Not sure of what I got, a gaucho knife or a Vendetta Corsa?

[ingelred]

Hello,

I bought this knife at ebay but I am not sure of what I got:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...0%3D%26fvi%3D1

or ebay item number 160068068603

I bought it as a gaucho knife but found an almost identical knife depicted in the 16th annual edition Knives'96 on page 47.
As in Knives'96 the knife is 9.5 inches long with a 6-inch blade and a 3.5-inch handle.
The handle and blade are forged from one piece and as in Knives'96 the handle is fluted on both sides.
The sheath itself is made of iron or steel with a brass band on top and wooden liners inside.
Both the sheath and the handle are nickel plated.
The only difference between my knife and the depicted knife the slightly different decoration of the sheath.
Now my questiones, in Knives'96 the knife is said to be a Vendetta Corsa knife being approximately 180 years old.
The story is that because of a vendetta the last male of one family departed from Corsica to Venezuela about 180 years ago carrying the mentioned knife with him.
Could this be true?
Searching through the internet I found the information that galvanic nickel plating was first done by Faraday in 1832.
Were there other methods for nickel plating used before 1832?

The knife has no marks.
Any further information is appreciated.

Thanks in advance for Your help.

Greetings