| Author |
Message |
|
Howard Waddell
Industry Professional
|
 Posted: Wed 23 Mar, 2005 9:18 am Post subject: Messers |
 |
|
Steve has finished programming the Meister and the Knecht blanks (very fortunate since Peter is here visiting)
More at:
http://albion-swords.com/albion-sword-news.htm
I have to admit, I found messers interesting visually, but they were not on my list of "must haves."
They are now.
These are going to be bad-ass swords. Handling just the raw, unground blade blanks gives me a new-found respect (and fear of) those old German messer fighters -- no wonder Talhoffer said (my translation, so it may not be 100% accurate):
"Here they fight with messers -- God remember them."
A fight with either of these must have been short, incredibly brutal, and invariably fatal for one or both fighters.
The way these blades are designed, it is like having an almost 3 ft (or in the case of the Knecht almost 4 ft) scalpel in your hands. Total point control, lightning fast, virtually no vibration -- in short scary as hell.
I guess you can see that I am pretty excited about these...
Best,
Howy
Albion Swords Ltd
http://albion-swords.com
http://filmswords.com
|
|
   |
 |
|
Aaron Schnatterly
|
| Posted: Wed 23 Mar, 2005 9:36 am Post subject: Re: Messers |
|
|
| Howard Waddell wrote: | I have to admit, I found messers interesting visually, but they were not on my list of "must haves."
They are now. |
I had the same thought, Howy... until I saw the pictures of the rough blades. Same with the Vassal and Berserkr. You're HELL on a man's bank account, my friend!  Makes me really glad you've so generously offered the collector's club. We'll just have to see which ones I can manage to acquire via that magic #7! 
| Howard Waddell wrote: | | The way these blades are designed, it is like having an almost 3 ft (or in the case of the Knecht almost 4 ft) scalpel in your hands. Total point control, lightning fast, virtually no vibration -- in short scary as hell. |
If you're this impressed and excited before finishing and a trip to the culter, damn... I may have to reprioritize my acquisition list. Thanks for the update!
A couple of questions... Any estimate on a release date? How are the new XVa longswords coming?
-Aaron Schnatterly
_______________
Fortior Qui Se Vincit
(He is stronger who conquers himself.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gary Grzybek
|
| Posted: Wed 23 Mar, 2005 9:43 am Post subject: |
|
|
Howy,
I've had some brief Messer training and let me tell you, your description hits the nail on the head. The historical techniques combined with such a formidable weapon are nothing short of frightening.
They are beautiful!
Gary Grzybek
ARMA Northern N.J.
www.armastudy.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
Howard Waddell
Industry Professional
|
| Posted: Wed 23 Mar, 2005 10:01 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Gary Grzybek wrote: | Howy,
I've had some brief Messer training and let me tell you, your description hits the nail on the head. The historical techniques combined with such a formidable weapon are nothing short of frightening.
They are beautiful! |
I hate to admit it, but I always imagined these as oversized Bowie knives -- pretty hilts, but blade heavy and slow, nasty to be hit by, but only if you were unfortunate enough to be unable to dodge the blow.
After handling these light, quick slicer/choppers, I don't see how you could avoid the fast blows these things would deliver, especially in the hands of a trained messer fighter. My eyes (and brain) just don't work that fast -- it must be one of those things where you train and train and train until your body knows what to do, because there just ain't no way your brain could follow action that fast.
Jason and Peter were just lightly hitting a stump in the shop with these un-heat-treated and unsharpened blanks and every blow sank almost spine deep into the log. It just gives you shivers. The only thing almost as scary in our line-up is the Berserkr -- that one will give you nightmares as well, but that, as they say, is another story...
Best,
howy
Albion Swords Ltd
http://albion-swords.com
http://filmswords.com
|
|
|
|
|
Nathan Robinson
myArmoury Admin
|
|
 |
|
|
Howard Waddell
Industry Professional
|
| Posted: Wed 23 Mar, 2005 10:35 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Nathan Robinson wrote: | | Told you so, Howy! Now you know why I've had them both ordered for some time already. I'm excited to see the blades! |
I admit it -- you were right and I was dead dead dead wrong!
Best,
Howy
Albion Swords Ltd
http://albion-swords.com
http://filmswords.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
Howard Waddell
Industry Professional
|
| Posted: Wed 23 Mar, 2005 10:41 am Post subject: Re: Messers |
|
|
| Aaron Schnatterly wrote: |
A couple of questions... Any estimate on a release date? How are the new XVa longswords coming? |
Hey Aaron!
We are having an R&D meeting this afternoon to figure out what the revised schedule will be for the rest of the year -- we have a lot of work to dump on poor Peter and he only has lmited time left after the time demands of his own smithy work and his beautiful new daughter.
We will update the site as soon as the new schedule is finished, but most likely we will be a a 1 -2 new swords a month average clip for the rest of the year.
