Single-edged

Messer

The Messer, which means "knife" in German, was a single-edged sword popular during the 15th and 16th centuries, known for its knife-like hilt construction. It was commonly used as a one-handed self-defense weapon. The blade length of a Messer varied from approximately 45 centimeters to 90 centimeters. The hilt was typically designed for single-handed use, but larger examples could have an extended grip suitable for a second hand.

The exact origin of the Messer seems to be in the southern regions of Germany, Switzerland, or the northern parts of Austria. It first appeared in the early 15th century as a small utility knife. Therefore, the precise date of its origin is still uncertain, with the earliest known depictions dating back to around 1430.

The hilt structure of the Messer sets it apart from contemporary European swords. Most Messers had a sandwiched blade construction, with the blade sandwiched between two wooden handle scales and secured together with rivets or nails. The Messer typically featured a Nagel, a nail-like protrusion perpendicular to the plane of the blade, extending from the right side of the hilt guard. This Nagel protected the user's knuckles from injury. Unlike contemporary double-edged swords, the Messer usually did not have a crossguard. Messers with a metal hilt often had an asymmetrical configuration, curving towards one side of the blade, sometimes referred to as a "hat-shaped" or "beak-shaped" hilt. Some Messers had a metal pommel ending with an elliptical top, forming a flat surface, while others lacked a metal pommel and instead used a plain wooden handle or a leather-wrapped handle.

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The techniques of the Messer bear a strong resemblance to early German longsword techniques, especially in the application of master cuts and the utilization of various techniques employing the thumb grip.

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The Lecküchner Messer system is included in our Technique Courses.

Dussack

The term "Dussack" originates from the Czech language and translates to "fang" or "claw." The Dussack sword played an important role in fencing guilds and was used continuously for over 250 years, gradually evolving into a military sword in the 16th and 17th centuries.

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Initially, the Dussack was a short, single-edged weapon primarily used for training purposes. However, as its usage became more widespread, different fencing guilds and martial artists transformed the Dussack into a sport rather than just a tool for practical weapon training.

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The practice Dussack is a wooden training weapon with a short, thick, single-edged blade, ranging in length from 700 to 1000 millimeters. There are also practice Dussacks made of leather. The practice Dussack typically has a slight curve, and the tip can be either blunt or pointed. Unlike the steel Dussack used in warfare, the practice version often lacks a complete hilt, with the grip being merely a cutout in the wooden blade, resembling a large hole. Some wooden Dussacks come with a guard similar to a Messer, but not all Dussacks have one.

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Joachim Meyer claimed that the Dussack was the origin of all one-handed weapons and the most commonly used weapon by Germans after the Longsword. Meyer explicitly stated that he used the Dussack to train all one-handed swords, excluding the rapier, although his rapier system was also noticeably influenced. He adopted the guards of previous Messer masters, and the technical systems shared commonalities with his other weapon systems, especially the longsword techniques. Sometimes, reading sections of Longsword techniques even refer to his Dussack sections.

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The Joachim Meyer Dussack system is included in our Technique Courses.

Evolution

The Dussack is commonly described as an evolution of the 16th-century Messer.

The Dussack is a steel military sword with a complex hilt that became increasingly common in the early 16th century and was used until the mid-17th century. Its development was a direct response to the conflicts between the Habsburg Empire (centered in Austria) and the Ottoman Empire. The intense conflicts between these empires influenced their tactics and fighting styles. Habsburg nobles and military commanders sought a weapon that could rival the Turkish Kilij, as the Turkish army was highly trained and successful. The Dussack emerged as a result of this background. Additionally, the rise of free cities in the 16th century created a greater need for self-defense among the citizens, further contributing to the spread of the Dussack. The Messer, associated with peasants, was considered unsuitable for the urban population or nobility.

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In history, both straight and curved blades existed for Messer and steel Dussack, so the curvature of the blade is not a distinguishing feature between these two weapons. The differentiation in techniques is not so clear-cut, as masters who taught the Dussack clearly drew from traditional Messer techniques but were also influenced by Turkish Kilij techniques, incorporating more sweeping and slashing movements. One major difference is that the hilt of the Dussack provides better protection compared to the Messer, resembling early Military Saber. This allows for more actions with the hilt positioned forward, but it does not rely on the hilt guard defense as much as later military swords. Some Dussack variants even feature a thumb ring on the hilt, reminiscent of early Military Saber.