Hello Tom.
I don't think that the handle in orgin was covered with leather: the patination on it is very deep and dark and i think that a kind of color can create only with many many years. I know that normally the Manding sword are the handle wrapped with leather, but this could be a poor version.
About the two bands where a belt could be attached, i think that are only for decoration, because on the other side of the scabbard there is already a broken belt.
The decoration on the scabbard, like the material used, is quite tipical of the west Africa and all the sudanese region, maybe also Tuareg.
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