German State Glaive converted to executioners use in the city of Algiers

Vendredi1448 · 26th July 2026, 06:38 AM

One of the darkest pieces in my collection is this German state glaive (Kuse), originally made in 1663 for an officer of the bodyguard of Archduke Sigismund Franz of Austria (1630–1665).

Originally an ornate ceremonial weapon bearing the Archduke’s coat of arms, the Golden Fleece, the Burgundian Cross, and the monogram “SFE,” it was later stripped of its decoration and repurposed as an executioner’s weapon in the city of Algiers. Today, only the date 1663 and the initial “S” remain visible.

According to the French inscription preserved on the surviving scabbard, the weapon was discovered by Captain Müller in the Kasbah following the French capture of Algiers in 1830. The inscription states that the glaive, dated 1663, had been used specifically for the beheading of condemned Christians under the rule of the Deys of Algiers.

The glaive’s provenance is equally compelling. It formed part of the renowned Dr. Ben Hamon (Hamou) Collection in Paris before appearing as Lot 3373 in Hermann Historica’s 68th auction in 2014. The weapon has also been researched and published by Oliver Hoare, whose work helped bring its remarkable history to a wider audience.

The transformation of an Austrian court weapon into an executioner’s glaive in Ottoman Algiers reflects an extraordinary journey across two centuries, multiple empires, and radically different purposes. Few surviving weapons possess such an extensively documented and fascinating history.

26th July 2026, 06:38 AM	#1
Vendredi1448 Member Join Date: Aug 2025 Posts: 7	German State Glaive converted to executioners use in the city of Algiers One of the darkest pieces in my collection is this German state glaive (Kuse), originally made in 1663 for an officer of the bodyguard of Archduke Sigismund Franz of Austria (1630–1665). Originally an ornate ceremonial weapon bearing the Archduke’s coat of arms, the Golden Fleece, the Burgundian Cross, and the monogram “SFE,” it was later stripped of its decoration and repurposed as an executioner’s weapon in the city of Algiers. Today, only the date 1663 and the initial “S” remain visible. According to the French inscription preserved on the surviving scabbard, the weapon was discovered by Captain Müller in the Kasbah following the French capture of Algiers in 1830. The inscription states that the glaive, dated 1663, had been used specifically for the beheading of condemned Christians under the rule of the Deys of Algiers. The glaive’s provenance is equally compelling. It formed part of the renowned Dr. Ben Hamon (Hamou) Collection in Paris before appearing as Lot 3373 in Hermann Historica’s 68th auction in 2014. The weapon has also been researched and published by Oliver Hoare, whose work helped bring its remarkable history to a wider audience. The transformation of an Austrian court weapon into an executioner’s glaive in Ottoman Algiers reflects an extraordinary journey across two centuries, multiple empires, and radically different purposes. Few surviving weapons possess such an extensively documented and fascinating history. Attached Images