THERE APPEARS TO BE PATINA TO THE WOOD AND THE BRASS ,THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF RECENT CLEANING TO THE PIECE. THE SIDE PLATES APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN PUSHED LOOSE BY RUST BUILDUP UNDER THE COPPER PLATES THAT IS PROBABLY WHY THE RIVET WAS STRUCK. tHE PLATES SHOULD HAVE BEEN REMOVED THE RUST BUILDUP REMOVED AND THE PLATES REATTACHED BUT IF THAT HAD BEEN DONE IT WOULD HAVE MADE THE PIECE APPEAR NEWER OR LIKE IT HAD BEEN MEDDLED WITH. THESE PICES WERE NOT FOR EVERYDAY USE SO WOULD NOT USUALLY AQUIRE A LOT OF WEAR, THEY WERE OFTEN STORED AND NEGLECTED SO RUST COULD BUILD UP A SHARP BLADE WOULD BE EXPECTED ON A USABLE AUTHENTIC EXAMPLE. I WOULD SAY IT IS THE REAL DEAL NOT A HIGH END EXAMPLE BUT NOT THE LOWEST END EITHER PROBABLY WHAT A POORER VILLAGE COULD AFFORD. THE COMPARISON OF MORE COMMON PEOPLES CEREMONIAL ITEMS AND THOSE MADE FOR THE RICH ARE NOT FAIR AS THE COST OF MATERIALS AND QUALITY OF WORKMANSHIP IS ON A DIFFERENT SCALE. I SUSPECT YOUR ITEM IS PROBABLY EARLY 1900'S JUST AS A GUESS NOT HAVING HANDLED IT.
THE PART THAT PUZZLES ME ABOUT THIS IS IF THE SELLER IS SUCH A WELL INFORMED DEALER HOW DID THEY MIS- IDENTIFY THE ITEM SO BADLY SHAME ON THEM!
