Hi Chevalier,
Thank you for responding, and for giving us some insight into your interests, which are admirably wide in scope. Ward's advice is extremely well stated, and most of us can attest to the importance of using caution in acquiring pieces, avoid allowing emotion to override good sense. As a well scarred, once passionate collector who has learned this well over many years, I gratefully have become able to recollect these as 'adventures' and accept them as 'tuition' .
Stay with us here and feel free to ask all you want....the guys here are incredibly knowledgable on all manner of weaponry, and if you use the search feature you can pretty much find answers in some degree on everything. Check the 'classic threads' and read the early makers trademarks and you will find lots of detail on the trade blades you note as having your attention.
My collecting days are over, but I very much love researching weapons, and always look forward to the examples everyone shares here. I think we all have pretty much dealt with limited budgets in collecting, so it is very important to 'fire for effect' and knowledge is your most essential ammunition.We're with ya!
welcome to the forum John.
All the best,
Jim