I believe that we are dealing with a matter of perspective:- if one is a collector of European edged weapons, then this pedang is not a European edged weapon, thus it has no place in a collection of European weaponry, however, if one is a collector of ethnic edged weapons, or perhaps only Indonesian or Javanese edged weapons, then this pedang is a good example of such a weapon.
The VOC mark is talismanic, placed there by a person & for a person indigenous to Old Jawa.
In accordance with Javanese practice, when any part of a weapon becomes shabby, or even if one wishes to give one's old or inherited weapon a facelift, then the hilt or scabbard is replaced, not to do so is an insult to previous owners and to the man who made the blade.
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