Medieval Langes Messer (AKA falchion/hanger) Unboxing Review: Krieger Historical Weapons 

the joy emanating from Matt when he first draws the messer is amazing, like a kid unwrapping the christmas present he wanted most

UK Border Force are literally like the guards in Skyrim! "They have curved swords... curved... swords!"

Onenof my favorite Messers on the market. Super happy to see it get your attention, and Krieger Historical in general are amazing.

The French Man takes out his Opinel knife. The American says, that's not a knife and takes out his Bowie knife. And the German starts laughing. 👻

As someone who used to work for UPS, I highly recommend using anyone else. They're notorious for rough and careless handling and you'll be lucky if you get your package in one piece. Better have it insured if it's anything of value.

Just bought one thanks to this review, Matt! I'm having my handle done in Black Oak and having the guard brassed. Can't wait!

I was yelling at the screen so Matt would pull the blade out of the scabbard! What a gorgeous weapon 🤤!

Very true Matt, sometimes you do just have to "yank it"...

The Opinel needs no explanation! You know we all love the things as one of the ultimate utilitarian pocket knives, even if it was invented by a Frenchman.

Looks great!!! Can’t wait for the full review! And more messer content please!

I like that you say "Nagel" properly. Fits the technical and fact oriented style of your channel. Too many people say some incorrect "nejgel"-type thing for some weird reason.

That thing is absolutely WICKED! If it were mine I'd have to grind off a false edge, so when you look a the blade profile you read it as a clipped point (even though it's a drop-point). I bought a set of chisels recently and re-shaped the handles to something like a London pattern, with an octagonal section (like the boxwood Sorby chisel handles). I wasn't happy with the old set I had as I'd re-shaped the handles a few times to a small pear-drop shape. They look lovely, but they didn't feel very nice. So I made the octagonal section on the new handles relatively long, and the turned vase-shaped collar fairly short. When I held one for the first time, I couldn't believe it! The parallel sides of the octagonal section were INDEXING the grip for me, telling me exactly where the line of the chisel is, just by feel alone. I realised that's why the pear drop shaped handles were letting me down. Edge alignment in chisel handles is very similar to swords! You could always do a video on how you sharpen your knife (lot's of double-entendres there no doubt). There's lots of knife sharpening videos out there, but it would be interesting to see what stones and techniques you use???

I Appreciate the proper number of rivets on this messer, it just seems more historical to me. Federico Malagutti did a video sometime back showing off a rondel dagger by Krieger that he had gotten, and I thought it looked VERY nice as well.

What a beautiful piece of kit

5:06 Matt in Poland soon?! Let's get hyped!!! I love when you say "polish shabla" it's so fun to hear it! Łódź is pronounced something like "Wuj".

I think that handle looks absolutely perfect.

I'm really thinking about getting my first sharp longsword from Krieger, I'd love to see a review about one from you, Matt!

So these blades were . . . FALCHION-ABLE? I will now show myself out.

I can wholeheartedly recommend their Type F2 Falchion which was a custom order of mine turned production model and their Bürger messer which is an absolute behemoth with a long and very wide clip point blade.

It looks amazing, bet with a little attention on the edge it will cut like a demon. Looking forward to the full review and cutting demo.

"Do you like the sound of that?" That came unexpected.

Love the look of this weapon, it literally looks like a huge knife!

I cannot tell you how appropriate it is that it was held together by a nagel/nail. That is a beautiful thing. I look forward to the results. You just noticed that about the sabers? Well, I'm glad to see I could be right.

Just ordered a "Komtur" Type XVI arming sword from Krieger for my 40th. Can't wait to get my hands on it! 😊

Mein Gott that is a gorgeous knife ;) Looks exactly like what someone who is moderately well off but certainly not rich would really carry for self defense when out. Maybe he just had a really good year in his business and does a bit more traveling, or a young man from a well-to-do back country family. Not ostentatious or meant as a display of wealth, but clearly someone who did have an eye to look like he should be taken seriously, and a blade that can do the job when simply looking mean and pretty isn't enough. Very well chosen.

