Touareg? Omani? In between? Need opinion.
 

OK, boys, I am confused.
This one just came, bought out of pure curiosity.
The scabbard's ( obviously new) motive looks Touareg to me, as well as the bronze(brass? damn, one day I have to learn what is what...) pommel with parallel deep incisions.The tang goes all the way through and protrudes a little (but everything holds like a rock).
The blade is native, straight and very springy. It is nicely patinated and has some minimal pitting, so I would guess it is quite old. The handle looks like Omani kattara, only with lighter pommel. There are heavy traces of shiny gold-colored metal at the base of the blade on both sides (wish it were real gold... :D ).
My question: where does it come from? North Africa ( Sudan, Somali, further west), or is it a variant of the Omani Kattara? Or, is it a transitional stage ( kind of fusion sword)? What is "gold" doing here? It looks almost like remnants of plating. I know that more modern nickel plating often has copper subplating; however, there is not a trace of plating anywhere else and the stuff does not look like copper.
Help me out!

Interesting sword Ariel, would be interested to see what this turns out to be.

Sorry I've no idea, but what a great sword, well done.

Are the fullers forged or ground? If forged it does, indeed, suggest good age :)

A similar sword described as Omani Kattara

http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/photo...01971/ph-0.jpg

I would guess that's an Omani or Hadrami sword that made it over to East Africa and got redecorated. I want one like that.

You have all kinds of rare and unique pieces Mike, you should try to get one of these in you collection.