Question on an unusual Case XX

[orvet]

I picked this up yesterday at my local flea market. I don't remember what I paid (not a lot), but thought it was interesting enough I would buy it & see what I could find out about it.

The master blade tang stamp is:
CASE XX
STAINLESS
USA

On the pile side tang of the pen blade is: 278

Blades appear to be hollow ground.
There is no bolster or birds-eye; no visible pivot pin.
The handle appears to have been molded to the liner.

Does anyone know what I have?

Being a Schrade & Camillus guy, I don't know much about Case.
I appreciate any insight you guys have.

Thanks,
Dale

[knifeaholic]

Dale;

It is an I278 SS. I stands for imitation ivory.

There is either one dot or two under the USA but they often hide under the handle material.

Case introduced the pattern in 1978 and it was used for a lot of imprinted knives, also made with imitation tortoise, patterned brass, and phony scrimshawed handles. It was discontinued sometime around 1990.

Most if not all of them just had the pattern number marked like yours, since they made up these knives as "skeleton" knives and added the handles later.

[orvet]

Thanks Steve, that makes sense.
I can see the thicker liner that probably has a lip at the edge to help secure the handle material.
Not as 'tinny' as an Imperial shell handle, but a less expensive way of making a knife with a lot of flexibility in adding an array of handles for advertising.

Quite ingenious actually!
Thanks Steve for the info!

Dale

[RobesonsRme.com]

I think they used that pattern on the knives for the Knoxville, TN World's Fair in whatever year that particular event might have occurred.

Charlie Noyes