MRL Falchion

[Guest]

I think MRL's "French Badelair" comes the closest to being a German Messer, though still not quite there. I am interested in this as well, and may put it on my Christmas wish list. Looking forward to any feedback you guys may have.

Keith

[Jeffrey Hull]

Atlanta Cutlery had this sweet Windlass-made German hunting-hanger, that was exactly a Messer, with matching companion dagger available as well. Maybe they still offer the thing? JH

[TimSheetz]

Hi Keith,

I thought MRL's german Falchion was actually a misnomer for a Messer. Have you seen that one?

[Guest]

Tim wrote:
I thought MRL's german Falchion was actually a misnomer for a Messer. Have you seen that one?

---On page 42 of the latest catalog there is a weapon simply titled "Falchion." Nowhere is it claimed to be German. The one on page 44 titled "French Badelaire" has a blade shape and cross that matches that seen for Messers in the fechtbucher much closer than the one on page 42. But the problem is that both of these MRL weapons have a large sword pommel. A real Messer has a small "knife pommel", like the one you see on MRL's "Grosse Messer" pictured on page 14. After reading George Turner's article, I'm starting to believe that this would make a significant difference in how the weapon handles. He pointed out in that article that sabers do not have need of a large pommel, and a Messer is essentially a large saber. So now I wonder..... I know JC has one of these MRL blades. Hey John....which one is it and what do you think of the handling characteristics?

Keith

[Guest]

I also really want a messer/falchion/what that thing is, so if some gets one from MRL or Lutel please let me know the pros and cons. Cheers

Todd

[John_Clements]

I have both MRL falchions, and I like them, they are one of their better pieces. Not hard to get that kind of weapon right.

[Jeffrey Hull]

To answer myself

I found that the German hunting-hanger (aka Messer) is absent from the latest AC catalog. This always seems to happen to the really unique designs that MRL & AC offer (sigh) - or at least the ones I like. JH

[Matt Easton]

Firstly - I agree regarding messer/falchion - one is the German and the other is the French name for essentially the same weapon. As Bjorn's site shows - you can find similar falchions in all of western Europe during the 13th-14thC's.
The type of messer we see in most of the German manuals is just a type that is characteristic of German middle-working class. Some, like Talhoffer's, look small, and some, like Codex Wallerstein's, look big.

As to what a 'Falchion' was in 17thC England, well this is a 17thC Italian falchion, and similar examples appear in more northern European art of the 17thC (though I couldn't find an example online to link).



Matt