Special sword for ID and comments

Madsen · 4th January 2012, 05:35 PM

Can anyone tell me about the shape of this sword like history, use and rarity? I think its in a very good condition, but are they easy to find better?

Thanks!

ericlaude · 5th January 2012, 12:01 PM

Hello,
Your sword is an Algerian Berber Flissa.

Iain · 5th January 2012, 12:30 PM

As Eric said, it is a flissa or flyssa, sword of the Kabyle people of Algeria and part of Morocco.

Your example seems nice, although you should clean the rust. The large ones are generally considered more attractive and the quality of the decorative engraving and inlay is also a way to judge them by. It is hard to see from your photos very much detail about this.

A little searching on the forum for flissa or flyssa will give you a lot of information about them. Some of the members have done quite a bit of research into the type.

All the best,

Iain

ariel · 5th January 2012, 06:05 PM

My understanding is that flyssas were used virtually exclusively for slashing, which will go along quite well with the comments of the contemporaries about absent stabbing technique in arab and indian swordplays.
Indeed, the point is weak, and the absent guard would allow the hand to slip off with stabbing. However..... Any evidence of stabbing anyway?

Madsen · 5th January 2012, 09:27 PM

Thank you for your replies! I just needed something to start my reasearch and I have that now!

Iain · 6th January 2012, 10:57 PM

Happy to help Madsen.

I have always liked flyssa, they are an odd and intriguing sword type and the big ones are not all that common to find. Congratulations again on a nice piece.

4th January 2012, 05:35 PM	#1
Madsen Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 4	Special sword for ID and comments Can anyone tell me about the shape of this sword like history, use and rarity? I think its in a very good condition, but are they easy to find better? Thanks! Attached Images

5th January 2012, 09:27 PM	#5
Madsen Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 4	Ok! Thank you for your replies! I just needed something to start my reasearch and I have that now!

5th January 2012, 12:01 PM	#2
ericlaude Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 187	Hello, Your sword is an Algerian Berber Flissa.

5th January 2012, 12:30 PM	#3
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,719	As Eric said, it is a flissa or flyssa, sword of the Kabyle people of Algeria and part of Morocco. Your example seems nice, although you should clean the rust. The large ones are generally considered more attractive and the quality of the decorative engraving and inlay is also a way to judge them by. It is hard to see from your photos very much detail about this. A little searching on the forum for flissa or flyssa will give you a lot of information about them. Some of the members have done quite a bit of research into the type. All the best, Iain

5th January 2012, 06:05 PM	#4
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	My understanding is that flyssas were used virtually exclusively for slashing, which will go along quite well with the comments of the contemporaries about absent stabbing technique in arab and indian swordplays. Indeed, the point is weak, and the absent guard would allow the hand to slip off with stabbing. However..... Any evidence of stabbing anyway?

6th January 2012, 10:57 PM	#6
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,719	Happy to help Madsen. I have always liked flyssa, they are an odd and intriguing sword type and the big ones are not all that common to find. Congratulations again on a nice piece.