Tangstamps are an interesting study themselves. They tell as much about a pattern as a mint mark does on a coin. I collect photos of the various tangstamps on my two favorite patterns, and they have helped me establish a crude chronology of production. Changes of wording is the most obvious, as well as changes in location, but there are minute changes in the stamps themselves, both in the typestyles, letter spacings, and even wear. Tiny chips and cracks appear as they become worn and the letters round. Sometimes these defecta fill in with dross and make error stampings where an "O" has no raised center, or a pair of letters run together. Occasionally an error tangstamping will be seen that slipped by QC with a letter or number missing altogether. To have an original tangstamp die to display with your favorite knives would be a collector's dream. What say ye members? Do we hear an "aye"?
Codger