Kaskara for Comment.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Rick

Jim and I both thank you Wolf .

Absolutely, thank you so much Wolf, fantastic insight!!! Very good thoughts on the Ottoman and Mamluk application, worthy of further research.
Both Rick and I have been on the trail of this mystery mark for a while now, and I'll try to find a photo of mine which is virtually identical, and claimed to be of the Ali Dinar armoury.

Stephen, excellently observed, and I believe the illustration is from "Nigerian Panoply" (I cannot recall the author at the moment). The thuluth etching was indeed used on the regalia swords of this monarchy, and the presence of such a decorated blade on a takouba is of course not surprising. There are a number of interesting anomalies which demonstrate the significant contact between the Sudan, the Sahara and Tuaregs, and Nigeria.

Still looking for the photo, fantastic input on this topic, thank you so much guys!

All the best,
Jim