robert, here's a pic of the scabbard with the leather
panilo lowered down. perhaps there used to be something that's attached on that upper part of the scabbard because a pinhole can be seen (and said hole is also on the other side). the panilo seemed to have been altered also.
on mode of construction of the scabbard
here, it makes use of dowels, where the 'crown' of the scabbard slides into (see pics below).
finally, on the sword with the d-guard, i don't have anything to add that you already know (i.e., it's a luzon sword, given the peened tang and the non-chisel ground profile of the blade).
incidentally, i might be in the u.s. sometime august 2011. can i go to your place to see your collection?
