Yes, I truly understand your dissapointment about the damage of the hilt, but now in museum, far away from the place of birth, it has only a historical and curiosity value. But my question is, how about brass hilts in general, is it really (as Stone has ascribed, if I do remember well) rather rare form of hilt. Most of you krises presented seems to be wooden hilted anyway.
And other one: any suggestions about age of this piece. I know it's the hardest thing to define, but do you think it's 20th or could be 2nd half of 19th century, for example ? Stupid question anyway, I know, but being completly green, I'm going to ask more of them