Rob, Thanks for the new observations. With respect to the face/sun depiction, this does appear in Filipino iconography as you point out. I have never seen it depicted before on a leather sheath from the Philippines, hence my comment that it would be "highly atypical" for a Filipino sheath.
The sun/face motif does appear in other cultures, and I have encountered it in Southern Asia on various objects, particularly in Gujurat and Rajahstan. I don't know about Latin America, but possibly there also.
As for the mounting of the knife in this sheath, the sheath is for a left-handed person with the knife mounted on the right side. The front side of the sheath should be exposed, hence it needs to be mounted on the right hip. Lee's latest picture shows the back side of the sheath, not the front.
Regards, Ian.
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