David, absolutely bang on! The one thing that's different is that I'm quite positive (from home) that the diagonal lines run in the perpendicular fashion on our example. If it is a Mahdist symbol, then that dates it very precisely, but... it doesn't mean it's connected to the rest of these blades! For some while - certainly since I have been here, i.e. since November - this blade has lain in our Uniform Store (which is in chaos), in what I can only describe, with the greatest regret, as a disorganised heap of swords, for we have neither a sword rack nor anywhere to put one. This heap, fortunately, contains mostly relatively common British weapons, and doesn't seem to be doing them any harm, since most are in their scabbards.
It could thus be that our other examples were taken by the 4th D.G., or indeed the 7th D.G., in the course of the 1882 campaign, while this particular weapon was captured in 1884. Dangit!
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