[Jim McDougall]

To follow up on my idea regarding the 'cross of Agadez', in doing more looking into this, I found the following.
The 'cross of Agadez' is in effect an item of jewelry, primarily a pendant with symbolic shapes in silhouette, and the term 'cross' is misleading as there are varying shapes. These items are termed tanaghiit or talhakim and favored by Sunni Muslim Tuareg people.

It seems that whatever the extent of use of these were in the 19th century, in modern times they are somewhat prevalent in the Kel Air; Kel Geress and a number of non Berber groups in the Sahara, which interestingly include the Hausa. However it is noted that these are largely ignored by the larger spectrum of Tuareg people. Perhaps this attitude is what has rendered these 'enigma' markings so rare and unknown, being established and occurring only on a few examples , those copied without broader established meaning or use.

The Hausa are as mentioned, a nomadic tribe originally from Niger, who are known for blacksmithing skills, thus sword production. The Kel Air (Kel Ayr) are the tribe mentioned in previous post with a takouba with this enigma symbol.

While these 'crosses' seem to have wide variation, there seems to be only vague explanation for the symbolism attached to them, so it is not surprising that there is a notable scope of variation in the items physically.

As a reminder, the regions of the Air (ayr) massif are in Niger, which is where the Kel Ayr tribe of Tuareg Berber confederations are situated (in control there since 1850s) and where the 1916-17 rebellions took place. Here is where at least two (perhaps a third) takouba belonging to chiefs and important figures were taken, having these enigma symbols engraved on the blades.
If the widely geometrically varied 'Agadez cross' (from this key city in Ayr) are known there so well, then perhaps similarly styled symbolism might have developed this design, with or without the 'bee' figures in mind. With the trade and tribal interaction with the Hausa as conduit, it seems this may explain how the symbol transmitted into the sphere of the kaskara. All of this probably occurring in the early years of the 20th century.

The talismanic symbolism on Berber weaponry is probably best exemplified in that found on the blades of the Kabyle flyssa, where such symbolic characters are often included in the context of the typically known designs.
Such personalization seems well known among Berber tribes, but in this case such a symbol might have been seen and favored, then copied with whatever imbuement might have been implied or presumed, thus occurring on numerous blades accordingly.