The story of separate storage of handles and blades and the alleged reason behind it goes back to Fernando's recollection of his conversation with Daenhart who, while in India, allegedly heard it from a Raja of one of the Northern principalities ( name and location not mentioned) who told him the story and showed ( or was willing to show) separate storage places. It can be found in the Archives of this Forum.
I was unsuccessful in finding another source, but have no reason to disbelieve either informant.
If anyone here has good contacts with Daenhart, it might be possible to get additional information.
Many examples on e-bay still have mastique inside.
Tirry had a single example of a pommel-less handle, but contemporary e-bay is chock full of them, all coming from India.
Quoting Churchill, "It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma; but perhaps there is a key. "
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