The 1980 years.

Case did three things to distinguish the 1980 knives from the 1970 knives.

First the dot line became the second line, and was now easier to see than in the 1970's. Next, the letter S was depicted as a lightning bolt, appropriately named the "lightning S". Third, "STAINLESS" was no longer written out, but was depicted as a lightning "SS" in the middle of the dot line.

1980 - Ten Dots
1985 - Five Dots
1989 - One Dot

By 1989, the Case factory was purchased by Jim Parker. A Case centennial set was made in which the knives were not dotted but instead had the actual dates of the hundred year centennial stamped.

1989 - No Dots