[Bill Grandy]

Just arrived yesterday: My new langes messer from John Lundemo of Odinblades. This piece was heavily inspired by the messers seen in the fencing treatise of master Paulus Kal. The images in Kal show a very cool looking blade, and for years I've wanted one just like it. Having seen John Ludemo's work with some of the wild fantasy sabres he's done, I knew he could do this type of blade justice. I think John did a wonderful job at capturing the look: The blade is simply amazing. I can't wait to do some test cutting with this: John informs me that it cuts like a demon, and I have no doubt he's right! But rather than bog you all down with my words, I'll let the pictures do the talking.

[Matthew G.M. Korenkiewicz]

Nicely done. Nicely done ! I think its cool when we enthusiasts dig into historical stuff
and see something that catches our imagination and then seek out making it real for
ourselves ...

Quite the unusual and unique blade, I'd say. But with that said, the piece has very simple
lines, if you will. It does, however, look like it might be a sunuvagun to get a scabbard
fitted ... B-)

Congrats !!!

[Daniel Michaelsson]

Wow, that's a beautiful sword. I think it's great that the inspiration came from an illustration, just goes to show how useful pictorial sources are.

[Steven H]

Ooooh. Nice.

Can we get stats on it?

Cheers,
Steven

[Clark Volmar]

Incredible sword, Bill.

Think we could get a pic of the latter third of the blade, which details the termination of the fuller, the double clip, and the tip?

Thanks,
Clark

[Jean Thibodeau]

Very impressive looking messer there Bill and congratulations on getting such a unique piece made.

Any idea if the double clip at the top of the sword has any functional use by being double ? More or differently functional than the more " usual " single clip point ?

My guess would be that it's mostly an aesthetic thing and maybe proves that even in period people would or could be a little
" fanciful " in designing a sword: I mean if this messer wasn't based on a period drawing our first reaction would be to consider it a fantasy design.

One function of the double clip ( Well, that the best term I can invent to describe it ? ) is that it makes the blade look more lethal and scary and that a psychological effect of " YIKES, that looks as if it could really hurt " might kick in.

Sort of the same with the " Flamberge " type blades maybe ?

Oh, is the false edge sharpened usually on messers in the way a Bowie knife is sharpened or wide and unsharpened like the much earlier seax ? An unsharpened edge bevel ? ( Probably should remember from previous discussions about messers but just asking off the top of my head without re-reading older Topics threads ).

[Gary A. Chelette]

Indeed the blade does look scary. One look at that blade and I'd run for the hills! I like falchions to begin with and Messers are just another form of falchion to me.
The piece looks very well done and impressive. Congratz on the purchase.

[Joe Fults]

Very interesting.

[Sean Belair]

congrats bill

awesome work john. i didn't know you were that close to done, wish i could have seen it before you shiped it.


i love messers

[Bill Grandy]

Some stats:

41 inches overall
32 inch blade
2 lbs 14 oz

Handling wise, it is a very nice sword. It strikes with incredibly authority, and has a nice "flow" when in motion. It is intended to be used one handed (which is typical for this type), and the long grip allows the large weapon to balance out nicely while still hitting hard. If I closed my eyes and someone put this in my hand, saying it was a type XIII, I would believe it: That's kind of the feeling that this sword has.

Having said that, I should point out that this particular piece is a little on the heavy side for a typical messer. Most messers tend to be very light. But I should also point out that this was more my doing than John Lundemo's. I requested a fairly large weapon (for a one hander), and the design calls for the blade to get wider at one section, then to taper a lot near the point. John, in keeping with my specs, needed to make sure the blade was "beefy" enough to handle stress. He even pointed out that he's making a different messer for someone that is significantly lighter, so he definately understands this. Nonetheless, the sword still feels very nice in the hand. Probably not the best type of weapon to be used with the techniques seen by masters such as Hans Lecküchner, but still an excellent combat weapon, particularly if you think of it more as a messer-hilted falchion (which is not quite the same as a messer).

Where this sword really shines is its ridiculously amazing cutting ability. I did some light test cutting with it today, and I was blown away at just how scary it is. I've never had a sword cut so easily before. That's not an exaggeration: Two of my students said the exact same thing. The edge geometry is remarkably keen, but backed up with a very thick spine, making a weapon that is super sharp and tough at the same time. Simple slices easily ripped through targets, and I could make cuts with nearly no effort. It was honestly a little frightening just how easily this thing can cut. I've used a number of swords for cutting over the years, from longswords to sabres to katana, and none of them cut with the ease of this messer.

This one's definately a keeper!

[Bill Grandy]

[John Lundemo]

Thanks alot folks and Bill! Both false edges were made sharp as per Bill's request, so the first peak is really pretty scarry. The side goes through the tang and is peened and the pommel is keyed on and forged and peened. The hollow rivets i've seen on a few messers so went with that. Can't wait to see what Bill does with a scabbard, what with the insane blade profile;)

[J. D. Carter]

Wicked looking piece. From the stats you provided it would appear that you had it designed with a slightly longer grip than the pictured piece that served as inspiration? Does it provide enough purchase to use it comfortably two handed?

I look forward to a full review at some point and may the light have mercy on the melons, jugs and mats that will be sacrificed in pursuit of testing it's cutting qualities.

[Jean Thibodeau]

[Steven H]

[Bill Grandy]

[Bill Grandy]

[Bill Grandy]

As an additional, I feel the need to add that John does the best job of packaging a sword I've ever seen. He put together a wooden crate to make sure *nothing* damaged the sword in shipment.

[Ed Toton]

I'm really impressed with this, just from the description and the photos, without having had a chance to see it in person yet. A truly gorgeous and magnificent weapon, even admired from afar! Bravo.

If you ever need someone to uhm... look after it for you... let me know.

[Tim Lison]

WOW! Great work. Enjoy that beauty! I love the blade....