Very old but simple takouba

[Martin Lubojacky]

Hi Iain,

I bought this one nearly exactly 3 years ago in flea-market in Maroua, capital of the Far North Region of Cameroon. The territory, I think, was still off the Bornu Kingdom in 19 th century. This example is relatively small (total 73 cms, blade 51 cm). The pommel was made of zinc-coated plate (?). I tried to clean it that time, it was coated with deep layer of rust, as it used to be. The blade is springy.