I was thinking along the same lines when looking at the pics:
The hilt looks like a safe bet on rhino; any pattern-welding would be another bonus.
Good quality piece that has seen some repairs. Blade has obviously been over-cleaned recently and needs some TLC to bring out the full beauty as well as to bring overall appearance in line with original craftsmanship. Be very careful with the scabbard - based on the pics, I wouldn't try to restore it, I guess.
And please let me know in case you get bored with it...
Regards,
Kai