Awesome history Blue. The details of the repair are just amazing and to think as you say. "Someone trying to kill the owner with a sword" obviously whoever repaired it won that fight and succeeded at killing the other.
On the "sharp pointy piece of metal" During the long shipboard times WWII GIs and sailors created a lot of "sharp pointy metal" Very few knives were issued to GIs during World War II, Soldiers were given bayonets, but they were only good for stabbing and not a lot else. So the men in combat zones started making their own knives from downed aircraft parts. The blades were made from the structural steel alloy of the wings, The handles were made from plexiglas from cockpits or melted and recast aluminum aircraft propellers. Some other handles were made out of brass or bronze. Navy men made the best knives because they usually had access to a machine shop on ship, They would often make them for new guys they would make them because they needed them and they weren't getting any from the Army, There was a campaign during the war called 'Make a knife, save a life,' so people would send knives to soldiers the same way we send them care packages today. I am guessing that your blade has a similar beginings.
, does look suited to kitchening as well
