case xx 5197 l ss with 3 dots stag handle

[eradtke]

Is this knife significant ?

 

[Planterz]

Not really. The 97 pattern is basically Case's version of the Buck 110 style (the 5 indicates it's stag and the 1 means one blade). The three dots means it was made in a year ending in 7, but without seeing the tang itself as well as the shield, it could be from 1977, 1987, 1997, or 2007. Obviously, the older it is, the more valuable it is, although probably only the 1977 and maybe the 1987 would have any significant increase in value based on age.. Having stag handles makes it more valuable than a bone or wood handled model (since stag is expensive), provided that the slabs are well matched. It definitely has collector value, probably $100+ regardless of year, but as for being "significant" or special in any way, not really.

EDIT: it's probably not a 2007, as one of the "dots" would be an X.