I was just reading an article about the O-Pee-Chee production plan (London) from 1979.
Apparently they had 5 cutting stations...
Four of them cut a "double" set of sheets. (4x2) And apparently these made the, more common, rough-edges.
One of them cut a "single" set of sheets. (1x1) And apparently this one made the, less common, smooth edge.
Beyond that, they cut with "cast iron knives"... which... would start sharp, but eventually dull.
So the odds that this case... and its boxes... have the smooth edges...
And assuming the cutting production was the same for all five stations.
Odds are 1/9, across the board, that a card came off the good "single" cutter.
And then there is the range of "sharp new blade" to "dull old blade" range.
But... all that said... the odds are the odds...
(Unless somebody can dig thru production documents to tell what made its way to Regina, Saskatchewan in the fall of 1979!!!)
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...first-1m-card/
Ivy estimates that 90 per cent of O-Pee-Chee’s cards from that era would’ve been graded below gem mint before they even left the factory.
Because of this "poor production" methodology - there's decent likelihood that the Gretzky cards will become the Canadian version of the "T206 1908 Honus Wagner".
[So now... this said... the buyer is going to - I would think - definitely, open two boxes... maybe 2-5 packs... and evaluate the edges. At what point... would one know if there might be "nice edges"? I'd have to think that a full case came from the same production spot in the factory - which is ONE cutter. Does the buyer manipulate this situation... and "represent" a pack opening - whether from this stock or not - where they show off something with a beautiful "edge" and cutting?!?... I'd think yes. Oh man - would I like to be a fly-on-the-wall of the person who commits to this!!! What.a.risk.]