Absolutely phenomenal Brian!!While Teodor is right, this does have initial appearance of Arab sabres and resemblance to the 'Baddawi' style hilts on many of them. The scabbard resembles those on the sa'if of Hadrahmaut and Yemen, however the carrying rings are not in the normal baldric style.
This scabbard has the carrying rings on the convex side, with blade worn edge up, in the style of the shashka. The right angled pommel on the hilt, Persian style crossguard, scabbard of noted Hadhramauti style (these are known to have been produced in Hyderbad, India) and triple fullered trade blade strongly suggest this is a Caucasian sabre, presumably Georgian and possibly even a Khevsur weapon.
With trade contacts with India, the features on the scabbard (the aghrab device on scabbard throat) and the wire wrap at grip neck (seen on Persian and Arab sabres, but some shashir styles in India also), these influences reached Caucasian craftsmen as well.
There are of course certain complexities in the elements of the sabre overall, but I would think this is a very interesting sabre of these Caucasian regions.
Further research may reveal more, but from first glance this is my opinion.
All very best regards,
Jim
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