very cool , thanks for all your effort and help in posting your research RenRen, thanks for a few things as well I haven't heard yet, such as this being a silver officials knife.
I would bet it must be possible to find out exactly who made this knife, given a few of its distinct markings and carvings, the 4 dragon carvings are even signed with a single initial.
I found this video on YouTube that has English subtitles and was also very interesting.
for anyone interested
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtbLRmxvfrQ
Ariel thank also, and I am aware about the niello, in actuality i beleive the Korean version is called "dohong" i read it can identify poison, or if the wearer is sick, i also read it was alloy made with gold? i mentioned the dohong in the beginning but have been referring to it as niello, because i figured it was more understandable then the obscure name dohong