West African saber?

[blue lander]

I cleaned up the newly exposed ricasso as best I could, but I don't see any markings. You'd think if it was a mid 19th century or newer blade it would have some sort of inspection stamps on it. Also interesting is that the steel is just as pitted in the part of the blade covered by the guard as it is in the exposed part.

[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.