The history of the appearance of the gross messer dates back approximately to the end of the 14th - beginning of the 15th century. At this time, the German principalities were actively at war with each other, using both their own squads and mercenaries. And if noble warriors had the opportunity to use the best weapons, then ordinary fighters needed something simple, cheap and effective. Gross Messer became such a weapon - translated from German as "big knife".
What is this sword?
Despite its modesty, the "big knife" is a full-fledged one-handed bladed weapon. What it consists of:
- Handle. Almost always made of wood. Depending on the personal tastes of the owner, it was polished and covered with leather. The length of the handle was 30-35 centimeters (depending on the dimensions of the blade) and ended with a pommel. The handle held the blade in the simplest way - the "tail" was clamped between the two halves of the handle and finally fixed with the hilt.
- Ephesus. Most often had the simplest form, without any decorations. Cross guard and dowel (protrusion from the side of the "strong" hand, to protect the hands).
- Blade. Gross Messer had a blade 65-80 centimeters long, slightly curved in the upper third. The ending has been trimmed to form the point of a sword.
How and by whom was this weapon used?
For most warriors of simple origin, the main weapon had to satisfy several criteria: be cheap, effective, easy to repair, and preferably multifunctional. The Gross Messer met all these requirements - it was significantly cheaper than other swords, it was excellent for foot cutting, it did not have complex elements in the design.
This sword gained special love from the Landsknechts - German hired soldiers. Detachments of "dogs of war" were most often on foot, and you can't carry much on your own two feet. What was a good gross messer for an ordinary mercenary? In addition to the main, combat function, it could be used for chopping branches, harvesting meat and many other everyday activities. Thanks to him, it was not necessary to carry an ax and a butcher's knife with him.
Fencing with a "big knife"
Despite the seeming simplicity of this weapon, they were not only primitively cut from the shoulder. Many fencing schools taught how to use the gross messer, and this says a lot. All fencing techniques with this sword can be divided into chopping, cutting blows and injections.
Of course, the main emphasis was on felling - heavythe blade shifted the emphasis precisely in the direction of "power" work. Cuts were used at close range, when it was extremely difficult to swing. Injections - the most difficult element, were used to hit vulnerable points - armpits, necks, faces.
What happened to that sword?
Despite all the usefulness and cheapness that the gross messer possessed, the commoner's sword lost in its fighting qualities to other swords - it was heavy for a one-handed sword and broke quite often (blade and hilt connection). Therefore, in the 16th century, the "big knife" was replaced by a cleaver (or, as it is sometimes called, dyussak). This sword did not have a handle, but only a blade - a hole was made in its first third for a grip. Even cheaper and more reliable, it occupied the niche of budget one-handed bladed weapons for many years.
Gross messer got his second life already in the 20th century, through the efforts of blacksmiths and swordsman reenactors. And again, its versatility and simplicity captivates - it is easy to make, it can be used both for training sparring and for cutting objects.
Where can I see what a gross messer looks like? The photo of the sword you see in this article is really simple and beautiful.
