Medieval "BIG Knife" - The Albion-Tod Grosse Messer!
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- Reproduction of a Medieval/Renascence "Grosse Messer". A style of short sword popular with civilians and soldiers in fifteenth and sixteenth century Germany.
This was a damaged Albion blade, repaired and hilted by Tod. Scabbard and Belt by Tod's Workshop. Bronze belt fittings and chape available from TodCutler.com
If you are interested in medieval replica weapons take look at my websites:
todcutler.com for budget medieval knives
todsworkshop.com for custom knives, swords and crossbows
/ todsworkshop
/ todtodeschini
Shot on location at Kentwell Hall, Suffolk, UK. The most extraordinary place and the reason I started making historical replicas. Thank You. www.kentwell.co...
You’re absolutely right about scabbards being necessary. I hate how often high end blades are sold without a scabbard. It’s like selling a car without tires.
I as an Austrian can confirm germans love their antlers! If I could, I'd build my entire house out of antlers!
@Targaryen Dynasty, dass
I as a german do not like the haptics of antlers, so there you go.
@Targaryen Dynasty i will dtand for my dislike of antler haptics, and i will fall for it!
So, do you use antlers in all of your decorating?
@@Tallus_ap_Mordren I do believe you win
Sword without scabbard is not complete! I agree 100%
is it a sword or the ultimate steak knife?
Arthas Menethil how about both!
You are a man with a passion for detail. My old man had a passion for old guns. He bought a long bayonet musket rifle with the butt riddled with woodworm. Mum had an industrial Singer sewing machine with quality wood. This is 50 years ago. Dad cut a piece of that Singer bench and spent months carving and sanding an exact musket butt. I don't recall any rift with parents as Dad had knackered mum's Singer. I now have the musket and a few others mounted on the gun rack I built for Dad at school woodworking. Teachers pencil marking shows 9 out of 10. Clearly, I wasn't as good at woodwork than Dad. But he kept the rack for his rifles and had always complimented me. Memories.
I starting to admire the Late Medieval German aesthetic more and more. Their own castle types, their intensely floral decoration, karstenbrust armour but also the lithe gothic and lets not forget their messers and hunting crossbows. I can't quite put my finger on it but it feels different from more Atlantic places like France or England.
Germans were also famous for their armorers and swordmakers. I remember reading about how some noblemen were bragging about traveling to Germany to have their plate armor made, and I saw a museum suit that belong to a king and the museum guy (docent sounds weird) who was similarly bragging about how the suit was made by a famous German smith. The really famous "classic" plate armor suit is called Maximilian armour, which was based on Gothic style armor, both of which are German too.
Basicly how people feel about Japanese swords today is how German swords are armor were treated back in the late medieval period.
@@arthas640 are we the Japanese of Europe with our own types of weebs, like the wehraboos? And back in that time the gothaboos?
@@PinHeadSupliciumwtf there are also a ton of viking weeabos (sweaboos? Norabood? Vikaboos?) All around. Seeks like every time a new famous viking show or game comes out, suddenly more people are 1/16th Swedish.
German castles look really homely as well, even the ones that have great defensive features seem to have nice great halls and living areas.
Eltz castle has to be my favourite fortified home aesthetically.
What made German castles distinct?
A lot of the confederate soldiers in the American Civil War carried blades similar to these. Most were not this large, but there were some pretty big Bowie knives or as some called them, "Arkansas toothpicks" in the southern ranks
When I seen it I was thinking Bowie machete.
The socalled D- guatd Bowies?
Crocodile dundee: that's not a knife, this is a knife!
German: *laughs*
Let me show you it's features lol
*laughs in Holy Roman Empire*
Only time you'll ever get a German to laugh. Comparing knives.
@@Qardo jawohl!
Nein, zis ist ein knife!
11:00 pm: I'm sleeping! Nothing can stop me!
12:20 am: ...Medieval "Big Knife"?? Interesting...
weeb.
Holy Production Values Batman
The cinematography is this video is very pleasing to look at, I think the attire and setting help a lot. Not to mention a very beautiful knife and scabbard as well!
I seriously thought it was a green screen untill he moved some twigs by shifting his foot
beautiful craftswork, Todd. your friend is a lucky guy to know someone as knowledgeable and skilled as you are. the bit about the scabbard shows your heart is truly in this.
Tod needs to randomly dub in that Hollywood ~SSSHHHIIING~ sound effect whenever a blade is being drawn from a scabbard just for laughs.
Wow the video quality, and production, in this one was really nice. Lovely colour, costume and setting :)
Messers are awesome!
And this thing is definitely a messer.
