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Howard Waddell
Industry Professional
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 Posted: Fri 25 May, 2007 5:47 am Post subject: Introducing... The Knecht |
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Move over katana... there is a new, very mean kid in town for this Memorial Day Weekend...
I usually don't comment much on new models and prefer to leave that for customers who have handled them.
I feel compelled to make an exception in this case.
I have to admit that I was never a huge fan of kriegsmessers - they just looked like big butcher knives to me. Now that I have handled the Knecht, I want one.
It IS a big butcher's knife. In every sense of the word.
Though it weighs over 3 pounds and the CoG is over 4 inches out on the blade, it feels like a feather in the hand.
Joel, our Head Cutler, sums the Knecht up in one word: "Spooky."
Eric cut some soda bottles with it and even took the top of an aluminum soda can filled with water off in one clean swipe, with the rest of the can still filled to the brim. If you want a sword that feels and cuts like a Jedi's lightsaber, this is it.
Spooky is right.
more here:
http://www.albion-swords.com/swords/albion/ne...knecht.htm
http://www.albion-swords.com/swords/albion/ne...photos.htm
Specifications
Overall length: 44.375" (113 cm)
Blade length: 33.375" (84.77 cm)
Blade width at base: 1.75" (4.45 cm)
CoG: 4.375" (11.1 cm)
CoP: 21.75" (55.25 cm)
Weight: 3 lbs 2.4 oz (1.43 kg)
Mike and Harlan will be taking one down to the Atlanta Blade Show. You really have to hold this thing to truly appreciate it.
Best,
Howy
Albion Swords Ltd
http://albion-swords.com
http://filmswords.com
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Sam Barris
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| Posted: Fri 25 May, 2007 5:56 am Post subject: |
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YES! Oh my, that is one wicked looking weapon. 
Pax,
Sam Barris
"Any nation that draws too great a distinction between its scholars and its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards, and its fighting done by fools." —Thucydides
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Martin Forrester
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| Posted: Fri 25 May, 2007 6:27 am Post subject: |
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I would love to play with one of these for wotr re-enactment. Unfortunately too foreign and a little too late, but I still love the idea of a commoner's longsword. Anyone has evidence of a late 15c English version will have my eternal gratitude.
Oh, lets just pull out our swords and start whacking at each other, that'll solve everything!
Last edited by Martin Forrester on Fri 25 May, 2007 6:53 am; edited 1 time in total
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Axel Pettersson
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| Posted: Fri 25 May, 2007 6:45 am Post subject: |
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I got to try a model of it last fall in Uppsala, and I can only agree, its easy to use in one hand despite the weight, and, I was actually a bit scared moving it around, its death incarnate in your hands  .
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Michael Ahrens
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| Posted: Fri 25 May, 2007 7:08 am Post subject: Simply Beautiful |
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Howie
all i can say is "Simply beautiful. i have in fact been waiting for this sword, and it was worth the wait. it is just what i was hoping for. so much so, i ordered one about half an hour after you put up the pictures. i can only say thank you to you and everone involved for this incredible sword.
Mike
Mike Ahrens
http://www.selohaar.org/
Staten Island German Martial Arts (S.I.G.M.A.)
http://www.sigmanewyork.webs.com/
Member of the 1st Universal Church of St. John Cantius Garand, Reformed (Gas Port)
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Sean Belair
Industry Professional
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| Posted: Fri 25 May, 2007 9:44 am Post subject: |
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that is sweet,
i want one
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Tim Lison
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| Posted: Fri 25 May, 2007 9:57 am Post subject: |
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WOW! I've been wanting to see this one for a long time! It really came out great! Another success Albion........
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David Martin
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| Posted: Fri 25 May, 2007 10:43 am Post subject: |
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I've been waiting for this one as well. Unfortunately, I won't be able to buy one until I land another job.
This is particularly painful, as the Knecht looks very close to what I'd consider to be a perfect sword.
Congratulations to Albion on putting out such a fine weapon!
"When war-gods meet to match their might,
who can tell the bravest born?
Many a hero never made a hole
in another man's breast."
- Sigurd, The Lay of Fafnir
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Jeremy V. Krause
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| Posted: Fri 25 May, 2007 11:20 am Post subject: |
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That thing is impressive indeed,
Howy, you need to stop trying to pull me away from the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries! I can't afford to broaden my collection- but man that thing is beautiful. I would love to handls one!
Great job- and I don't say that about every Albion model. This one is just so wickedly awesome.
Jeremy
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Max von Bargen
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| Posted: Fri 25 May, 2007 1:01 pm Post subject: |
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I looked at the concept art, said, "looks nice," and moved on.
I looked at the pictures and your descriptions of it, and said, "I want one!"
Another spectacular job from Albion!
Max
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Jay Barron
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| Posted: Fri 25 May, 2007 2:07 pm Post subject: |
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I have to agree. The concept drawing didn't do this sword justice. It is much more elegant looking than I imagined it would be. I love the simple, fair curve of the blade. And as far as the weight goes, it's about the same weight as many katana. Bang up job Albion!
Constant and true.
