I have always liked the look of the grosse messer sword for some reason. I think it is due to the fact that it is so utilitarian. A tool for the working man, instead of a knightly implement.
(Picture source.)
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Cold Steel makes excellent knives, but crappy swords. Although a Messer is technically a knife, it is a sword in all practical respects — and thus shouldn’t be bought from Cold Steel.
I’ve never tried Cold Steel swords. Is there anything in particular you consider to be bad about them?
Cold Steel swords are too heavy and have too little distal taper, making them feel like a sharpened crowbar rather a sword. Cold Steel also likes threaded pommels rather peened ones. That’s OK, even desirable in a practice weapon, but not in a battle-ready one.
(Threaded pommels work loose relatively quickly. In a practice weapon that sees a lot of use, that will certainly happen. A loose threaded pommel, though, can just be screwed back on, whereas a loose peened pommel means a trip to a smith).
Thanks. A lack of distal taper could indeed be a bit of a nuisance.
I’m not quite so bothered by the threaded pommels, though.