How to date this knife

[0078]

This is short line 23 seen on eBay skins are dating it to 1976? Short lines are usually 46-50

[orvet]

This is an excellent example of why Tom Williams used to say that you really cannot date a Camillus knife by the tang stamp.

Two possible explanations come to mind, both were suggested by Tom.
1- Someone grabbed the wrong tang stamp off the shelf where they were kept, and ran a batch of blades and stamped them with the old stamp.
2- They were had some old short line blades in inventory and used them at the Bicentennial to use them up.

[wlf]

I believe Pal did something like this with a couple Remington farmers jacks I have,in using up old parts.

[carrmillus]

This is an excellent example of why Tom Williams used to say that you really cannot date a Camillus knife by the tang stamp.

Two possible explanations come to mind, both were suggested by Tom.
1- Someone grabbed the wrong tang stamp off the shelf where they were kept, and ran a batch of blades and stamped them with the old stamp.
2- They were had some old short line blades in inventory and used them at the Bicentennial to use them up.

.......I agree, dale!!.............. ..............