Firstly I'm going to qualify my statements with the fact that whilst I hold a BA degree in History, and I am very interested and enthusiastic on the subject of HEMA, I have very little to show with regards to practical experience, the closest being having fenced on the epee team at university some years ago... I have almost no practical HEMA experience (But I do have a healthy lay interest) and own no equipment beyond my fencing gear and electric epee. I simply have my amateur interest, enthusiasm, and potential future aspirations to perhaps participate one day... That being said, I love your videos Matt and I am a huge fan of your channel and presentation style - I have followed your videos for some time and honestly they have often brought me lots of joy and comfort in some of the most difficult times in my life when finding a video that both entertains and informs has kept me going when it would have been very easy to have given up. So firstly, just a thank you really to Matt, your channel is one of best and most informative on RU-vid and a will be a valuable and entertaining resource for years to come. As a channel regular though, I have therefore naturally considered for a while which type of sword(or swords) I would like to own if I were to begin a collection and to.... well... be brutally honest I have never been a big fan of messers/hangers/falchion etc. I love 18th and 19th century swords, sabres, smallswords and spadoons especially because I always had this preconception that somehow a hanger was a less elegant weapon, with the single edge (yes I know many others I list also have singles...), shorter length, thicker blade(?) and most importantly the more knife life properties and aesthetics. I always saw myself carrying something like a flankers sabre, perhaps a light cavalry sabre or maybe a spadoon or infantry officer regulation blade with a big old three bar handle and a tasty antique Wilkinson - elegant and traditionally service sharpened blade which would be as at home on the Battlefield as it would be at a white tie dance... and which would carry a certain degree of history and tradition..... perhaps you can forgive me for imagining such a romantic aesthetic... perhaps not... I do however ask forgiveness to those who might be shocked to learn that at points in my life I might have even looked down upon the hanger as.... ugly? Not pleasing to my personal taste perhaps is fairer... it’s just never been a sword which has really done much to move me... For this I can only apologise because lately, and largely through the absolutely beautiful sword in this particular video, I find myself questioning everything I once thought I believed - the messer in this video, scabbard, belt, everything, I just find absolutely beautiful to the extent that I could quite easily see myself owning and wearing it, and am quite seriously considering it as the first blade for my (so far theoretical) collection. Something about the proportions, the lines, the quality and style just speak to me somehow. It's really jumped on the basis of this video to pretty much the top of wish list at this stage, much to my complete surprise. I'm not sure if it's your presentation, the design and look, the high quality or just a mix of all three, but somehow it just speaks to me in a way not felt before. Maybe I was unjust before, perhaps fickle, maybe even somehow prejudice or ignorant to different sword styles, But this video has really opened my eyes to the extent that I as soon as I am able to afford I think I might be purchasing the exact sword shown in this video (all specs matched)... and as my first every one too! So really all that remains to say is thanks to Matt for making such fantastic content and to opening my eyes to wonderful historical weapons that I had either not heard of or not particularly liked. It’s a wonderful feeling to learn something new and be proven wrong! Thanks Matt! And hats off to Krieger historical weapons for making such fine replicas! I hope one day to fulfil my dream of owning one!

12:00 I almost expected Matt to start singing "I like big butts and I cannot lie..."

blade reminds me a great deal of the various single edged swords from iron age germany, e.g the albion cherusker. also you compare the messer to sabre techniques, to my mind itd match well with naval cutlass maneuvers

that design of sword really appeals to me for some reason, what a fun example

I love messers. I bought Cold Steel's MAA Messer. While it's very much a modern interpretation, I've enjoyed it.

Drop point is gorgeous. I'm kind of over clip points, every tacky wanna Ka-bar style knife in America has a clip point it's kind fo gotten to a point where for me as a modern person I love anything that brings variety to my edged implements collection.

Lovely. Very well done!

