[stephen wood]

...I have just found this thread:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...durman+manding

- this piece is very similar to mine and has the typical decorations associated with Manding scabbards although unlike mine it has the usual flared end.

In this article:

http://www.victorianmilitarysociety....an_weapons.pdf

it is said that the Western Sudanic broadsword could be used two-handed - effectively a hand-and-a-half sword, whereas, as we know, the kaskara and takouba appear emphatically one-handed. The grip on mine, just over 6" and divided by a decorarive band seems to bear this out.

So perhaps broadswords were pan-Sudanic, hilted and decorated according to local custom. When an influx of different, curved blades occured, the Manding type was eclipsed whereas the takouba was hardly affected.