Help to Identify Antique

[Saltyone]

I now have my grandfather's antique chef's knife which is made of carbon steel and wood handle full tang with brass rivets the following stamp is on the blade " hand forged in France" directly above that is "ouette" which appears to be missing some letters also this mark is stylized , shaped in a half circle . Anyone have any ideas about who the manufacturer might be. Additionally, in looking at the blade which has nicks on the top edge as if hit by something, could it have been a butcher's knife? The length of the blade from the handle is 12"

 

[screened porch]

The nicks on the back are probably from somebody hammering it through wood. I don't think butchers hammer their knives.
A picture might help with the ID.
Sounds like a nice one.

 

[Rhinoknives1]

Only the untrained take a hammer to a knife. If whatever your cutting is that tough, bone, wood etc..use a saw

 

[3fifty7]

Many knives have been struck on the spine with a honing steel, terrible for both but it happens. Pics go a long way with making an ID.