Particularly absent from my historical searches is a grosse messer containing a single side ring with no counter-guards. I've been unable to find documentation or a photograph of a sword with the exact configuration of Cold Steel's version. Their Grosse Messer is part of their European line, made in a factory based in India to Cold's Steel's specifications. In recent years, they started to offer various lines of swords and historically based replicas. One exquisite sample, made by Hans Sumersperger of Hall in Tyrol for Maximilian I in 1496, features beautiful engravings, inlays of mother-of-pearl and precious metals, and still has its by-knives and scabbard intact.Ĭold Steel, a California-based company, has been making performance-oriented production knives for many years. Many surviving pieces exhibit elaborately decorated fittings and expensive materials, while others have a more utilitarian appearance to them. While it has been written many times that peasants and other common-folk carried various types of messer (knives), it is very unlikely that they were to carry or own a sword of any kind, let alone a grosse messer. These weapons were used by various classes extending from the hired soldier up to the most noble of gentlemen. Grosse messer made for Maximilian I, circa 1496 Many examples have a pommel shape that is "drawn out" towards the outside of the hiltoften referred to as a "hat-shaped pommel"but there is much variety to be found, with some examples having no real pommel, but rather a butt-cap covering the end of the grip. They were often equipped with a curved cutting edge or a sharpened back-edge.Ī common characteristic of the grosse messer is a substantial slab tang with sandwiched scales of wood or horn attached with rivets. Many of them were fitted with a straight single-edged blade, others with curved saber blades, while still others had thick blades that swelled towards the point. A great variety of sizes can be documented, from single-handed examples, to hand-and-a-half proportions, and even as full-sized two-handers. One such example of a weapon evolved to specialization is the grosse messer (meaning "great knife"), a single-edged sword sharing characteristics with both the falchion and the saber. The Renaissance saw a great attempt at specialization of arms, both in form and in function.
Like centuries earlier, the needs for edged weaponry were extensive and included daily work tasks, hunting, self-protection, and a diverse set of conditions defined by warfare. It was during the Renaissance era, with the evolution of distinct civilian and military styles, where an aggressive movement of arms development exploded.
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