I saw this type of sword in Northern Cameroon (Provincie Extreme North; also with rounded tip and very heavy blade with central "rib", but the blade was absolutely smooth) and I bought one in Maroua town (and one in Mandara M., I will post a photos later). As I already indicated - very similar swords you can also find in northern part of Mandara mountains. All of them (which I saw) were probably older than that one on the picture and some local people were of the opinion this swords are there from the times of Fulani Jihad in 19 (?) century. Nevertheless I saw only the rests of the sheaths and it was never with crocodile skin.
Martin
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