Second unusual feature is the blade which is made of 5 (?) wires forged together.
Recently, US knifemakers have been calling it cable domascus. It is what happens when you forge a blade out of a length of steel cable. Perhaps that helps to date the sword to post industrial revolution; the second half of the 19th century.
An interesting piece, from the size of it, it may have been a hunting sidearm.
n2s
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