Hi All,

I recently completed a series of German pieces for stock and for comission. The main piece is a messer for a German client based on the large knives dating to the second half of the 15thC.

This knife has a yew handle with copper tubular rivets and a byknife. I wanted to make an aggressive chopper and so I left subtelty at the door and went for a large blade with false edge - I was going for menace.

The harness is a system I have used before and is simple and effective and taken from original artwork.

The stats on the messer in mm and grams are:
Blade length 660 (26")
overall length 810
Blade width at guard 53
Thickness at guard 4.5
Thickness at peak 2.5
COP 480 from guard
COG 130 from guard
Weight 990g (2.2lbs)

The result is a wieldly blade with a very strong blade presence and all the menace I was looking for - I hope you like it.

Tod

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Love it ! Whats the wood?

It looks great! I like how its set up like a giant hunting Trousse. How prevalent was it for the tang to be along the spine of a messer like that?

Leo: Very nicework, as usual, and I really like the fuller that blends into the bevel of the false edge.

The colour and grain of the wood grip scales is very attractive.

The whole package is very desirable. :D :cool:

I love the appearance of these smaller messers and by-knives. Every time I see this sort of set up I want it. Makes me want to do something similar with my Knecht. I also like how the wood for the messer and the by-knife is different. It clearly proves that not every aspect of a set has to be the same to still look impressive.

I also really like the assymetry of the grip to the blade. Not the first time I have seen you do this Tod, and you suceeded both times in my opinion.

Tod

Certainly not a piece that leaves one in any doubt of capabilities and, if drawn, intention on the part of the user......... One of the best embodiments of the term "deterrence" I've seen in a very long time.

Ah well, only 4 weeks to TORM, time to review the finances and the wish list; now about that Henrician Gun shield.....

Martin

Very nice piece Tod. I can also see perhaps how that would be part of the progression from seax to bowie or is it just me? Beautifully executed .

Gorgeous work sir, I've always been a fan of your messers, keep up the good work.

Thank you all for your kind comments.

Paul Watson wrote

Quote:

. I also like how the wood for the messer and the by-knife is different. It clearly proves that not every aspect of a set has to be the same to still look impressive.

The wood on both pieces is yew though the byknife was handled a few weeks before the messer and so the colour change is due to oxidisation more than anything else andin time they will both mellow to the same colour pretty much.

Interestingly I have a piece of yew that was lying about the workshop getting iron dust covered and then got wet for a few days and that has turned a rather remarkable purple. I will try to post pictures in the next few days.

Tod

I like it very much! Personally I would prefer darker wood grips but that's my taste. The weight is impressively low, so this must be a very dynamic weapon.
Leo, I understand that some time ago you produced a Bruegel Messer? I will highly appreciate posting some good photos of it, as I could find only one distant small photo online.

This is a very beautifully executed piece -- I love the blade presence ! It gave me a
genuine pause as I hope to continue commissioning at least one piece per year,
finances permitting -- hmmm, maybe something like this could be next for me ...

Leo shared with us us that, "........ I left subtelty at the door and went for a large blade with false edge - I was going for menace.

Man, I looked at the photo and then read Leo's comment and just started laughing. Frankly, I don't think he left subtlety at the door, I think he kicked it out the window! ".........Going for menace........."? Leo, you passed menace a few miles back and are fast approaching blood curdling!! ".......all the menace I was looking for." Yep Leo, you found all the menace all right!

It may sound like I'm poking fun but I'm really not, this messer is outstanding. Doe it strike anybody else that there is a heck of a lot of blade there to weigh only 2.2 pounds?

One can only imagine what cutting with this messer would be like.