Hi Chris. Always difficult to determine when/how such damage as you highlight above appeared. Given that the nicks and dings are at the approximate center of percussion (where one would expect a skilled swordsman to be placing cuts), they may well be caused by combat or training.
The only edge damage I've really ever been comfortable attributing to edge parrying or combat has been on a few swords with obvious repairs, where I could literally see tiny hammer marks, etc.
Otherwise, who knows what fiend (grandchild?
) played Dragon Slayer in the backyard...
And, yes, I have seen fine older blades of this type remounted. The general shape of that blade is consistant with later Thai swords, but the obvious laminate construction may well indicate it is older than the mounts, as *most* later blades I've handled are not laminated.
Inscriptions? Sometimes.
Andrew