Recently fellow member Steve Riordan  asked me about his Case Gentleman's knife he acquired with the Case XX Long-tailed C and German Import stamped on it-photos to follow-

Excerpt from: The Official Price Guide to Collector Knives 1981 – page 82-83

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Discontinued German Imports

In the late 1970’s W. R. Case & Sons trial marketed a line of knives from Germany. The attempt failed. The knives were sold by the Case salesmen through the Case company, but the knives were not marked with any Case trademark.

However,, in 1979, James F. Parker bought the remaining stock of the German imports, with the stipulation that all of the knives remaining in stock be etched with the Case trademark. The blades of each knife were etched “Case German Import”. Only the knives bought by Parker have the “Case German Import” blade etching. The quantities ranged from 144 of some pattern to 1200 of others.

W.R. Case & Sons imported these knives from one of the finest firms in Soligne[sic], Germany. After test marketing, the knives were discontinued. Parker Cutlery has bought the remaining stock of these discontinued imports.

These are the only knives ever made with Case imprint. Blades on these knives are etched XX German Import. Quantities are as low as 144 of some patterns.

This practice only lasted til 1981 The  original price of this knife was $18.95 - Also shown is a display case from the Case Archives showing the  Case German Import knives-BTW, Main blade is stamped INOX-Solingen, Germany and the opener/screwdriver blade is stamped INOX (translates to stainless steel)