Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - German State Glaive converted to executioners use in the city of Algiers

Jim McDougall · Today, 07:53 PM

Curious, I looked further online and having wondered how this Austrian weapon had come into Algeria, as noted it was likely captured in the important siege in 1683 by the Ottomans. Apparently these were glaives which were polearms distinct to the Hartschieren-Leibgarde in Austria from 16th c. well into 17th as traditional arms in these units and distinct from the others with halberds.

One auction entry described an example with the sequential number 74, which appears to have been the highest number recorded (as per Leibrstkammer in Vienna). Thus perhaps these may have been limited to that number and used traditionally for some time prior to the presumed 1683 capture, and interesting in the presumed 1663 production of this one.
Again compounding the intriguing background of this example!

Today, 07:53 PM	#7
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,870	addendum Curious, I looked further online and having wondered how this Austrian weapon had come into Algeria, as noted it was likely captured in the important siege in 1683 by the Ottomans. Apparently these were glaives which were polearms distinct to the Hartschieren-Leibgarde in Austria from 16th c. well into 17th as traditional arms in these units and distinct from the others with halberds. One auction entry described an example with the sequential number 74, which appears to have been the highest number recorded (as per Leibrstkammer in Vienna). Thus perhaps these may have been limited to that number and used traditionally for some time prior to the presumed 1683 capture, and interesting in the presumed 1663 production of this one. Again compounding the intriguing background of this example!