The Falchion never made it in Germany and that’s because they had the Messer. While many swords come down from the noble warrior classes, the Messer seems to be a genuine ground up weapon which began with peasants. Meaning ‘Great Knife’ the messer is a curious, simple sword which can also be used at the dinner table. Let’s take a deeper look.
Messer swords can be broken down into three broad types. The Kleine Messer or small Messer is a large knife similar in some way to the Anglo-Saxon seax with a 20-inch blade. Then there is the Grossemesser which had a longer, 30-inch blade and was the go-to blade during Medieval Germany. Lastly, there is the Kriegsmesser which is a two-handed version.
Choosing a Messer Sword
When choosing a good messer sword, you are looking for one which fits the design and style criteria of a messer. That means a single-edged blade of simple design which is based on the style of a knife, only bigger. There are many factors to consider when choosing a messer sword. Here are some of the elements you should consider:
Purpose
Consider why you want the Messer sword – for decoration, as a primary weapon for sparring, or as a secondary weapon. Finally, is this for reenactment, larp-ing, or for fun? If you are collecting it for decoration or cosplay purposes, almost any messer sword will do as long as it looks good. Comparatively, if you are looking for one that fulfills the criteria for sparring, it would be wise to invest in a higher quality sword that is battle ready and can take the impact.
Design
Historical collectors may be more particular when choosing a Messer sword. Used in the 15th and 16th centuries prior to the development of the saber, it is featured in many medieval martial art books. If historical accuracy is not important, then a modern-day messer can be based on any knife design. For example, the Darksword Messer mentioned below is based on the design of the bowie knife.
Type of Steel
If you are looking for a strong and durable Messer sword, it should be made of high carbon steel. This makes it strong, durable, well-balanced, capable of swift transitions during use, while also being good cutting and slashing blades. Although it is great for combat, there is a certain amount of brittleness if the blade is flexed too far. This means it’s great for hitting, slashing and so on, but will potentially break if stabbed into a hard surface or bent. You can also choose one that is made of stainless steel. While it is not as strong, it is cheaper to manufacture and prevents rusting.
4 of the Best Messer Swords
The messer is an earthy, real sword which makes a great addition to any collection. For reenactors of German or Holy Roman Empire eras, this blade is a must. Bearing this in mind, what are the best blades that are available online?
1. Best Overall: Darksword Messer – Black with Integrated Scabbard Belt
This great knife is big and imposing. It’s a blown up version of the Bowie-style hunting knife that comes with a 1060 high carbon steel blade. Being a single edge sword, it has a strong spine with a false edge, and a partial fuller
Forged by Darksword Armory, this is a high-quality blade. The sword as a whole is 30 inches long with a blade of 21 and 5/8 inches. It has a steel, peened pommel, steel crossbar, and a wooden handle wrapped in black leather. The grip length is 6 and 1/8 inches.
The Darksword Messer comes with an integrated black leather scabbard and sword belt. It comes with a dulled factory edge as standard, but with an extra payment and a 2 week delay in shipping, the edge can be sharpened.
2. Best Premium: Albion The Soldat Sword
Albion Swords Ltd have produced a modern, high quality, version of a common soldier sword found in 15th and 16th century German fencing manuals. This is a deceptively simple, some might even say crude at first glance, blade. The grossemesser is quick to handle with a good point of balance closer to the pommel than the Darksword messer.
This American made blade comes in at 24 and 1/8 inches with an overall sword length of 29 and 3/8 inches. It is quite light for a sword at 2 pounds and 0.3 ounces. The blade is 44.8 mm wide and 6.1 to 2.2 mm thick. Real care and attention has gone into this blade – it’s hand-ground high carbon steel and also heat-treated by hand. The result is a sword with both a good, sharp edge and is flexible.
The Soldat sword comes sharpened as a standard. If you are worried about having a sharp edged blade in your house, bear this in mind. In terms of options, you can choose between a left-hand grip and a right-hand grip.
3. Best Tactical Remake: Honshu Boshin Grosse Messer Sword
Mixing medieval German designs with modern construction and materials, the Honshu Boshin Grosse Messer is an affordable mass produced sword manufactured in China. It comes with a leather scabbard and has a pre-drilled hole in the pommel where you can attach your own lanyard.
