Rob NL, You say that you have a 40 year old photograph showing a rip? If so please post it. The last image posted was too far away to see any sort of detail with the items in the picture.
Also, do you think that I was suggesting that the seller put a damaged handle on the sword in lieu of a good one? Or I am misinterpreting your statement? What my thinking was is that everything was replaced so that the condition/appearance of all the external components would match. The scabbard, the handle, and all of the sword fittings. That is what I would have been looking at in very close detail myself as soon as I saw something like documentation stating that there was no leather hanger with the sword.
If you have a 40 year picture it would really help in clearing up what the sword looked like not long after it left the possession of Dick Deeter. FP
