Hello Cap'n Jim. Good to hear from ya!
Yes, ever since Gilkerson had that pic of the oddly constructed "basket-hilt" m1803, I've been fascinated with the private purchase types. I remember when I got this one, the same seller had a "lead-cutter" with the same modern-type braizing to the base of the blade near the hilt. I was worried that the blades weren't original to the hilt, but went for it after all. Maybe the owner just didn't like the looseness in the blades( a common enough occurance). Glad got her even if she's not a pretty specimen. Thanks for commenting, my friend.
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