My First Flyssa ..... a few questions
 

Got this recently....a IMHO nice Flyssa....40 cms OAL with a blade that is 29cms long and a spine that is 8mm which distal tapers to the point. Very nice weight and feel. Was filthy and had a small amount of 'active' rust.
I have cleaned it ....cautiously....I don't want to remove too much of the patina.
I have a few questions....is this a good example? The patina suggests a fair old age..... would mid to late 19c be a reasonable assumption.....I wouldn't be surprised if this was earlier.
The blade seems to be very good quality, forged steel.....definately a 'user'

Thankyou
David

To answer your questions yes and yes :D I would say 1880-1890s it seems to be a nice example is there a scabbard? I would clean the blade a bit more . As for the brass just use your fingers to rub some of the tanish off.

some day...oh some day...
 

...I'll get to write a similar post.
Beautiful flyssa David, congratulations.

Here's something that has caught my attention in regards to the flyssa: http://www.colonialarts.com/product.php?id=1361
It is a morroccan sugar hammer - found on google after Tim suggested such a search in the lohar thread - that stylistically bears very strong resemblance to the flyssa hilt. http://www.colonialarts.com/catalog_...55b_detail.jpg

Both objects demonstrate the same simplified cubic shapes. Curves seem to have been eliminated and features are stylized. On some flyssa, you can see the same two eyes on the front, as on this hammer. Is anyone else aware of similar objects in berber/kabyle culture? A study of these may reveal more clues about the development of this magnificent weapon.

Emanuel

hi david, it looks like my flyssa's twin, heres some photos with the scabbard.

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/gladius/flyssa01.jpg
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/gladius/flyssa02.jpg
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/gladius/flyssa03.jpg
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/gladius/flyssa04.jpg
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/gladius/flyssa05.jpg
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/gladius/flyssa06.jpg

Hi Lew,
unfortunately...no scabbard. I got this cheaply.....the sellers pics were none too clear..... but couldn't believe the quality when it arrived today.
Are there 'design features' or is it blade quality that enabled you to date this knife, Lew?

Manolo, thankyou, I'm really pleased with it.

Hi Kronckew, very nice indeed, .....so thats what the scabbard would look like....... I haven't got one :(

Thanks Manolo, nice. I guess Picasso would have loved these things. :D