All About Pocket Knives

"CASE XX" over "P172" on front tang. Reugular S stamp and "Circle oval" non compostion shield.

Pile side tang stamp is "HAND MADE USA". I can barely see the 3rd dot but the fisrt dot lines up with left side of the "A" in "HAND". Second dot lines up with right side of "N" in "HAND". Any way to tell how many dots based on where the first one is?

I know there was an error in 1980 where they had some 10 dots that were produced without the "lightning S". Unless they also put the non compostion shield on them, don't think this is an error knife. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Based on the shield and stamps, I am thinking it is a P172 1971 9 dot thru 1976 4 dot. I don't know how they lined up the dots in reference to the "HAND MADE USA" portion of the pile tang stamp. Second pic looks crappy but when enlarged shows stamp and dots well.

Anyone have any idea on quantities of P172 made by era? Sarge's 7th show a "?" for all eras/years.

Please take a look at the pic and provide input if possible. Thanks, Jerry

My vote if for 1973 as they normally pretty well centered the dots beneath the "HAND MADE IN USA" . They used both circle and non circle shields during this year .

Bob

Thanks Bob.

I was trying to guesstimate based on where the dots started (assuming all dots centered) and space between dots and I was thinking 8 or 9 dot. But hell, I am still learning. Appreciate the vote.

I have a 5172 1977 Blue Scroll and on the date stamp and it is is a smaller stamp where the dots are clearly visible (in any blade position) as a 1977 knife even without the telltale blue scroll. I wish the Buffalo was stamped as such "but it is what it is". Kinda like the 11-1/2s and the swing guard covering the dots.

Thanks again. Regards, Jerry

I think Bob is right. 73 would have been the last year of the "regular" shield. The 10 dot 80's with the old stamp had the "composition" shield.

There is no way to know how many P172's were made as it was a standard Case catalog item, not an SFO.