[CharlesS]

This sword has been attributed to Africa from Morocco to Ethiopia. Personally, I think photographic evidence strongly suggests Morocco, and I believe this form has already been the subject of a previous thread.

But, check out the inscription on this one. This example has the thickest, heaviest blade I have seen on one(though I have seen only 4), and I have never seen an inscription of this nature on anything.

One forumite has already suggested to me privately that it may have been a crude attempt to mimic a European inscription in a practically illiterate manner. I can understand that theory when you consider the prestige of European blades in much of that part of the world.

Any ideas??