Hi Gonzalo
,
thanks for the information....unfortunately I do not have access to the reference you provided, but I am in agreement with you, I think the majority of the older serpentine blades (not the victorian copies) were functional.
As has already been noted this particular sword has a nicely forged blade...and is likely properly hardened and tempered. The fact that is wasn't finely finished or 'polished' suggests to me, that it is even more probable that it was not a ceremonial / ritualistic blade.
Like Rick, I cannot find a similar guard shape and his 'jovial' suggestion of it imitating the Gangya of a Keris might not be as strange as it first appears
....certainly 'food for thought' or strange coincidence
Regards David