The Messer (#1350)
Late 15th century – German.
The German Gross Messer has a reputation for being a huge and imposing battle-ready sword. This design (one of the 2010 Sword Buyer’s Guide Designer Contest Winners) is no exception. Gross Messers (German for “Great Knife”) look like scaled up versions of the classic “Bowie” style hunting knife, were commonly seen during the later parts of the 15th Century. Powerful chopping weapons, they were popular among both the rich and the poor, civilian and soldier. Like this version the higher-end models had intricate decorations on the guard and pommel. A dedicated chopper that still has a fine fit and finish, this battle-ready sword would be well suited for use or for hanging on the wall as part of a collection.
510.00 USD – 655.00 USD
Late 15th century – German.
The Messer has perhaps one of the most “honest” lineages of any European martial sword. Unlike double edged blades that had a complicated evolution dating back pre-Roman empire, the Messer evolved separately from the single-bladed belt knife. In this way of all swords the Messer most closely resembles its distant ancestors. Literally, the word “Messer” is German for “knife” – and so too are the various versions similarly named; “Langes Messer” (long knife), “Gross Messer” (great knife), and “Kriegsmesser” (war knife). While versions of the Messer (and other single-edged swords) existed back well into the Middle Ages it was during the Renaissance that the name and current versions emerged as common articles of both civilian and military life.
Arming soldiers was among the most expensive tasks of an army, and as such weapons that could be made cheaply and quickly were most popular. In essence a scaled-up belt knife, much easier for a smith to make en masse, Messers (and their distant Medieval cousin, the Falchion) were common features on battlefields – Kriegsmessers were wielded by the Landsknechte mercenaries, for instance. Especially in the 15th century and following when civilian defence became more important, these weapons were also brought into common use among the general population. For the less wealthy you might find simpler designs with straight guards and less ornamentation, easy even for a country smith to make; for nobles or other aristocratic wielders the Messers would be functional yet decorated, often with handsome guards and scabbard to illustrate the wealth of the bearer.
The Darksword Armory Messer is a true brute, made in the spirit of those Renaissance weapons. This design is made as much for utilitarian strength and durability as it was for battle. Created for pure cutting, the wide blade of this battle-ready sword provides exceptional slashing ability. This model is based on a 15th Century design and features a hefty 21” blade
with partial fuller and sharpened false edge along the spine back of the tip. Unlike other modern reproductions of the Messer design, it has a very attractive braided pommel and beautiful sculpted guard – clearly a version of the Messer that would look at home in noble hands. The distinctive riveted wood handle, canting away from the spine of the blade, completes the medieval sword’s look. Balancing form and function, beauty and brutality, the Messer is a worthy descendant of every bladed tool that has passed through human hands. It will certainly live up to whatever use you will require it for.
Customer feedback:
“What a great company! I ordered a messer for my son’s birthday and the shipping was super fast, easy to track and the quality of the product was great! My email correspondence with them was always replied to in a timely fashion and they have gone above and beyond for me. Really appreciate a company that values their customers. Thanks so much!” – posted on our facebook page, Patricia P. SC, USA.
Blade: 5160 High Carbon Steel. Dual Tempered HRc 60
48-50 at the core
Total length: 29.5″
Blade length: 21″
Blade width at base: 2.52″
Weight: 3 lbs
1 review for The Messer (#1350)
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Lord riebsam (verified owner) –
One of my favorite dsa swords I own. This has quite the blade presence, more blade presence than pretty much every other messer on the market. Very wide, and just as the description says, the blade is a brute, and after a litte more sharpening using either worksharp grinding belt, lensky puck, and/or performing some considerable labor with an accusharp for 30-45 mind, the blade is a real slasher and cut through anything. I love so much about this sword, I do wish the nagel was peened like on more historically accurate models, but the welded?- Nagel- doesnt bother me honestly, and its structrual integrity is nothing to worry about. As with pretty much every dsa sword I own, this sword is as tough as nails and stays true to its mix of everyday utilitarian/combat roots. The blade holds its edge forever, it has a seemingly indestructable hilt design with the riveted wooden handle that is also secured in place with a peened decorative braided pommel. Qlthouth I dont plan on abusing this sword like a fool, I do feel like the hilt components will never come loose had I ever decided to out it through unreasonably rigorous testing. This sword is solid, and it’s the one of the best messers on the market under 600 dollars,if not the best. I am a messer lover and I’m beginning to become a bit snobby about my messers, but no matter how discriminative I may become as a enthusiastic collector of blades and messers, this sword will always have a place in my collection. I bought the integrated scabbard belt and as the description states, the sword has an elegant look that’s fit for noble hands, and I must say I feel quite noble when wearing this blade around the house/yard. The ornate pommel, the fullered nagel, the fancy crossguard, along with the forward curved riveted wooden handle makes this sword an ideal candidate to show off your status to your neighbors as their looking at you ou5 their windows while your walking around maintaining your keep, taking out the trash etc. As you walk around with this beautiful blade(w interlaced scabbard-) on your hip hypnotized by your vanity, with not a care in the world, like a noble, thinking yeah I’m cool, yet the whole time, your neighbors are looking at you out their dining room sliding glass door, from a safe distance, thinking they’re watching a man walking around his yard, and he is disconnected from reality lol and maybe theyre right, but screw them, they know nothing, dont even worry about them, they’re just jealous because they dont have such an elegant and imposing blade strapped on their hip as they take out trash,and probably never will have a blade like this because they suck…I hate some of my neighbors lol..Haha im crazy, really though I walk around my yard with this on my hip because why not? Im a grown man,and I do what I want,its my property. But yeah anyway, I love this blade qnd I’m proud to have it on my messer/single edges blade wall in my massive collection,and this is the blade that makes that particular wall pop. this blade is very elegant, simple, unique, tough and quite deadly. What more could you want out of a messer?
I highly reccomend buying sharpened version with scabbard, you will absolutely love dsa I interpretation of the messer. Especially for price