Hi Martin,
Thanks for the kind swords. I really do like my new sword, it looks simple and a bit unrefined but it is probably the best balanced takouba like sword I have personally inspected and this included swords with European blades!
You bring up an interesting point about where we should apply the term takouba. Locally if we agree these swords generally fall inside the Bornu empire kaskara or more properly
kasakar would be the local word in the Kanuri language.
I generally think the Tuareg/Hausa/Fulani/Bornu swords are in one family because we see very similar blade designs and pommel designs. For example here is a similar pommel on a Tuareg sword dating from 1830 - one that Louis-Pierre has on his website here:
http://blade.japet.com/takouba.htm (near the bottom of the page).
I remember some other photos of your swords from this region - all iron and very heavy and thick blades.
Many thanks again for posting your sword.
Best,
Iain