Hi David
I follow your wise thaughts
.
Concerning the blade choil, i guess it may have purposes other than facilitating the hilting, like not being practical to sharpen the blade too close from the langets, or also even some kind of external influence.
It doesn't take much grip to introduce the blade, as you hold the hilt upright with one hand and, with the other, you let the blade penetrate, with the help of its weight and gravity, while the pitch is still liquid ... apparently a smooth operation
All the best
Fernando