I love that. A nice messer is on my to make list. I have a A2 blade started but I wish I Saw that first.

Thanks for the review ⚔️

Love it! Wish i could afford one.

Wow, are you going to Poland? Cool! If you are planning a meeting with fans, I will definitely come :D It's nice to hear that my countrymen made such a cool sword, because it is sophisticated and well-made at the same time, it shows.

That might be my new favorite one-handed blade of all time, not just my new favorite messer. :)

The lang messers grips are maybe easier to firmly hold or sturdier than the old swords with thinner central tang

I dig the langmesser. I’d like to make a messer/long machete for camp use and just to have a cool short sword

Seeing you gush on this makes me want a left handed one for me once I get some funds set aside.

When I was Flatting somehow we got a kitchen knife that had the brand name Koch Messer on the blade, that thing was hilarious and was the subject of so many jokes at parties. The thought of it, in an angry house wife's hands is terrifying.

Came to tge channel years ago for tge swords, I stayed for the innuendos.

That's a gorgeous blade

You convinced me: I'd totally buy it! (Just that I got no money to spare)

Looking at it I'm curious about the tang on it,it's enclosed in the wood so that makes me a tad nervous especially with all those rivets it has...I like the other company who puts messers out since it's a full tang you can see,of course done right the enclosed tang is fine as well. And before anybody says anything I have a twitch over blade tangs since I had a Windlass Gladius snap on me back in the 90's which I found was a stub tang with a long tail WELDED on so it didn't take much to kill it.

Beautiful sword Matt beautiful scabbard

messers were popular as well in Poland and Bohemia

A real thing of beauty.

Accordig to notes on Messers in the Imperial Armory in Vienna, those "Langmessers" were sort of standart issue in Bohemia

VERY NICE! when someone mentions "messer" they assume big cutlass type curved falchion theres so many kinds, dr seuss would write a book about messers. (seriously) Big messer, Short messer, thin messer, fat messer, one(handed) messer, two(handed) messer etc

DHL. Ordered something from Tod. From the UK, into Canada, then into the US, at my door in less than 7 days.

Thank you.

this is also very similar to that late 15 century English hanger sword once shown on this channel

Schöne Reaktion folks..

Sitting on that package for 24 hours must've been really uncomfortable. No idea why I love Messers so much but I do. Cheers!

Beautiful blade.

8:28 It seems that do like our jargon and specifics far more today than they did back then.

It actually reminds me of a Chinese butterfly sword. I am sure it feels different but general shape is similar.

Opinels are great knives. I have 3 of them.

Beautiful blade, really happy for you. Question on a related topic, though ... how is the work on the Wakefield coming along?

Krieger has some fairly unique projects, I've never owned anything from them but I'm looking forward to throwing my money at them (living an hour away from Lodz makes the decision easier too) PS I currently work in Greater Poland tourism and culture, make sure to check out our historical sites, there's plenty to see! ;)

might just be that cvirus, but the moment with the scabbard on moving backwards looking to get it in shot my brain was demanding a performance to the tune of "I´m to sexy"...

I want one!!

Rather like their fittings and leather work. Brass belt ends and such are common grave goods from before the Romans. Looking good at Court.

“No law against straight swords, yet.” Glad I’m still living in the free world.

Really interesting piece. If it had a false edge it would basically be an upgraded version of the kingfisher "machete". Though i see lots of similarities w/ some english "half basket hangers" particularly the blade shape. Nice scabbard work too btw. I will most definitely have to check out their inventory.

I wonder if it would handle well with a Demi-gauntlet?

Can you do a video about the so called "archers' swords" that you sometime see. Basically an arming sword but witha knuckle bow said to be popular wit archers during the 14th and 15th century. Were those a thing or is it a re-enactorism?

When you go to Poland, can you please try to do a video kind of giving a tour of their facilities?

