Hi Jim and Chris,
Time to add some more of my own ramblings then.
Mainly I want to touch on an important point Jim raises regarding export blade blanks. One of the main issues I have trying to research and determine what is a trade blade boils down to the fact that some blades are nicely marked for us. Does this mean unmarked blades were not produced for the African market in Solingen? We really have little to go on but the old fall back of how a particular sword "feels". I have wondered if there are any records that could be checked on product and export. If a German member wants to get involved to help out please contact me.
In terms of a ricasso being necessary to term a blade European, I don't think so. I have seen a few of the Kull 1847 style pattern and none have ricassos, also blades from Clauberg without like this one:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=10557
Incidentally that Clauberg blade has the same style of fuller and from rereading the thread should at least predate 1872...
Cheers,
Iain