Messer: the "knife"-sword of the late Middle Ages

The Messer (German for “knife”) is a particular weapon that was used in the 15th and 16th centuries. It is a single-edged sword that distinguishes itself from other swords through its construction, which strongly resembles that of a large knife. Especially the grip – constructed with techniques also used for knives – makes it knife-like in nature. Therefore, the Messer forms a unique intermediate form between the utility knife and the military sword.

Within the collective term Messer, there are several variants that are often used interchangeably in sources. Nevertheless, we can distinguish a number of main groups.

The Bauernwehr (“farmer's knife” or “farmer's sidearm”), also known as Hauswehr (“household knife”), was a single-handed knife primarily worn for everyday use and self-defense. It had a blade length ranging from modest knives of about 15 centimeters to larger variants of approximately 35 centimeters. This weapon thus bordered between tool and defensive weapon.

Additionally, there were the Messer, Langes Messer and Großes Messer (“knife”, “long knife” and “big knife”). These were essentially one-handed swords intended for self-defense. Their blades ranged from about 45 centimeters to as much as 90 centimeters. Although most grips were intended for single-handed use, some larger examples could have an extended grip allowing for the use of a second hand.

The largest and most impressive category was the Kriegsmesser (“war knife”). These were true military weapons, designed for two-handed use. They could reach a total length of 1.00 to 1.35 meters, with the blade sometimes up to 1 meter long. The Kriegsmesser was a favorite among professional soldiers in the 15th and 16th centuries, especially the famous Landsknechte, known for their formidable presence on the battlefields of Europe.

The names for the different types of messers were not strictly defined in practice. There are no known medieval sources that precisely codify the boundary between a Bauernwehr, a Langes Messer, or a Kriegsmesser. Thus, a large farmer's knife could just as easily be called a Messer, and a substantial Großes Messer could equally be referred to as a Kriegsmesser in another context. The terms were largely subjective and dependent on use and context.

What these weapons had in common was their versatility. The Messer combined characteristics of both the knife and the sword: simple and robust in construction, yet capable of delivering lethal blows and powerful thrusts. This made it suitable for both everyday life and the battlefield.

Because the terminology is often confusing and the historical designations overlap, the weapon researcher James G. Elmslie developed a systematic typology. This typology classifies European single-edged weapons, including the Messer and the falchion. Elmslie's system is comparable to the well-known Oakeshott typology, which is primarily used for double-edged knightly swords (arming swords).

Thanks to this classification, there is more clarity about the morphological variation of these weapons, considering not only the length, but also shape, balance, grip construction, and blade profile. This allows researchers to better distinguish between the many different weapons that are all referred to in the sources as "Messer." The development of the 'claw'-shaped point of the blade is a characteristic criterion to estimate the Messer in terms of time period. Later Messers had a straight blade that closely resembles a sword. 

Thus, some early 16th-century Messers can be seen as a precursor to the later backsword, these swords were sharpened on one side. Their development unconsciously harked back to the Germanic and later Viking tradition where saxes and later swords were sharpened on one side and were ideal for delivering cuts. The great advantage of a single-edged sword is that it was cheaper to produce and maintain than a double-edged sword. The blade on the back could be kept wider, which meant the cross-section of the blade did not need to be as advanced as with other swords. 

The Messer seems to have originated in southern Germany, Switzerland, or northern Austria in the early years of the 15th century. It began as a small Bauernwehr or Hauswehr, civilian knives of simple status, used by the lower classes. The exact date of origin is uncertain, but the oldest known depiction dates from around 1430. The use of the Messer as a weapon was likely inspired by the earlier falchions. 

The knives gradually became larger, and by the end of the 1440s, depictions of messers for size of a sword appear in Fechtbücher (fighting and fencing manuals).

Although the name Messer is German, weapons with a Messer hilt have been found in many other European regionss, often under local names. Examples have been found in the Netherlands and northern France, but also in Iceland, Sweden, the Baltic countries, as well as in Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Romania. South of Germany, they have been found in Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, and the northern part of the Balkans.

The distribution of the Messer is associated with production centers such as Passau and Solingen, and with medieval trade routes via rivers and the shipping routes of the Hanseatic League. As a result, it is likely that very similar Messers, found for example in Iceland, Northern Germany, and Northern Poland, were not local products, but the result of the export of Passauer klinges in the late 15th and early 16th century.

The Messer holds a special place in the development of weapons from the late Middle Ages and the early Renaissance. Like the falchion, the weapon was significantly cheaper than the sword, but over time it developed more towards a double-edged sword. From that moment, the weapon gradually evolved towards the backsword. From farmers and citizens to mercenaries and professional soldiers: the Messer offered a reliable and versatile weapon, which remained in use in various forms for centuries.