Indian Wootz Shamshir with antler hilt?
 

Hi,

Just posting this here, because I've never come across anything like this before. At first I thought the hilt slabs were made from stained ivory, but it turns out they're made from deer antler(?) and covered in a dark brown substance that almost looks like hide glue or shellac. So I was just wondering if anyone has seen anything like this before? And if the dark substance is glue, was it perhaps for some sort of inlaid decoration or gilding, or was it purely to highlight the carved design?

Hello,

Is the blade still there ?

My first thoughts are is this a French made sabre?

Motifs aside, this technique was very common in the knife making industry, and the otherall hilt shape reminds me of French made sabres.

Yes, although it's not in polish so the wootz pattern is not that obvious. There is a maker's mark though.

That's a very interesting knife! Would you perhaps know if the antler has been coated, or just stained?

I hadn't thought of the French possibility, my initial assumption was that it was probably just an "Indian Mameluke" style hilt. Though a European origin would possibly explain the use of antler...