West African saber?

[Iain]

I'm not well enough versed in these briquette blades to say if any series were produced without proof marks.

However on the pitting, this isn't a massive surprise, given the relatively recently hilting compared to the likely age of the blade.

[blue lander]

I've been looking at pictures of briquets and it seems like every country under the sun made them for 150+ years. Most have inspection marks but some don't. From viewing threads about them on other boards I get the impression there's no way to ID a blade that isn't marked, especially since the original European hilt is missing.

What's odd is that you'd expect a blade from that part of Africa to be French, but French briquet blades seem to always be stamped.

[Iain]

Originally Posted by blue lander

I've been looking at pictures of briquets and it seems like every country under the sun made them for 150+ years. Most have inspection marks but some don't. From viewing threads about them on other boards I get the impression there's no way to ID a blade that isn't marked, especially since the original European hilt is missing.

What's odd is that you'd expect a blade from that part of Africa to be French, but French briquet blades seem to always be stamped.

French, German, Portuguese, British, all possibilities I would say. Not to mention the always present trade routes and commerce, just to confuse the possibilities further.