Here are the pages I was referring to.
Stylistically, I wonder how the decorative scheme developed. It's logical enough that composition was derived to fill in the space, and thus it had to fit its shape.
If the flyssa evolved from the yataghan, perhaps the scrolling creeper design was brought over from Anatolian models, to be later refined. The simpler parallel composition may therefore be indicative of older manufacture.
Have a look at this thread:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=3466 there is a flyssa-like sword with scrollwork identical to yours. Ham maintained that it is a yataghan, but since the incisions on that blade were also scored, I believe it was also meant to receive brass highlights. In that case, were Ottoman yataghans ever decorated with overlaid brass? If not, could that sword be a flyssa after all?
Emanuel