You bet Spunjer!!! Tell your friend he 'done good!'
Gene, very astute!!! and I had not noticed the terminals might be replaced, nor the distinct indication this could be a smallsword guard. That makes this even more interesting yet, and it seems a lot of work to go to in order to refurbish this piece. To me the suggestion is that it well might have been the components of a valued heirloom sword which was revamped into a most attractive stiletto.
As the smallsword fell out of favor in the 19th century, there was still the attraction of the gentry to romanticized Italian influences, and there would seem to be a strong case for this type situation here.
All the best,
Jim