The Date Codes were used from 1980 onward with the code letters spelling out the words QUALITY PEN every 10 years. Each year is divided into quarter periods giving an accurate reading for exactly when the pens were made.The date code is usually found on the bottom side of the pen cap along with the country of manufacture.
1980 – QE QC QL QI
1981 – UE UC UL UI
1982 – AE AC AL AI
1983 – LE LC LL LI
1984 – IE IC IL II
1985 – TE TC TL TI
1986 – YE YC YL YI
1987 – PE PC PL PI
1988 – IIIE IIE IE E
1989 – IIIN IIN IN N
1990 – IIIQ IIQ IQ Q
1991 – IIIU IIU IU U
1992 – IIIA IIA IA A
1993 – IIIL IIL IL L
1994 – IIII III II I
1995 – IIIT IIT IT T
1996 – IIIY IIY IY Y
1997 – IIIP IIP IP P
1998 – IIIE IIE IE E
1999 – IIIN IIN IN N
2000 – Q.III Q.II Q.I Q
2001 – U.III U.II U.I U
2002 – A.III A.II A.I A
2003 – L.III L.II L.I L
2004 – I.III I.II I.I I
2005 – T.III T.II T.I T
2006 – Y.III Y.II Y.I Y
2007 – P.III P.II P.I P
2008 – E.III E.II E.I E
2009 – N.III N.II N.I N
Please note that often the date of manufacture and the date of sale can be very different.
