I AM CERTIANLY NO EXPERT ON THESE SWORDS BUT HAVE LOOKED AT QUITE A FEW OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS OR SO. I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY LIKE THESE TWO EXAMPLES WHICH ARE CAST BRASS AND HAVE BRASS SCABBARDS AND CLEAN BLADES. I SUSPECT THEY ARE MORE RECENT ITEMS MADE FOR PARADE OR CEREMONIAL DRESS OR PRESENTATION OR POSSIBLY A HIGH END SOUVINEER. AT A GUESS NO OLDER THAN 1970'S
PERHAPS WE HAVE A MEMBER FROM SIRI LANKA WHO CAN GIVE US BETTER INFORMATION.??
THE REASONS I SUSPECT THIS IS.
MOST OF THE OLD EXAMPLES DO NOT HAVE SCABBARDS ,BECAUSE THEY WERE VERY THIN WOOD WITH VERY FANCY HAND WORKED SILVER TIPS, FITTINGS AND THROATS AND WERE VERY FRAGILE ESPECIALLY WITH AGE.
THE BLADES WERE ALL IN VERY DARK PATINA AND IN POOR SHAPE.
THE HANDLES WERE VERY OLD MATERIAL LIKE THAT USED ON MOST PHIA KATTA AND SILVER AND GOLD DECORATION WAS USUALLY APPLIED ON GOOD OLD EXAMPLES.
WHILE THESE EXAMPLES ARE VERY ATTRACTIVE THE WORKMANSHIP AND MATERIAL THAT WENT INTO THEIR MAKING IS VERY POOR COMPARED TO THE GOOD OLD EXAMPLES. THEY WOULD BE A LOT FASTER AND EASIER TO PRODUCE THAN THE OLD CRAFTSMAN'S WORK BUT NOT UP TO THE QUALITY.
ON A POSITIVE NOTE THEY WOULD BE MUCH STURDIER THAN THE OLD ONES AND THE SOLID BRASS OR BRONZE WILL HOLD UP A LOT LONGER AND BE LESS EASILY DAMMAGED THAN THE OLD MATERIALS.
