THIS IS A GOOD ADDITION TO THE POST AND HOPEFULLY SOMEONE WITH BETTER REFRENCES OR KNOWLEGE MAY COME TO THE RESCUE.
THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT TRIBES, CUSTOMS, LANGUAGES AND VARIATIONS OF WEAPONS IN THE REGION. IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE A ITEM THAT FALLS OUTSIDE OF THE NORMS WHICH ARE PICTURED IN THE FEW REFRENCE BOOKS.
YOUR SWORD LOOKS A LOT LIKE A BLADE WITH A SHORT TANG SO IT MAY HAVE HAD A DIFFERENT LESS STURDY HANDLE AT SOME TIME. THE GRIP NOW ON THE BLADE WILL BE MORE STURDY BUT MAY BE A MAKSHIFT TEMPORARY REPAIR MADE SO THE SWORD COULD STILL BE USED. OR IT COULD BE A TRUE FORM OF SWORD IN SOME REGION OR TRIBE.