Pretty much dead on, Mike. There is an inner carved handle with a space between it and the outer, hollow carved layer. I haven't examined this piece, but this is an established mainland SE Asian dha hilt type, and IMHO intrisically frajile and probably vibratory; ceremonial, decorative, etc. (depending somewhat on the length of ferule with solid material in it). The better ones are allegedly made from single pieces of ivory, and such work is not impossible, but those I've examined had the inner core carved seperately then fitted inside of the outer shell.
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