The plural of Messer is Messer ^^
When the item has some quirks and there is a story behind those that is what makes the item truly valuable.
It also needs a name. Every great sword (or knife :P) has a name!
The man with a sword notched like a jagged comb is the one you don't want to fight.
WOW... you are a artist, that sheath is amazing..
I think antler looks just beautiful on a messer hilt, it makes it just makes it look much more exquisite.
Every day I like Messers more and more.
Awesome outfit and amazing quality video! 💪😎🙏
the hat really goes with the beard, it would look goofy on most men but he pulls it off.
You call that a knife ... now this is a ... oh hell, nope, you got the right knife there Tod my boy!
'Der Tod' is 'death' in German, so perhaps Tod-Albion is fitting since you brought this blade back to life!
Lol I just realized that Tod was in the title because of Tod as in Tod's workshop. I was thinking why is Tod (death) in the title is that how they named the messer?
SHit, I commented something along those lines before I saw this. Should've looked better
I appreciate the dressing up. It adds a nice touch while you discuss the piece.
I actually could not see the etching on the belt before the showcase at the end. beautiful
That is a lovely messer. Those chips in the blad are really no big deal when you consider the price.
I did not know the stuff you said about the scabbard , most informative. Thanks.
@Håkon That would not surprise me. It is lovely to look at but it is really ornamental. Those chips would not happen with good steel, certainly not from dropping it.
Fantastic! I've been playing lots of Kingdom Come Deliverance and your video gives me a better appreciation for this particular knife in the game.
Wonderful job on the grip, absolutely lovely on that messer.
Without the article it is written "Großes/Grosses Messer". With the article it would be correctly "Das Große/Grosse Messer".
How would you type a word such as Große without an esset letter on a keyboard? O_o
@@omarabe26 Alt + 0223 or + 225. Alternatively, WinCompose then +ss
Hard to say. Back then, there were essentially hundreds of distinct local dialects.
Jay M I understand what you mean but it doesn‘t work this way reversed. In German we have many words for the English "a/an" depending on time and/or gender which it is referring to. It is honestly quite hard to find common ground on this topic because the big knife is in this case more of a name of its own. You would write it then "the Big Knife" like the German in German "groß/gross" being written big or small.
I've learned and correct me if I am wrong. But, German peasants where not allowed to carry a sword, but they where allowed to carry a knife. Thus, the Grosse Messer, or Big Knife was invented. It caught on so well that even Nobles carried them, and some where very fancy. I have the Cold Steel Grosse Messer and I truely love that one. May not be an exact reproduction, but for me, close enough. Oh, and my mother is half German :)
I alway have to think at Crocodile Dundee when I read big knife :D
That is still the standard here in Germany. Good knifes are availiable with antler ( Horn ) handles. Have a Hartkopf, a Hubertus and a Böker - among others with wooden handles ...
Ah, yes...Böker. I would love to own some of those knives!
Very nicely done, Tod! You're probably the best chance any "Moat Sale" blade has for a second life. I'm starting to come around to messers!
I'm digging the little outro music clip too. Even if it's just a free sample type thing.
Tip for working with thin walled antler, set the marrow with epoxy. I've used many types, and I actually like JB weld the best, as it doesn't seem to leach into the antler, causing discoloration.
Also, only cut antler wet! Preferably under running water. Antler dust is basically micro needles, not good for lungs.
I read on tvtropes that these kinds of large knives originated in Germany because of a law that prohibited non-aristocrats having swords, with swords being defined as double-edged. So the German peasants decided to make knives like these that are single-edged, but still could kinda function as a sword because of how large they made them. Does anyone who watches these videos know if this is true?
nice work, Tod, and cool dress too!
I’ve always wondered about the scabbards on those kinds of blades
I love the antler and red scabbard combination for this Messer. To bad it's probably a one-off version.
Beautiful !
What a beautiful gift.
I dream of the day I could afford even a second blade of anything! Thanks for keeping me dreaming
I've been binge-watching this channel since I found it about a week ago. It's easily become one of my favorites.
Very beautiful knife
I want one of these. Imagine how people will react when you show up with this bad boy at a barbecue. It's the ultimate way to show people that A: you're the kind of man who owns a variety of medieval tools and weapons B: you're a history buff/expert, and C: it's a great way to establish dominance and will likely earn you the last of the barbecued ribs and/or steak.
Also, your last invitation to a barbecue.
"It's my BBQ and I'm in charge of the portions."
*taps pommel of Grosse Messer* "Do you feel in charge?"
