Need help w/ dating: 1979 Alan Ashby Adirondack 302 game used baseball bat

[cjosefy]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160036948751

Auction states it's a Rawlings 1979 Adirondack. The knob has 194X and 78 on it.

I looked at the birdbats.com guide, and it states that it is a 1980-82 centerbrand that was also used late in 1979. However, the 78 is what has me confused. The reference states that there should be a three digit batch number followed by a one digit year (for 1980-82). I've emailed the seller to see if they missed a number that was obscured by the gold 14 on the knob.

Questions:

1) Did pre-1980 Rawlings bats have anything on the knob other than the model?
2) What does the "X" in 194X mean?
3) What year is this bat?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

Chris

[cjosefy]

Update: Got a reply from the seller stating that the knob doesn't have anything else on it. Just 194X and 78.

Chris

[BoneRubbedBat]

There is a 1 in the yellow paint after the 78, making this a 1981 bat, consistent with the labeling. The 78 is most likely the batch code.