Compare your LanCay to the three knives in this photo:
http://www.quarterbore.net/forums/ph...to/118/cat/503
If you look close, you will notice that the M on the two on the left is further to the left then the on eon the right... I have seen knives dated 1992, 1993 and 1994 with this type of markings while I have owned a number of the knives marked like the one on the right. The ones I have owned like the one on the right were all marked 1994... From that I would assume that in 1994 LanCay changed the equipment they marked their knives with.
Look at the photos in the LanCay directory and compare them...
I believe you are correct in your dewscription that this is likely a first contract knife...