Hi All,

I have just finished this piece for a client and it has a couple of interesting features.

The messer is styled after late 15thC pieces and has a very broad blade, starting at 6mm thick at the hilt and dropping down to around 2mm near the tip and then it thickens out into a reinforced point around 4mm thick.

The handle scales are in bone with a central fuller, making its way back through the grip and is pinned with hollow steel rivets.

The scabbard has to be a little thicker than I would like all the way down as it needs clearance for the reinforced tip, but otherwise is made from poplar and covered in veg tan leather. A 'problem' that messer scabbards have is that the curve requires the the scabbard to be a little broader at the throat than the blade, so it rattles a little and this is generally unavoidable. The customer wanted a scabbard without this looseness, so suggested a rounded rain flap with a cut out for the nagel; it works well.

Blade length 63cm/25"
Blade width at hilt 52mm/2"
overall weight 1000g/2.2lbs

I hope you like it and any questions or comments, please fire away.

Tod

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That would make a mess alright.

Stunning work as usual

That’s a fantastic piece, and I think the clip and curve of the blade are very aesthetically pleasing to my eye. That is surprisingly not easy to do. This may be my favorite looking messer ever!

I see a lot of metal on the “pommel area” of the hilt. Is this more than you would normally use? Does it give it more balance, or is it the chopper I imagine it to be?

That is lovely. The nagel lapping onto the scales of the hilt is a great detail. Top notch.

-Adair

Thanks guys - I appreciate it.

Gregg Sobocinski wrote

Quote:

I see a lot of metal on the “pommel area” of the hilt. Is this more than you would normally use? Does it give it more balance, or is it the chopper I imagine it to be?

Hi Gregg, it is a little longer than I usually do, but a bit thinner and with the fuller it is much the same; but yes a chopper.

Tod

That's pretty much the perfect, messer, Tod!

It is lovely and that rain flap is very smart.
Quick question if you don't mind - do you have any period source for the reinforced tip? I do about the same with some frequency since I saw it on a few sabers and it made perfect sense to reinforce an otherwise vulnerable part of such a blade, but I haven't spotted it on any original Messers so far.

Leo:

Bless you my son.

IOW: Damn, that's nice!

Jon

Thanks Guys.

Adam Borodics wrote

Quote:

Quick question if you don't mind - do you have any period source for the reinforced tip? I do about the same with some frequency since I saw it on a few sabers and it made perfect sense to reinforce an otherwise vulnerable part of such a blade, but I haven't spotted it on any original Messers so far.

Hi Adam,

Nor have I, but it is nice!

The story is.......

I made a similar one a couple of years ago. Matt Easton at Schola Gladiatoria reviewed it and noted that it should have a reinforced point for his tastes. The client for this piece requested a reinforced point and here we are.

Tod