Case XX 6488 76 or 77?

[lvaughn]

Hi I was going through my knives and didn't realize I have a 6488 Bone handled congress, when I went to take pics of it I noticed one of the main blades has 4 dots the other main blade has 3 dots. Why is this? And is it common? I know the knife has not been worked on I bought it from the original owner. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks for looking!
Leo

[philco]

I will take a GUESS at the reason for the two different sets of dots.
If your knife was made in 1976 I think it would definately have had four dots on each blade. It is unlikely Case would have begun using the three dot blades until after the new year (1977) began.
Most likely your knife was built very early in 1977 and they used a left over blade from the previous year's production along with a new three dot blade.
Just as some of the older Case knives have more than one tang stamp utlized and are known as 'transition' knives, so yours may well be a 'transition' knife as the switch over from '76 to '77 was being made.
It certainly makes for an interesting twist.

Phil

[jonet143]

1977. i have an 88 with two different year blades as well.

[BIGHEAD]

Yep just using last years blades

[Blade Runner]

Yes, that is known as a transition knife