Unusual Flyssa?

Congoblades · 26th June 2013, 12:01 AM

Hi,
The decoration on the blade looks like a flyssa. The handle is in nacre (pearl?).
Never seen somthing like this before, any idea's? Thanks

Dmitry · 26th June 2013, 12:56 AM

Obviously this is a composite, but you probably knew that. The hilt is from the 19th c. French style dress sword.

RSWORD · 26th June 2013, 01:48 AM

Now the question is whether or not it is an old composite or a new composite. How is the blade mounted to the hilt? Aren't there French influences in Algeria? It's an odd combination but maybe an odd cross cultural piece. Would need to see how it is mounted together to determine.

Dmitry · 26th June 2013, 03:20 AM

You can also notice that the hilt itself is a composite. The pommel and the grip did not belong together. In fact the pommel looks like a furniture knob.
I'm not an African collector, butdon't the flyssas have straight blades?

kronckew · 26th June 2013, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmitry

...
I'm not an African collector, butdon't the flyssas have straight blades?

most do, some don't

Congoblades · 26th June 2013, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSWORD

Aren't there French influences in Algeria? It's an odd combination but maybe an odd cross cultural piece. Would need to see how it is mounted together to determine.

The French invaded and captured Algiers in 1830, it was a french colonie till 1964.

VANDOO · 26th June 2013, 07:17 PM

THERE ARE A FEW CURVED FLYSSA BUT MOST ARE STRAIGHT. WHAT WE OFTEN REFER TO AS THE WEDDING NIMCHA ALWAYS HAS A CURVED BLADE. ( AT LEAST I HAVE NEVER SEEN ONE WITH A STRIAGHT BLADE)

BOTH COME FROM ALGERIA AND HAVE THE INLAYED DECORATIONS IN THE BLADE. IN THE PICTURE OF TWO EXAMPLES SHOWN THE BLADE AT THE TOP IS OF WEDDING NIMCHA FORM WITH A HANDLE THAT IS CLOSER TO FLYSSA FORM. A TRUE CURVED FLYSSA WOULD HAVE THE SAME FORM OF BLADE AND HANDLE AS THE EXAMPLE ON THE BOTTOM WITH A CURVED BLADE. I THINK THERE MAY BE SOME OLD POSTS IN THE FORUM ON THE FLYSSA WITH GOOD INFORMATION AND PICTURES ON SIZES AND FORMS. JUST MY OPINION AS I AM NO EXPERT

26th June 2013, 12:01 AM	#1
Congoblades Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Belgium Posts: 171	Unusual Flyssa? Hi, The decoration on the blade looks like a flyssa. The handle is in nacre (pearl?). Never seen somthing like this before, any idea's? Thanks Attached Images

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26th June 2013, 12:56 AM	#2
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	Obviously this is a composite, but you probably knew that. The hilt is from the 19th c. French style dress sword.

26th June 2013, 01:48 AM	#3
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,084	Now the question is whether or not it is an old composite or a new composite. How is the blade mounted to the hilt? Aren't there French influences in Algeria? It's an odd combination but maybe an odd cross cultural piece. Would need to see how it is mounted together to determine.

26th June 2013, 03:20 AM	#4
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	You can also notice that the hilt itself is a composite. The pommel and the grip did not belong together. In fact the pommel looks like a furniture knob. I'm not an African collector, butdon't the flyssas have straight blades?

26th June 2013, 07:17 PM	#7
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THERE ARE A FEW CURVED FLYSSA BUT MOST ARE STRAIGHT. WHAT WE OFTEN REFER TO AS THE WEDDING NIMCHA ALWAYS HAS A CURVED BLADE. ( AT LEAST I HAVE NEVER SEEN ONE WITH A STRIAGHT BLADE) BOTH COME FROM ALGERIA AND HAVE THE INLAYED DECORATIONS IN THE BLADE. IN THE PICTURE OF TWO EXAMPLES SHOWN THE BLADE AT THE TOP IS OF WEDDING NIMCHA FORM WITH A HANDLE THAT IS CLOSER TO FLYSSA FORM. A TRUE CURVED FLYSSA WOULD HAVE THE SAME FORM OF BLADE AND HANDLE AS THE EXAMPLE ON THE BOTTOM WITH A CURVED BLADE. I THINK THERE MAY BE SOME OLD POSTS IN THE FORUM ON THE FLYSSA WITH GOOD INFORMATION AND PICTURES ON SIZES AND FORMS. JUST MY OPINION AS I AM NO EXPERT