Flyssa with yataghan-like blade

CharlesS · 7th November 2013, 02:22 PM

Firstly, a fascinating sword. Congrats. No doubt a take on the flyssa and to find such a unique example complete with its scabbard makes it even more of a gem.

I am particularly interested in the addition of hand guard to your second curved example, even if a relatively feeble looking one, and wonder who/what influenced it. Certainly there would have been many swords about with guards, but the flyssa had been such a fiercely independent form I have to think something made the addition desirable.

Emanuel · 7th November 2013, 04:40 PM

Hi everyone!

Thank you Iain for these pictures. I am attaching some more pictures of Kabyles. The colour one dates from 1843.

The flyssa scabbards have one or two loops carved into the wood, always on the front of the scabbard. The loops, not very wide, allow a narrow sash or a baldric to be passed through. I think it allows the flyssa to be carried both slung over the shoulder or tied into the sash.

Robert, I am now certain that this flyssa was deformed at some point and that the back was originally straight. I see two points of impact with associated deformation of the edge (the waves you see). No idea how this was done, but flyssa blades were generally made of low-carbon steel so soft enough to bend.

Charles I think that curved example with guard is a much later example assembled in a fantastical manner. It deviates completely from Iflissen construction. The guard seems to be an immitation of the guard on the French M1842 bayonet.

Emanuel

7th November 2013, 04:40 PM	#2
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hi everyone! Thank you Iain for these pictures. I am attaching some more pictures of Kabyles. The colour one dates from 1843. The flyssa scabbards have one or two loops carved into the wood, always on the front of the scabbard. The loops, not very wide, allow a narrow sash or a baldric to be passed through. I think it allows the flyssa to be carried both slung over the shoulder or tied into the sash. Robert, I am now certain that this flyssa was deformed at some point and that the back was originally straight. I see two points of impact with associated deformation of the edge (the waves you see). No idea how this was done, but flyssa blades were generally made of low-carbon steel so soft enough to bend. Charles I think that curved example with guard is a much later example assembled in a fantastical manner. It deviates completely from Iflissen construction. The guard seems to be an immitation of the guard on the French M1842 bayonet. Emanuel Attached Images

7th November 2013, 02:22 PM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	Firstly, a fascinating sword. Congrats. No doubt a take on the flyssa and to find such a unique example complete with its scabbard makes it even more of a gem. I am particularly interested in the addition of hand guard to your second curved example, even if a relatively feeble looking one, and wonder who/what influenced it. Certainly there would have been many swords about with guards, but the flyssa had been such a fiercely independent form I have to think something made the addition desirable.