[hardman]

Hope I'm not hijacking the thread. But I have noticed that some Hammerheads have a blade that is not much bigger than that of a Mako, but the lower portion of the blade is a large smooth notch, whereas on other Hammerheads, the blade bevel extends almost to the tang, in the usual way. The first blade shape seems odd, as the lower inch of the blade is useless for cutting. I have put them side by side with a Mako, and the actual cutting part of the blade is almost the same size in both knives, despite the Hammerhead being a MUCH larger frame than the Mako. Wonder when they changed this?

The semi-circle cut out on the Hammerhead was there for folks who like to put their index finger there during use. Kind of like choking up on it. Onlynthevearly versions of the Hammerhead eere like that. After that, the design was changed to a more traditional design.

[Mumbleypeg]

knifeaholic,
, wasn't the 1990-93 when they had the actual year stamped on the tang then went back to dots during part of 1993?
Treefarmer

Since Steve hasn’t been back to respond yet, I’ll try. The answer is yes. Some time in 1993 they dropped using the actual dates (by most accounts that system wasn’t popular with collectors, which promoted the change back to a “dots” date code method). They returned to using dots, but the confusion comes from the continued use of the “lightning S” from the 1980’s combined with “floating dots” on some, but not all patterns. The OP knife is evidence that this floating dots scheme was in place as early as 1993.

An image of the other date coding system in use from 1993 through 1999, a version of the “long tail C” with dots underneath, is shown in the research section here on AAPK. https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/co ... ification/ The “lightning S“ exception is documented to some degree in the verbiage under the image. However it doesn’t mention the alternate dot scheme known as the “floating dots”.

Welcome to AAPK Watson1. Hopefully you’ll return to see the answer to your question.

Ken

[Old Hunter]

Your knife is a 1983 - you have the 1980’s Lightning style S in both the name CASE and in the USA. The etches on some blades are very light and will also wear away when used. I have to turn mine in the light to see the Hammerhead etch - my knife has been well used over the years. OH

Ps. My 1988 Hammerhead.