Hi Bill,
the type of weapon I like..... a 'non-fussy' user

, totally agree with Ariel a kattara that has travelled, I am sure it has great stories 'to tell'. An added advantage of only the final 8" or so, being sharpened is that that the sword could have been used 'two handed' by gripping the forte area. Seeing as there is no guard, the risk factor to the other 'sword hand' would be no different. In a melee ... being able to manipulate the sword with two hands can be an advantage in a number of situations, medievel knights would sometimes hold the blade (two handed) and strike with the cross guard ...a la improvised war hammer.
Is the blade relatively thin and flexible as alot of kattara seem to have?
Regards David