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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Coral Springs, FL
Posts: 222
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I've always wanted one of these, and the blade quality on this one seems decent:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=190107012923 Comments welcome! --Radleigh |
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#2 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
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Very nice! Great price. Will wait for better pics.
Lew |
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#3 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Coral Springs, FL
Posts: 222
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I finally cleaned up and photographed the kastane. It's hard to photograph, but I've tried to show that there does appear to be a genuine (wootz like?) pattern to the blade. It's more "angular" than the wootz I've seen on the forum, so I don't know what to call it. But it doesn't appear to be pitting, since its unifom and I can't feel it as a texture. It would be my first wootz piece, if it is wootz, so I don't really know what I'm talking about here, but hopefully someone else will! Still a steal of a piece, I love it.
One other thing that's curious, though. The balance on the sword is a bit odd, since its center of balance seems to be exactly at the point where the blade becomes the ricasso. So its seems this sword at least was not meant for fighting. Comments once again appreciated! |
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#4 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 407
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The blade pictures aren't really in focus but it looks like it might be pattern welded to me. I see what look like lines.
You lucky dog. Josh |
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#5 | |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: USA
Posts: 1,725
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![]() Quote:
![]() Personally, I think swords with a COB close to the handle feel "quick". I prefer it, actually. ![]() |
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#6 | ||
Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Coral Springs, FL
Posts: 222
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Thanks so much for all the kind words!
Quote:
![]() In searching for information on the fighting styles of the Ceylonese, I found this great article: http://www.pihakaetta.com/sinhala_weapons_armor_low.pdf It seems they did have a fencing foil type weapon, so maybe this balance fits their preference. I'm curious as to how other kastanes out there are balanced, especially those with native blades. Does anyone else have one to share? Quote:
Another note about the forte decorations: near the border of where the decorations have been lost there appears to be a hole in the blade with a piece of metal filling it in (the piece is a little loose). It almost looks like a rivit. It's unclear whether the brass was put over the hole, or the hole was made after the brass and then filled in. I've read some discussions about the use and meaning of such holes (testing metal quality for export, 100 kills, etc) and I'm interested how such a hole in this sword adds to the debate, if at all. I'm attaching another couple of photos trying to capture the pattern on the blade, but I fear this one has failed as well. Not owning any "confirmed" wootz myself I'm still not sure whther it is or it isn't. Can oxidation form a pattern on the blade along the entire length of it, that is pretty much the same everywhere and looks a bit like rayskin? |
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#7 |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,896
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Nicely done Radleigh!!!
![]() I very much like the way you have addressed the posts regarding your sword and providing nicely detailed support material. The kastane is not often discussed and extremely limited information available on them, so your sword and data have added to the archived resources here. Thank you very much! All the best, Jim |
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#8 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Madrid / Barcelona
Posts: 256
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Corrosion can indeed form a pattern along the blade, which a priori seems to be the case here. Im' afraid that without better focused pictures it's going to be hard to say anything realistic about it...
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#9 | |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Coral Springs, FL
Posts: 222
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![]() Quote:
I'll post better pics when I can get them... --Radleigh |
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#10 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Italia
Posts: 1,243
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Really, I know nothing about these swords, but this one it's a true museum quality piece!!! Congratulations
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#11 |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,896
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This is a most unusual kastane, especially if that blade is actually wootz. It is quite atypical to see the forte cover, which seems to favor the 'tunkou' type feature on yataghans. It seems that most kastanes I have seen are typically mounted with 18th century European hanger blades ( naturally many of these now very hard to find, had Dutch VOC markings).
A very attractive example and the blade most intriguing. Best regards, Jim |
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#12 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 173
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Hi all,
I send some pics of my one. The blade hasn't nothing special, but I like the silver hilt. As Derek wrote, also IMO it isn't a sword made for fighting. Paolo |
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#13 |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,896
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Hi Paolo,
Very attractive example! thank you for sharing it. This example is quite interesting as it seems to be much lighter than the typical examples seen, though distinctly in form, and seems to be of course much more recent than the typical examples found which date usually mid to latter 18th c. Do have more on its possible provenance? All the best, Jim |
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#14 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 173
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Hi Jim,
as You rightly wrote, my one should be end of 18th century. Unluckily the seller, when I got it, didn't mentioned the provenance. Paolo |
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#15 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 173
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Jim,
sorry, I red now better what You wrote. The seller described it as "end of 18th century". (I don't know if I may mention the seller). Paolo |
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#16 |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,896
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Hi Paolo,
No not necessary to mention seller, just wondered more about any details on provenance but dealers seldom, if ever, provide such details. The attribution of 18th c. style would be appropriate. All the best, Jim |
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