@@G1NZOU and bonus points for using a long sword since it increases your reach at the dinner table or buffet line
When I was a boy scout (over 40 years ago in Germany) most of us had antler fitter knife grips. No one thought about this because knife grips where normally made of this stuff. My Granddad had a pocket knife with antler grips. I'm not sure how most knife grips are presented now. As a professional musician, all my following years had been occupied with instrumental training and composing, so I loosed track of this - but antler grips were still allabundant 40 years ago in Germany.
Gotta say, the German look really helps with the immersion and imagination.
Also, beautiful craftsmanship on the alterations and the scabbard
Lucky friend!
Great information, and music. Particularly like all ihe info. about the history.
Absolutely gorgeous work.
That is a lovely gift.
Beautiful piece!
This would be the equivalent of having an automatic rifle with a magazine that inserts into the grip and saying "nah it's a pistol mate".
You laugh but according to the atf if it looks like a rifle but is less than 26 inches over all and lacks a stock then it’s a pistol. There are also short barrel shotgun‘s that are legally considered pistols. Bureaucracy knows no bounds.
@@Ashurbanipal7446 But at least having no stock makes a rifle a lot less useful. Having a scales+tang or a through-the-handle tang makes literally no difference whatsoever.
mrkiky it makes the knife stronger
@@Ashurbanipal7446 Not really. If it did, they would have made swords like that since swords are subjected to higher impacts. Truth is, both constructions are strong enough to take expected usage, if done right. It really makes no difference.
The reason it is a Messer and not a Schwert has nothing to do with the way it is made or the tang, it has everything to do with the type of blade.
Both Messer and Schwerter in German fall into the category of 'Hieb- und Stichwaffen' (lit. slashing and stabbing weapons) and these split into two categories: Messer und Säbel (knives and sabres) and Schwerter und Dolche (swords and daggers).
Schwerter und Dolche are defined as having a typically straight and usually double edged blade while Messer und Säbel have a straight or curved single edged blade. There is nothing stopping you from making a Schwert with a full tang or a Messer without, it would not change the German definition of what it is.
The whole knife and scabbard is a thing of beauty. I wonder it would have been possible to actually highlight the kinks deliberately, make them look like ornamental serrations if that makes sense?
"Now, THAT'S a knife!" Lol
Paul Hogan would be proud to pull this one out!
Nice work sir.
Excellent! I got the exact chape from you for my Kriegsmesser scabbard project, feeling kinda validated in my choice right now.
Very nice, and a wonderful gift. Bravo.
Very nice piece. I didn't know Albion did that. I'm going to have to keep an eye on that now. I've been wanting to rehilt and refinish my cold steel messer second for a while now.
The grind has some wobble in it and the stamped guard scars my delicate sensibilities but I couldn't resist the price tag. Bought it as a project sword but other projects got in the way.
Such a beautiful knife! :)
Beautiful work on this piece! Thank You Kindly! DaveyJO in Pennsylvania
Hi Tod! Greetings from Germany :)
Your Name means "Death" in german,.. also:
"Grosse Messer" is the plurality. (I have 2,3,4.. Grosse Messer)
"Grosses Messer" is a single one. (I have a Grosses Messer with me)
"Grosses" is spoken like "Grow-saz"
Lord Tod demands your presence in the forest, a great honor indeed. Refusing our lord would result in death by a goatfoots lever crossbow, or bullock dagger.
Oh God, i better show up, I'm rather attached to my bullocks
Keep riding
Thanks for the clarification, cause when I looked at it all I could hear in my head was Falchion, falchion, falchion!
Very ineresting!
I like the way that hilt looks compared to the standard choice Albion has available, but it's entirely reasonable for a production sword as you said.
Good production quality as always lately, I really liked how it was presented with that backdrop and not wearing modern clothes.
Adding a few photos or a short video clip of the sword of a few seconds as it arrived could've been neat for the outro bit showing before and after your modifications.
That's probably closer to what would have been used than the mass produced blades. Very nice.
I love messers, falcions and hangers... such underrated swords... sorry ment knives. Lol
Lovely whopping big Bowie! Your amigo must be on cloud nine with that thing. Cheers from Texas! 😀
definetly the ancestor of the bowie!
@@zaganim3813 minus the nagel I agree. Specially if you add some of the features of the larger messers to the smaller ones. Even more compelling is the fact that much of Texas and surrounding regions were compromised in majority of German families back in the times the typical Bowie knife was commonly used. Logic, at least in my mind, follows that a knife form already familiar and possibly even traditional being favored over others. It's my pet theory.
@@extrasmack there could definetly be something to it!
Nice looking work you did with the whole project. Kudos
I love the quality of your channel.
Beautiful work!
You've mentioned before about what got you into historical reproduction was reenactment. Can you possibly do a video talking about dress and boots/shoes?
