Hi Tim. I probably wasn't clear about my thoughts on the stones--I've just never seen this type of work before on a dha. Didn't mean to insinuate this couldn't be local work, just that it was something unfamiliar to me. Were I to see this come to market, I would probably buy it for that very reason.
My primary point is that I believe strongly that the handle (including the decorative stones, wire work and "pommel plug") are later additions to an older blade. This isn't meant to impute some nefarious or fraudulent intent upon prior owners. Quite the contrary--many, many dha blades exhibit such modifications, particularly good quality blades.
1940's? Perhaps the blade.
