Tim, another whimsical thought in relation to your comment that this sword may have been a chief's sword or somesuch. Interestingly, only British officers (in infantry and rifle regiments) carried swords. It requires a bit of imagination and some license, but I wonder if it's too much of a stretch to say it might have also been adopted as a symbol of rank, following the English example.
As I say, a bit of whimsy. Who knows.
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