Big Bob:
You ask a great question in my opinion.
I have taken the liberty of working on your photo for id purposes.
A question for you or anyone who might know. Does the same stamps pertain to both folding and fixed blade knives? The cut and paste I have used below does not show the lazy tail case. It can be seen in Brians research for dating case. Even tho the stamp is not exact it would explain the date of manufacture as 2007 if the answer to question is yes. Bob I am also awaiting for others to chime in.
moss
2000-present time
In 2000, Case developed yet another dating system. Case is currently using an old style Case XX stamp along with a mix of dots and x's both above the Case XX symbol and below. Case started with 5 x's, and 5 dots in 2000. For each year thereafter, they have been removing one dot. When all of the dots are gone after 2005, the x's will be removed one by one until 2010 at which point collectors will undoubtedly see a new dating system. Stay tuned.
Hello,
I bought around 5 Years ago in a Flea Market in West Virginia on a Vacation. As stories are told he said it was a custom knife made at CASE by and employee .. I didn't know< but for $20 I bought it. I will try and post pictures of back side of the knife blade and the Leather sheath. Sorry I don't know any more.
Since we are all just talking here...
I'm going to guess a rehandle, and, that the double guard was an addition, as it seems to me a narrow blade for the size of the double guard and handle. JMO, and still a great buy for $20!