Flyssa
The flyssa, known locally as ajenoui, is a traditional bladed weapon of Algeria produced and used during the 19th century and earlier. It originates from the Kabyle Iflissen Lebhar tribal confederacy.
Characteristics
These weapons have blades of various sizes from, and can be classed as varying between long knives and full-sized swords. Whatever their size, flyssas are characterized by narrow, straight-backed, single-edged blades, which come to an acute point. The blades of sword-sized flyssas often widen gradually around the center of percussion, which enhances their cutting ability. The blades are often decorated with chiselled patterns, which are sometimes inlaid.The hilt has no guard and the junction between blade and hilt is made by a metal bolster. The distal part of the hilt is almost always of wood covered with brass, usually decorated with repoussé and chasing, and has a characteristic downturned projection forming the snout of a stylised animal head at the pommel.