I had taken close-up pictures of the hilt, trying to determine whether the blade had been modified, perhaps from the "boomerang" shape, prior to having a hilt affixed, but I'm unable to decide. The hilted area does seem rather thicker that the blade area, but it seems too speculative to say more.
I note that the hilt is copper, or something covered in sheet copper. The only other piece I have at hand with copper sheathing is a Songye axe. Afric to India is way too distant a jump to hazard any conclusions in that regard. If anyone has data regarding copper-sheathed hilts, I'd be interested in reading about this.
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