A Different Kastane Trade Blade

G. Mansfield · 1st December 2019, 03:48 AM

This Sinhalese Kastane sold at auction recently for a good price. It is not very old, late 19th or early 20th century. The interesting characteristic is that the blade is not the common local forged style with inlaid brass nor is it the older Dutch VOC imports often seen on early models. Rather the blade is a Berber North African flyssa style with geometric design and brass inlays. This type of blade was often seen on the "wedding" style nimchas or small ottoman influenced hilts with flyssa wooden sheaths sold at souks in Algiers in the early 20th century. This seems to be a strange marriage between sword and blade for the kastane. Possibly remounted at a later date?

(Note: I did not buy this item from auction)

Regards,
Geoff

ariel · 1st December 2019, 12:53 PM

For some reasons the blade reminds me of rather modern Flissa daggers

Battara · 1st December 2019, 09:07 PM

Same here Ariel.

G. Mansfield · 4th December 2019, 07:57 AM

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 · 4th December 2019, 10:11 AM

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 · 4th December 2019, 01:47 PM

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.

1st December 2019, 03:48 AM	#1
G. Mansfield Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 83	A Different Kastane Trade Blade This Sinhalese Kastane sold at auction recently for a good price. It is not very old, late 19th or early 20th century. The interesting characteristic is that the blade is not the common local forged style with inlaid brass nor is it the older Dutch VOC imports often seen on early models. Rather the blade is a Berber North African flyssa style with geometric design and brass inlays. This type of blade was often seen on the "wedding" style nimchas or small ottoman influenced hilts with flyssa wooden sheaths sold at souks in Algiers in the early 20th century. This seems to be a strange marriage between sword and blade for the kastane. Possibly remounted at a later date? (Note: I did not buy this item from auction) Regards, Geoff Attached Images

4th December 2019, 07:57 AM	#4
G. Mansfield Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 83	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? Attached Images

4th December 2019, 10:11 AM	#5
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,183	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. Attached Images

1st December 2019, 12:53 PM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	For some reasons the blade reminds me of rather modern Flissa daggers

1st December 2019, 09:07 PM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Same here Ariel.

4th December 2019, 01:47 PM	#6
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	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.