good day

[Jim McDougall]

Yuanzhumin, I wanted to thank you for acknowledging my suggestion on the African python, and your support of the observation...indeed very much appreciated.
This really is an intriguing dilemma in discussing this item, and I have been going through notes and resources at hand trying to locate that stylized geometric on the blade.
I am posting a page from an important article on the kaskara, "Kaskara from Northern Darfur, Sudan", by Graham Reed (JAAS, Vol.XII, #3, March, 1987) and in plate LV (a) you will see a remarkably similar pattern, and in (d) you will see a snake, which presumably would be a python.

In the article, the author notes that in these regions the python is termed 'assala', and this would likely be the species 'python sebae' which is found widely across sub-Saharan Africa.

It would seem the linear diamond pattern may suggest the pattern in the skin of the snake. While this motif is clearly far from West Africa in this case, it is important to remember the trade routes that profusely crisscrossed African regions, and which diffused all manner of material culture and thought.
The snake, particularly the python, was prominant in animist folk religion and superstition in Africa, and in Dahomey (now Benin) in West Africa the serpent in thier mythology was known as 'Dan'. In its supernatural perspective, this serpent (typically considered a python) supported all on its many coils.

Having considered the nature of these markings, and returning to the apparant features of this knife, I have become compelled to agree with the distinctly European feel for its elements. While it is agreed that African artisans were extremely skilled in producing impressive metalwork, it does not seem that they followed inherent European features in the detail seen here.
For example, the beaded section in the upper guard center, and the inscribed bands in the ferrule. I should point out that these parallel crossguards it seems are found on a number of hirschfangers often of 18th century, most often German and French. The redundant guard feature is also something that occurs in Spanish colonial weapons of the early 19th century.

The oval stud in the wood grip, again very much corresponding to European hunting weapons. The capstan, distinctly European.

With that, it is important to note that while African artisans were certainly adept at producing outstanding work, the 19th century had many regions in Africa increasingly colonized, and certainly there were European armourers and smiths present in some degree. The ultra stlylized zoomorphic head in the pommel of this item as I mentioned earlier, somewhat recalls that seen on the flyssa. The amalgam of components seen here reflect cross cultural influences which were likely the result of trade, colonization and probably diplomatic matters.

Perhaps this was indeed in a European style trousse fashioned as a gift or presentation to a West African chief or dignitary, and inscribed with this motif to recognize thier symbolism. In further note, the inscribed motif at the forte seems very much European in application.