Magnificent sword Charles!
In Bikaner I saw a few very heavy tulwars supposedly used by some very powerful men. Every component from the hilt to the blade were very thick and heavy-looking, but very well executed.
In regards to the steel inlay, I don't see any reason why it would not have been done. Richard Furrer demonstrated such "inlay" in his
reproduction of an Ulfberht sword. IIRC in the Ulfberht sword, the "inlay" was forge welded into the blade, and is not actually cold inlaid wire like the usual soft silver or gold wire. This tulwar may have been decorated in the same manner.
Emanuel