A Different Kastane Trade Blade

[G. Mansfield]

Here are some examples of the flyssa and "wedding" nimcha dagger blades similar to the kastane posted. Does anyone have ideas of how this North African blade could have made its way mounted onto a Sri Lankan kastane? Any other similar examples known?

[kronckew]

Mine, just for thge heck of it, has a 1/4 in. think blade at the guard, distal tapered and razor sharp too. The OP's one above sure travelled a ways, maybe thru spain to portugal then Sri Lanka? Oh, what storys it could tell.

[ariel]

Or, to be rude and cynical, the furniture of kastane ended up in the sweaty hands of contemporary N.African souvenir dealer who went thru his supply of touristy flissa blades and found one fitting the scabbard.
Pay attention to the whole product: the tang did not go all the way into the handle. Crude job, but good enough to sell it to some naïf.

Geoff, I wouldn’t buy it either:-) Wise decision on your part.

[kronckew]

Originally Posted by ariel

...
Pay attention to the whole product: the tang did not go all the way into the handle. ....

Looks like it fits perfectly and was made for it, and othewr Kastane tangs look just like that. Doesn't look crude at all to me. This style seems more used on the later more fancy ceremonial ones like the OP's but not on the earlier ones meant for actual battle use.

Example where tang reduces down to meet the smaller opening in the handle from where the two animal finials are almost touching the blade: (from elsewhere here on the forum. there are others.)

I prefer the earlier longer combat capable ones myself tho.

[David]

Originally Posted by kronckew

Looks like it fits perfectly and was made for it, and othewr Kastane tangs look just like that. Doesn't look crude at all to me. This style seems more used on the later more fancy ceremonial ones like the OP's but not on the earlier ones meant for actual battle use.

Example where tang reduces down to meet the smaller opening in the handle from where the two animal finials are almost touching the blade: (from elsewhere here on the forum. there are others.)

I prefer the earlier longer combat capable ones myself tho.

Wayne, i am not convinced that the kastane was ever a sword intended for combat.

[kronckew]

Quite possible, I tend to agree, which is why I've never bought one. Have seen a couple that looked almost there but their use was debated...

[Jim McDougall]

While the weapon in discussion is of course in my view, entirely specious and comprised of elements intended to convey exotic character, it does bring the observations on the Sinhalese 'kastane' to the fore, it was not a 'combat' weapon. As we have long established in discussions here (in my view), it was a court, diplomatic and status piece.

This item has nothing to do with the traditional weapon of Sri Lanka other than the use of its appearance in the hilt, and the use of a Kabyle type blade again for appearance. Regardless, its always good to see discussion active.