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
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