Brass dots on a blade??

[Steve]

Hi, yes the hilt is made from rhino horn. Quite old and I've had to fill some worm holes to keep it all together. The chinese imitation of rhino horn is now very, very good. It even has the texture right.

Thanks Jim, as always, for your thoughts on the brass spots. A little more research has filled in that the chinese jian swords often have these dots, seven of them as representing the "big dipper" in the great Bear constellation. This is evidently important in martial arts, possibly relating to an ancient historic warrior who carried a sword with that pattern. So its mystic and decorative.
Evidently, they are also found on the Barong. Probably made by chinese smiths who work in the Philippines.

As this is extremely rare in the southern arabian peninsula, I am wondering if the blade was imported from, say, India?
I am interested if there are other opinions??
steve