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Mikko Kuusirati
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| Posted: Fri 25 May, 2007 5:26 pm Post subject: |
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I've been waiting to see this in steel ever since the concept art was released. And, well, I gotta say, just by the looks of it I am so not disappointed!
I need a better-paying job. I need one of these.
"And sin, young man, is when you treat people like things. Including yourself. That's what sin is."
— Terry Pratchett, Carpe Jugulum
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Grayson C.
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| Posted: Fri 25 May, 2007 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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Dear god!
Don't do this to me guys, I'm just a poor highschool student! I can't afford ANOTHER albion!!!
All I can say is you guys deserve a hearty round of ale for such awesome work on this. I don't know, words just can't express how well this sword came out. Everything about it is magical and elegant with utilitarian practicality and simple beauty. Move over katana? I say move over just about every other sword  !
Great job again, everyone deserves a hearty pat on the back for something of this caliber. Only problem is now you've just gave me one more reason to go broke before I hit 18 !!!
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M. Eversberg II
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| Posted: Sat 26 May, 2007 1:10 am Post subject: |
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It's brutal. It's sick. I love it.
M.
This space for rent or lease.
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Steve Grisetti
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| Posted: Sat 26 May, 2007 5:23 am Post subject: |
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The Knecht is yet another beauty from Albion. While the basic form is simple, it looks like there is a great deal of work that goes into the subtle details.
"...dismount thy tuck, be yare in thy preparation, for thy assailant is quick, skilful, and deadly."
- Sir Toby Belch
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Mikko Kuusirati
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| Posted: Sat 26 May, 2007 9:34 am Post subject: |
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There's definitely more there than meets the eye at first. Even just the guard alone exhibits surprisingly complex design if you start thinking about it...
BTW, as I understand it this particular piece does not have a false edge, am I right?
"And sin, young man, is when you treat people like things. Including yourself. That's what sin is."
— Terry Pratchett, Carpe Jugulum
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Craig Peters
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| Posted: Sat 26 May, 2007 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Mikko Kuusirati wrote: | There's definitely more there than meets the eye at first. Even just the guard alone exhibits surprisingly complex design if you start thinking about it...
BTW, as I understand it this particular piece does not have a false edge, am I right? |
Well technically, it does, just one that doesn't cut effectively.
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Peter Johnsson
Industry Professional
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| Posted: Sat 26 May, 2007 11:25 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you guy for all positive comments.
A sword likke this that has takes some twists and urns in its making cn grow close to your heart. It is great to see it completed and fulfilling the initial intentions without compromises despite the challenges in construction.
I am curious to hear reactions from those new owners of the Knecht.
On the question of false edge: no this blade has no sharpened backedge, not even a hint of a backedge. Not all blades of this type do, and this is an example of these.
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M. Eversberg II
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| Posted: Sun 27 May, 2007 12:12 am Post subject: |
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Something like that normally have a scabbard, or how did they carry that about?
M.
This space for rent or lease.
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Peter Johnsson
Industry Professional
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| Posted: Sun 27 May, 2007 2:17 am Post subject: |
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| M. Eversberg II wrote: | Something like that normally have a scabbard, or how did they carry that about?
M. |
A scabbard. Thin glued veneer or thin slats of wood and leather. A small simple shape (or a more elaborate one: horse shoe shaped ones with volutes and dolphin theme decoration were popular) but no mouth piece.
It is common to have a set of byknives and steel/awl in a set of compartments at the top front. In art you can see how the scabbard was often fastened with a "basket weave" of leather thongs that cradeled/wrapped the top part. In this "basket" of thongs were secored the waist belt. A leather belt or a cord.
There is one perfectly preserved original katzbalger scabbard in the Royal Armouries in Stockholm that provides valuable info on how scabbards in this period were made and furbished.
These solutions belong to the early part of the 16th C.
Basically you can expect the same scabbard solutions as you´d see employed by Landsknechts in period art.
It is a stubborn misunderstading that these weapons were carried without scabbard. Even Heribert Seitz gives such an interpretation of an early 16th C woodcut showing a landsknecht with a messer at his waist and an early musket over his shoulder (perhaps he is the originator of the myth?). The scabard is slim and does not add much bulk to the blade it also lacks a chape either a mistake by the artist or an actual lack). That might be the reason why one might think the blade was carried without scabbard.
If you want to use the Knect in a late 15th C setting, you need to solve the suspension a bit differently. Perhaps with a transverse wing/lug and scabbard knot, like on long swords? Perhaps something inspired by the artwork of Dürer: he show some suspension systems in his art. even if a bit enigmatic, they still provide some clues and inspiration.
Look also to late 15th C art at how soldiers carried their sinlge edged swords. There are many suggestions at how this could have been done. Rings, chains and baldrics were used in combination. Waist belts and various combinations of knots and buckles.
Artwork provides a wealth of information, even if some detail might be missing. It is a good idea to start looking at period images as a basis for reconstructions, when originals are sadly scarse or even non-existant.
There might be a few original messer sabbards kept at the imperial armory in Vienna. At least in storage. Perhaps. I hope to verify this sometime in a not too distant future.
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This is a standard topic