The moment he drew that blade from the sheath I subbed!
Awesome sir...
Slight grammatical error in the title by the way. Grosse Messer is plural, when talking about a singular Messer it would be "grosses Messer".
The sword looks absolutely amazing by the way!
It's also singular if following the definite article ("das" in this case). For the indefinite singular article ("ein" and the ellipsis thereof), you'd be correct in using "grosses Messer" -- or even better yet "großes Messer".
Very nice done Tod!
A delight to see :-)
Still a very nice blade!
A great video and a great outfit!
Don't care what it's called, it's beautiful, and I want one .
it's called The Ultimate Steak Knife (tm)
awesome as usual
Can I be a friend too? Just kidding but your videos and craftsmanship are amazing.
It is beautiful
yer kool Tod!
I never knew about the connection with us Germans and antlers. But now that you say it, the Kingdom of Württemberg had 3 Antlers in its Coat of Arms, even the modern State Baden-Württemberg has them although they are tiny, and they are in the Logo of Porsche. So yeah I guess we do like antlers a lot.
The coat of arms of Baden- Württemberg shows in the shield the three marching lions of the former Hohenstaufen dynasty, in the top of the shield are the coat of arms of Württemberg and Baden in the center, also coats of arms from franconia/ Franken, palatine/ Pfalz, Vorderösterreich, and Hohenzollern (?). The shield holders are the wurttembergian deer/ Hirsch and the griffon/ Greif of Baden.
Watched a few of your videos, but this one was the one that got my sub. Very interesting! Great work and information!
Nice review thank you Todd
Now THATS a Knife
Morley in the end, pretty!
2:22 that is not the reason it is a Messer rather than a Schwert (sword).
In German it is a type of Blankwaffe, a weapon which functions directly through muscle power. These fall into a number of categories:
Stangenwaffen ie spears and lances; Schlagwaffen like clubs and maces and
Hieb- und Stichwaffen (slashing and stabbing weapons).
The latter are subdivided into two categories:
'Schwerter und Dolche' (swords and daggers) which are typically double edged and
'Messer und Säbel' (knives and sabres) which are single edged.
Interesting!
I recently saved Albion from Jack Of Blades and that dastardly Maze
Great work Tod
Good information. Distant Cousin. Best
Won't lie. Watching the first few seconds. I said in a really really really really bad Australian accent: "Now that's a knife."
Messer > bowie knife IMHO. I love machetes, and I even like messers more than them. Nagel FTW! When I learn the weapon more and can imagine what I'd want, this is one place I'll definitely look at having it made. Your work always impresses me, I'd bet my ass on it in a fight without hesitation. I know what that maker's mark means. Cool to see the period clothing to lolz
I never understood how people classified machetes as knives when I was a kid. I don't really care how it's constructed, I define tools and weapons by their dimensions and martial use. A greatsword sized kriegsmesser is a sword, even if it's made this or that way lolz. It is cool to see from your channel and Schola's the differences tho, because I have so little understanding of Crafts such details that are obvious to many often go unnoticed by me. I think I prefer the messer way of being made, it just looks more sturdy to me, but IDK much about these things. It also looks like the grips could easily be changed, kinda like a 1911, rather than having to remove a pommel that's not unscrew type.
Cool vid and beautiful work, as always
Tod,
Have you tried American Elk or Moose antlers? I have five revolver grips made from Elk and I like them a great deal. I'd buy more if I could afford them. Much Moose antler is lacking bark and it ends up looking like bone. Some like it, but some don't.
How hard would it have been, to move the nail to the other side and turn it into a Lefty?
I LIKE it!!! It looks like a BIG BOWIE-maybe a CONFEDERATE BOWIE.
…..RVM45
So this begs the obvious question: historically, if a sword suffered some minor damage at such a late stage during manufacture like what you show here, something that wouldn't fundamentally impact the usability of the sword, would the smith still finish and try to sell it (presumably at a discount) in its damaged state? Or just write it off as a total loss?
Unfortunately here in the US we don't typically get to see ancient swords in museums. Civil War era, maybe Revolutionary War era if we're lucky, that's about it. And even then, I have never looked closely enough at even those swords to notice quality. But next time I go to a museum with swords I'll definitely keep an eye out for it!
By the 1860s, swords were being mass produced in numbers, and to standardized patterns, that could make that kind of quality control elimination practical. I don't know how much it was done, but the technology was there to some extent.
Beautiful work Tod. The reprofile of the blade and the notches actually give it some authenticity, as if it's been used in combat. I love it. And the sheath, have you done a sheath tutorial?
We germans still love antler, just look at some knife companies like Puma and Linder.