I seem to have bought a Sewar.

[kai]

Hello David,

I think the mounts are a very hard wood, rather than horn, but yeah, thats how hard the wood is.

The scabbard once had a horn (or, less likely, ivory) tip; if the crosspiece is separate (sharp pics would help), I'm willing to bet it and the hilt being horn. Old horn can be getting quite fibrous, too.

This piece seems to originate from the coastal Malay population on both sides of the Straits (either eastern Sumatra or, just as likely, western Malay peninsula).

I'm not convinced this blade has been repaired - maybe the smith had to cope with limited resources. These blades are often made of non-contrasting laminations and rarely stained with warangan. A gentle etch may help to tone it down.

Regards,
Kai