India, British Protectorate. A Nineteenth Century South India Katti

Sword with a steel blade incorporating a silvered finish, magnetic, forward-curving and single-edged, with a very sharp cutting edge and a dull rounded tip, flat spine, the blade bearing a diamond-shaped identification mark near the mid-point on one side, exhibiting scattered surface rust and measuring 830 mm in length, the blade embedded into a traditional-style handle in iron, magnetic, the crossguard with flared ends along with a protruding point in the centre on both sides, the handle itself curved and finished with a raised point and butting the pommel, the latter composed of a large circular plate bearing a large ball finial, the katti measuring 950 mm in length. The accompanying scabbard with its body composed of two pieces of wood and wrapped in beige-coloured cotton, with two marks stamped in blue ink on one side, exhibiting extensive wear in the cotton wrap which allows the two wooden pieces to separate, thereby allowing the katti to be exposed, the scabbard measuring 830 mm in length. Fine.