If the inlay was mother of pearl it is very good possible that the adhesive contains some remains of mother of pearl. I don't think the inlay was a metal like silver or gold or something. Metal inlay mostly was, as said, pinned. I personally have the idea that the inlay was made of an organic material like mother of pearl, bone or ivory. But why is all the inlay removed? Then the theory of silver or gold makes sense.
In the book by Van Zonneveld on page 94 is a large picture of a pedang lurus that has some similarities with the guard of this one.
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