On the Flyssa, the Iflissen, and Janissary Recruitment in Ottoman Algiers

Emanuel · 6th June 2012, 05:54 AM

Hello Teodor,

Strange that I had missed your reply long ago. Very good food for thought, I had not considered the s'boula connection. My only argument against it is the geographic separation between Moroccan and Kabylian groups.

Still, this is the closest thing to a local development. Mind you the s'boula invariably had European blades no? None of them as thick as the flyssa blades. This is one point that has always stuck in my mind. The flyssa is ~1cm thick at the base. I've not yet seen such thickness in any yataghan, even assuming the integral bolster precedent.

Great thinking though!

Best regards,
Emanuel

6th June 2012, 05:54 AM	#12
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hello Teodor, Strange that I had missed your reply long ago. Very good food for thought, I had not considered the s'boula connection. My only argument against it is the geographic separation between Moroccan and Kabylian groups. Still, this is the closest thing to a local development. Mind you the s'boula invariably had European blades no? None of them as thick as the flyssa blades. This is one point that has always stuck in my mind. The flyssa is ~1cm thick at the base. I've not yet seen such thickness in any yataghan, even assuming the integral bolster precedent. Great thinking though! Best regards, Emanuel