Help with knife ID

[lieferung]

After soaking in mineral oil overnight, and rubbing off some of the grime, these are the marking on both tangs; Case XX USA with 10 dots underneath. So, based on the above post, can I assume this is a knife from 1970? And that the pattern is more than likely a Muskrat??

https://www.flickr.com/photos/121247047@N08/38959519341/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/121247047@N08/38959524241/in/dateposted-public/

Specifically a Hawbaker "Improved" Muskrat.
Heres a pic of a "mint" one, it has 10 dots but it has some light etching on the blade that seems to have worn off on the specimen you have.

 

[mikey517]

I can't find any etching on the blades, but I would venture since this is a seemingly "rare" knife, and did belong to my FIL,
I shouldn't make it an EDC work knife??

 

[lieferung]

It is quite well worn, usually when an item is rare/valuable the condition is taken into consideration.

If you had a close relationship with your FIL I say continue to use it for his sake.

 

[mikey517]

Thanks... we were real close! He was as close as my own Dad....

 

[Ace Rimmer]

Looks to me like a perfect match to the 1970 marking. Is there anything stamped on the other blade's tang? Based on the latest catalog as well as knives that I have seen, the current practice would be for it to be stamped "MUSKRAT" rather than having a pattern number. Of course, I don't know if that would be the case for 1970.

 

[kvaughn]

Its a well broken in with a lot left in it Case Hawbaker Muskrat. Sharpen it up,put it in your pocket and remember your FIL when you use it. Best thing to do with it.==KV

 

[marcinek]

Now that I look at it more, I guess it is a muskrat but the picture was throwing me off and I've only ever seen them with the dual California clip blades.

It is a Muskrat. I was thrown also, but I did the quick research needed to see it was a Hawbaker Muskrat and not a "serpentine pen knife."

Quick Google search.