[Jim McDougall]

Great questions Keith, and ones I have pondered for many years. In more passim 'plowing' through references:
The RUNNING WOLF of Passau was apparently the city emblem, and the knifemakers of the city were officially awarded the right to use it in 1368, though apparently the practice predates that. While it is less clear on the use of the mark by blade makers, it seems possible it may have been used as well by them. Mann (1962) shows numerous running wolf markings describing them as German through 16th century but does not specify Passau or Solingen. Wagner (1967) does state that the wolf was indeed in use in Solingen by mid 16th c., the images in Mann (Wallace Collection) show the wildly stylized chop marks that barely resemble a animal but appear to be simply there to achieve the talismanic imbuement. Wagner (1967, "Cut and Thrust Weapons", p.107) claims that the running wolf was placed on blades by Johannes Wundes (1560-1620) which were destined for mercenary soldiers for Archduke Leopold V of Austria, suggesting that sword blades were being 'outsourced' to Solingen and the favored mark was required.

It seems that the Passau wolf, much like the cross and orb and some other devices, were not ever related to guilds in Solingen, but indeed over time had a qualified presumption of quality. The actual beginnings of these ubiquitous marks were however more aligned with talismanic and sometimes religious connotation. The familiar anchors, crosses, and obviously cross and orb are the religiously oriented marks.

As mentioned, in most cases the blades were indeed produced in a number of
locations or one large center such as Solingen where these were sent to locations which were trade or metropolitan cities. Here local cutlers mounted them into the preferred hilts and mounts for local commerce. In many cases the blades remained unmounted to trade networks to various other spheres.

I think Solingen eventually had local cutlers and artisans to mount and engrave or mark blades as required, but the various shops also produced for large orders for varied clientele. While Koln was the key location where swords were mounted and sold, in earlier times rather than Solingen, most of these German swords were called 'Koln swords'.

In Italy, the shops in Belluno, and several others, the blades were sent to Milan or Brescia for mounting. Other centers such as Lucca etc. went to Genoa, the port of departure , hence all deemed 'Genoan' swords.

In Spain the Toledo blades typically ended up out of Bilbao in the north, and several local towns there hilted them with familiar blade forms, hence the term 'bilbo' for Spanish swords in late 16th century on.

With Rotterdam, this was a center and departure port for Solingen blades, but many swords for Dutch East India Co. were assembled there as well.It is known that makers from Solingen not only went to England but to Holland, Spain, Russia, France and Sweden in the early 17th century.
There must be works on these metalworking histories but not much specific in English as far as I know.

Pretty haphazard synopsis, but all I can do at this point from my shaky memory.

I hope others better informed will come in......corrections welcomed!!!