mmmm lots of intresting points to ponder, & I agree blades are damaged doing what they were made to do. {& by rust etc.} But many non tulwar metal handles are also destroyed by time & enviroment. wood, horn bone & ivory check,split, warp, decay or are eaten by worms & beetles & then need to be replaced. Stone & crystal crack or shatter when dropped.
Ive only had 6 or 7 tulwar & only 2 of those had damaged handles.
But for me the blade is the heart of it, that is what makes it a weapon. Perhaps I should collect ninhonto?
I do love a good & complimentry handle though.
The handle on its own even when fantasticaly artistic & well made is still just a handle, although as some of you say its very true that the handle style can be a great identifyer to origin.
But I think realy both blade & handle always need to be appraised & described, not just one piece or another.
To do anything else would only be half the picture, I thik?
I like the Gestalt approach myself in appraisel. {& indeed in most things.}
Spiral
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