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Old 13th July 2014, 09:42 PM   #5
Jim McDougall
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
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The crescent moon stamp is believed to have originated in Spain and likely some sort of collectively used stamp which augmented the makers mark, perhaps in a guild type sense.
With makers names, in many cases the well renowned names, especially from Toledo, were spuriously used for many generations, and in a way became rather 'brand' names . The famed Sahagun name of smiths of Toledo were used in Solingen in that sense, most of the blades destined for centers in Europe. The Andrea Ferara phenomenon is another case, with most of these blades destined from Germany to Scottish customers. It has been widely disputed whether there was such a person as Andrea Ferara, or whether this was a contrived term for quality (ferara= iron; Andrea, Andrew= good, true) . The Scots associated the term with their patron saint St Andrew.

As you know, Ulfbehrt has similar connotation perspectives and while possibly a workshop name, is not generally held to be a single makers name as I understand.

The origins and meanings of these names are an ever debated and studied subject.

As noted, spellings were often varied as literacy as well as applying names by those who were not necessarily speakers of the language were mitigating factors.
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