Sudanese Kaskara ? Comments welcome

[katana]

Just acquired this Kaskara?, not ornate and I believe a local blade. I haven't received it yet so that is not definite. Possibly very late 19th C but more than likely early 20th. The sword is 95cm from pommel to tip, the blade 80cm, the handle and guard are leather covered. The guard concerns me, first of all the leather covering, so far, I have never seen an example like this, usually the guard is plain metal with langets.
If anyone has any info or comments, please feel free to add them, thankyou.

[Flavio]

Hello Katana, this isn't a sudanese kaskara, but a toukuba, a sword of the Western Africa (tuareg, hausa).

[Rick]

That's a Takouba ... (beat me to it Flavio) :D
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=974&highlight=takouba

[katana]

Thankyou both,
I appreciate the sword's condition isn't A1, is it worth me 'restoring' it (improving it myself, or by a 'restorer'). I have little idea as to it's worth. :confused: Or, with older examples (which I believe this to be), is this condition usual ?
Is there anyway I can identify it's age?

[Rick]

The only restoring I'd do is to remove the red surface rust gently from the blade .
My .02

[Jim McDougall]

Katana,
As has been pointed out, this is the traditional takouba of Tuareg tribes of the Saharan regions of North Africa. There is an outstanding article written by our own Dr.Lee Jones on this site if you will look at the home page. These swords are still carried to date by these tribesmen and your example seems, like most found, probably 20th century, and less than 100 years old.
Best regards,
Jim