[urbanspaceman]

Hello Folks... well outside my field but an excellent -- thrilling even! -- thread.
Something came to mind while absorbing the cut and thrust of this discussion and it is this:
during my early forays into the world of blades and swords I learned that the majority of blades produced in Solingen were sent to Cologne to be given appropriate markings to suit the prevailing market.
Is it possible that a lot of the markings you are discussing could have been applied in Köln before being sold onwards?