Is this a falchion? -- myArmoury.com

Sa'ar Nudel · Posted: Sun 08 Mar, 2009 7:30 am Post subject:

Oooh, this is a rare type of a messer, a stubby cleaver-like implement that probably was a part of a hunting trouse. I remember seeing a similar original one for sale in Budapest. It is not common to see even a repro of this knife.
Who is the maker?

Norman McCormick · Posted: Sun 08 Mar, 2009 1:06 pm Post subject:

Hi Gert-Jan,
Cleaver from a Hunting Trousse, here are some 15th Cent examples.
Regards,
Norman.
P.S. I did read somewhere once that Falchion type weapons may have had their roots in early butchering implements.

Gert-Jan Beukers · Posted: Sun 08 Mar, 2009 1:41 pm Post subject:

M. Eversberg II · Posted: Sun 08 Mar, 2009 4:00 pm Post subject:

I rather like that romanesque scabbard for the last cleaver.

M.

Peter Johnsson · Industry Professional

To chime in with those who has already posted:
I´d say it looks like the big chopping knife from a hunting set. I would not date it to the 15th C, but rather to the 16th C. Perhaps even the latter half, but "dating" is tricky on modern replicas that aspire to a historical style. Most elements are easily recognized in knives from the mid to late 16th C, however.
As a knife it is more the tool of a hunter with a good budget. It is not primarily a blade you´d expect a soldier to carry to a fight.

Ben C. · Posted: Mon 09 Mar, 2009 4:01 am Post subject:

I've seen a lot of debates over how to exactly define what is a messer and what is a falchion. However it is generally accepted that the main defining point is the hilt construction rather than the blade. Messer's have a typical knife style hilt where as falchions use a sword hilt style construction.