Oh come now Matt it isn't a proto-saber, it's a proto-cutlass 😂

In Kingdom Come , a game set in medieval Central and Eastern Europe , has loads of those sometimes called Berger swords if that's the right words . Or hunters swords if I'm not mistaken . The game has so many weapons ... If you ever have the time take a stroll through and just take a look at the weapons . I'd be interested to know what you thought

And once more, Matt: sabres are pre- AD 1000 weapons - look at Avar sabres, please.

I was wondering what the relative merits of a broader blade with a thinner spine like the messer and falchion were compared to swords with narrower blades and thicker spines like the wakizashi and scimitar (the real scimitar not the Hollywood version;).

Now I want one...

Hello Matt! Do you have any linksto falchions with knucklebows from the 14th century? I have drawn a blank when googlingen them.

I"m in love. Love love love. I will name it George and we will live together, forever.

That looks great! How does it compare in the hand against Landsknecht Emporium?

The belt seems quite long--might it be worn over one shoulder, then dropping to the scabbard at the side?

Hi Matt! I'm not a fellow practitioner or anything, although I have been a viewer of yours for many years now. I know there's been some discussion whether anecdotal or in the manuals for striking or slapping an opponent with the flat of your blade. But are there any sources of someone purposely using the blunt side of a single edged blade? Perhaps as a slightly less lethal option? I can imagine that would markedly increase the probability of breaking your sword, but that doesn't mean people didn't do it at some point. I mean, people block cuts with their arms if they have no other choice, so nothing is really off limits just because it was suboptimal.

Cutting test on that bad boy please boss!

Probably didn’t want it to sharp for shipping. Some packages come through and you can’t tell if it was in a truck or under it.

UPS sucks, I have a package from Spain, that is still in a UPS warehouse in spain getting on for a week after I paid the customs on it.

Nice!!!

10:05 Would that just be called an aglet? or is there a more specific word for it?

13:46 min before we get to see the blade.!! Must be a blasted record!!

I hate to say it but so far the only thing I've seen is the sheath and the handle and that is quite a sexy blade I hope the blade itself has been finished to the same standards and is of a pattern that I enjoy if not prefer

I'm surprised they put so many pins through the hilt. I would worry that the wood would be prone to split along that line with so many of them.

why do some riveted grips have so many rivets and some only have 2 (WW2 Kukri)

Interesting, it doesn't clearly fall into the Elmslie Typology. Elmslie didn't categorise drop points which have no false edge or are clipped instead. Are you sure it's historical authentic?

That thing looks amazing. Fell in love immediately. But why are there laws against curved sword but not against straight ones? That sounds silly.

How appropriate that this video is up when I just got an email from Landskinect Emporium that my own Messer just shipped.

Daughter langmaster sausage they're all the same Blade with a different name because somebody else handled it and I don't mean was playing with it I mean put a handle on it that is the difference right there because the blades were basically shipped all over the world in very specific patterns to be handled when they arrived wherever they went

I think the thing on the end of the belt is called a terminal.🤔

6:14 I don’t know why but I laughed my ass off here lol

I do my own hand stitching so if it's glued I just peel it up and start again.

Looking with Hungary eyes at Polish swords? That might be interesting.

Looks a bit like the Albion Cherusker with a later hilt.

This time around you talking about something I am completely familiar with and strangely enough the names for each and every one of them are as varied as the blades themselves. By watching your show as well as a few of the others here on RU-vid I realized that the names that I have for the Messer are at a completely different series of names Ashley something I consider not worth getting into because it is as much a matter of where the blade was made famous as well as who made the blade famous for the series of names I'm familiar with where it seems most of the names that you're familiar with for the blades are more technical in nature for instance I have a burger metzer and a jack Burger metzer and a Smith's Burger metzer each of them specifically defines the shape of the blade and the style of use due to the weight distribution and honestly I don't like any of those I prefer a one a three and B a one and B being the most popular visually b being the most popular for me effective

Ooh; would you post some images of yourself in that armor, with that sword?

13:48 a man really enjoying unsheathing his long knife...XD