[CharlesS]

Here is a bichwa style that is very decorative, but I wonder about its practicality.

It has a very nice brass hilt with riveted tigers(???) to the top.

The twin blades are thickened at the tip and riveted with decorative rosettes to the hilt. They seem to have plenty of flexibility in the way they are mounted, but always come back true to their original position.

The liner has clearly seen wear and is showing signs of early dry rot.

I am wondering if these are functional weapons or were made for the big late 19th-early 20th century craze for eastern "oddities" for the European market???