North African Saharan Takouba sword with European blade

An interesting Takouba sword from North Africa, probably Hausa although generically these swords are often labelled as Tuareg. This example is unusual for its blade, straight high quality steel and apparantly of European manufacture, the upper forte deeply marked to one side with characters and a makers mark. The blade is fullered, single edged with a squared ricasso at the hilt, but it has been natively and well-sharpened to the back edge about halfway down the blade to make a double edged sword. The hilt has a crossguard of engraved brass with fabric underneath, and steel within. A curious circular feature to the brass crosspiece protrudes to both sides of the blade. The grip iron, with a large iron and brass decorated pommel. Together with its part-leather scabbard with stamped decoration ( upper and lower section missing).  african