This is also one of the longer Grosse Messers. Its 30 and 13/16 inch long blade is made from 1060 high carbon steel. The crossguard and pommel are also made from steel though the gri is made from hardened thermoplastic rubber. The thermoplastic rubber makes for a good, no-slip grip, but it lacks authenticity.
Neither dulled nor fully sharp, the blade has some edge to it and this can be sharpened further at extra cost. It has a good point of balance at the top end of the grip before the crossguard. The overall sword is 41 and 5/8 inches long and weighs 4 pounds. This makes it one of the heavier and more unwieldy messers.
4. Best Budget: Cold Steel Grosse Messer – Man-at-Arms Collection
This budget blade is a preconceived conception killer – most messers and most European medieval swords as a whole are straight blades. Well, the Cold Steel Grosse Messer is a little different. This is a curved edged blade used by non-noble professional warriors – the Men-at-Arms and mercenaries of the 1400s and 1500s.
As with those blades, this one is a lightweight, mass produced, single-edged blade which is easy to wield. The sword’s overall length is 42 and 1/8 inches with a blade length of 31 and 5/8 inches. It is a heavier blade, similar to the Honshu Boshin, at just over 4 pounds. With a Point of Balance of 3 and a half inches, the midpoint is very close to the nutted pommel.
Like the Albion Soldat sword, this one comes sharp and there is no option to blunt it. This is a thick blade which gives it a toughness and its single cutting edge a ferocious bite. It also has a long grip allowing its wielder to mix up single and double handed attacks as well as a more flexible leverage point. The blued 1055 high carbon steel blade comes with a wooden grip and a black leather scabbard.
History and Features of the Messer Sword
The Messer was invented as a budget alternative to greater swords. It grew out of medieval Germany, then known as The Holy Roman Empire, in the 13th century, but rose to prominence in the 15th. Some of the other names for the sword give a hint as to its humble origins. It was known as a Bauernwehr or peasant sidearm. Over time, it came to be a standard weapon used by city folk, professional warriors, and peasants alike.
Due to its prominence in Germanic and Northern lands, it featured in martial art training manuals of the era. It can be found in multiple Fechbucher or fighting manuals from the 14th and 15th century. This includes the Codex Wallersteinand in books written by the likes of Johannes Leckuchner, Paulus Kal, and Albrecht Durer.
Many Messer swords had end caps instead of pommels . They also featured a curving of the hilt in what is often called a “hat-shaped pommel.” One thing Messers did have in common, apart from the single edged blade, is the hilt. The blade is attached to the hilt via a slab tang wedged between two wooden grip plates. These were then pegged into place. Many Messers would have a straight crossguard with a nagel bar which sticks out of one end of the crossguard to protect the wielder’s sword hand.
This sword’s characteristics have led to many of its pros and cons:
Blade Size
Having a smaller blade, the Messer sword is known to be easier to handle, allowing quicker changes to angles and return swings to be made. However, the smaller blade makes it a short sword when compared to bastard swords and longswords, a factor that means the wielder has to be close enough to make a significant hit.
Edge
The Messer sword has a single edge that makes the sword tougher and more durable. However, this means the return-swing or back swing of the blade leads with the back of the sword. This is fine for blocking, but means extra actions need to be taken to turn the blade or revert to the starting place in order to attack with the cutting edge again.
The Difference between a Falchion and a Messer
Both the Messer and the Falchion are single-edged swords. The Messer tended to be popular with Germanic and Northern cultures whereas the Falchion predominated in romance countries. Whereas the Messer is a large knife, the Falchion is more likely to be curved and to have more tapering towards the point. Finally, the Falchion was more decorative compared to the more prosaic and practical Messer.
Conclusion
Messer blades are perfect for people who like lightweight medium or short blades. The smaller messers, like Saxon seaxes, can be used as a secondary or smaller blade while the longer ones are excellent as a primary yet simple sword. For reenactors, the Messer is a must for anyone interested in medieval German martial arts.
A medical and technical writer who identifies as an introverted couch potato. She enjoys geeking out with anime such as Naruto and Demon Slayer; and gacha games like Genshin Impact; and books from authors like Diana Wynne Jones, J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, and many more. Her interests include art, music, food, travel, and learning about different cultures.
