[Michael Ekelmann]

Hi everyone,
I have a question. Years ago i bought a pakistani made "warbrand" seen below. It was an impulse buy, maybe 30 dollars total. It's sat around my room for a while. I'm now more interested in grosse messers and such. Do you think it would be possible to turn the warbrand into a messer? Thanks!

[Richard Gessman]

I'm sure someone else can offer much more help than I can, but from just looking at the picture, it looks like the sword has a slab tang? Maybe stripping the hilt furniture from the blade, and re-hilting it with a cross guard and cocked hat style pommel? If you want, you could cut down the tang (the handle looks a little too long), and move the entire hilt closer to the blade, shortening the ricasso. But like I said, I dont know very much about these kinds of things, hopefully someone more informed than I can help you.

[Ivo Malz]

Hello.

A Messer usually has a scale tang, and the tang on yours is off- center. To turn this piece into a Grosses Messer would require some weldwork.
You might consider shortening the piece considerably and turn it into a hanger/falchion type of weapon with a whittle tang, though.

Regards

Ivo