Strange marks on a takouba for ID

[Iain]

Originally Posted by Lee

I have not seen this pattern of marks before. I would expect this is an African-made blade, though you can see the lap welds in European made blades.

Hi Lee,

This seems quite a bit thicker and heavier than most locally produced blades I have seen. But I think it is certainly possible if extremely unusual. As I understand it lap welds are not common on later European blades but only on quite early ones?