Best,
howy
Albion Swords Ltd
http://albion-swords.com
http://filmswords.com
|
|
|
|
|
Sean Flynt
|
|
|
|
|
Matt G. Meekma
|
| Posted: Wed 23 Mar, 2005 2:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Great to see that there are coming along. Been looking forward to them for a long time now. (even more since seeing PJ's scale drawings of the Knecht.
Thanks for posting Howie.
Beer is God's way of saying He wants Us to be Happy. - Ben Franklin
|
|
|
|
|
|
Patrick Kelly
|
| Posted: Wed 23 Mar, 2005 8:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
My my. I want that Knecht in the worst way!
"In valor there is hope.".................. Tacitus
|
|
 |
|
|
Brian M
|
| Posted: Thu 24 Mar, 2005 12:18 am Post subject: |
|
|
Wow, I'm drooling over the Knecht blade right now, but I ... must ... remain committed to the SoSM! Maybe next year.
Any word on the Berserker and the Bayeaux? I'm trying to decide between these two for my 7th sword. Right now I'm leaning towards the Bayeaux.
Brian M
|
|
|
|
|
Joachim Nilsson
|
| Posted: Thu 24 Mar, 2005 3:59 am Post subject: Re: Messers |
|
|
| Howard Waddell wrote: | | Steve has finished programming the Meister and the Knecht blanks (very fortunate since Peter is here visiting) |
Oh my. These are absolutely gorgeous! I've been excited about the messers ever since I saw the concept drawings of them. And now... Well, I think I need to get some caffeine to be able to even begin expressing my impressions. Peter told me I was going to love the Knecht and that that sword "is really you, Joachim". To say the least, I think he was on to something there. 
| Quote: | A fight with either of these must have been short, incredibly brutal, and invariably fatal for one or both fighters.
|
He he. I agree with Gary. You are definately right about that. Efficient and brutal indeed. Just ask Martin Wallgren and my study group.  
Last edited by Joachim Nilsson on Thu 24 Mar, 2005 4:18 am; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
Martin Wallgren
|
| Posted: Thu 24 Mar, 2005 4:13 am Post subject: |
|
|
He he he ....  very funny indeed!!!
But Joachim is right! In a sparring with padded waepons we encoutered eachother with Longsword against Messer (grossemesser equal in length to the Meister from Albion). I was hit over the thumb with a wrist-turn cut from Joachim who had a the Messer, hard enough to make blood be pressed up through the skin. And this in spite of having Hockeygloves on...
Swordsman, Archer and Dad
|
|
 |
|
|
David R. Glier
|
| Posted: Fri 25 Mar, 2005 11:47 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Howard Waddell wrote: | | The only thing almost as scary in our line-up is the Berserkr -- that one will give you nightmares as well, but that, as they say, is another story... |
I knew it I knew it I knew it! 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Einar Drønnesund
|
| Posted: Mon 28 Mar, 2005 1:29 am Post subject: |
|
|
|
Howard, is it a trick of the light or does the Knecht have a ricasso?
|
|
|
|
|
Jason Dingledine
|
| Posted: Mon 28 Mar, 2005 4:46 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Einar Drønnesund wrote: | | Howard, is it a trick of the light or does the Knecht have a ricasso? |
Hey Einar,
It is a trick of the lighting. While there is a slightly widening along the profile of the back, the cross-section stays the same. I'll have to admit that I was completely floored by this blade when Steve got the first prototype off the mill, Brett and I kept picking it up and playing with it. I think that alot of people are going to be pleasantly surprised by this one.
Jason Dingledine
|
|
|
|
|
|
Einar Drønnesund
|
| Posted: Tue 29 Mar, 2005 11:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Good to hear, Jason, thanks.
I've been drooling over the Knecht since I first sa Peters drawings. It looks so... evil.
|
|
|
|
|
Patrik Erik Lars Lindblom
|
| Posted: Wed 30 Mar, 2005 1:41 am Post subject: |
|
|
 geez! I bleeding just by looking at them
Frid o Fröjd!
Patrik
|
|
|
|
|
Kenneth Enroth
|
| Posted: Wed 30 Mar, 2005 8:51 am Post subject: |
|
|
|
How heavy will the knecht be? Will it have a thick spine like a katana?
|
|
|
|
|
Mikko Kuusirati
|
| Posted: Fri 01 Jul, 2005 10:57 am Post subject: |
|
|
*sigh*
Great. Another option for my first Albion sword once I get the money (should be next spring)... I just keep changing my mind about what to order at least once a month. I want them all, damnit!
Right now, the Meister looks awfully tempting...
"And sin, young man, is when you treat people like things. Including yourself. That's what sin is."
— Terry Pratchett, Carpe Jugulum
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This is a standard topic