The TRUTH about the FALCHION and MESSER, part 5: The Elmslie Typology 

I'll make a whole video about your crowdfunding project when it comes up mate. I can't thank you enough for your help and the work you've put in to develop your typology, it's incredible. I'm so glad you like the series as I certainly tried my best. I know it isn't perfect with some dodgy audio in the beginning episodes and I expect that when voicing my opinions or trying to explain things I might have got something wrong in one or two parts, but on the whole I am very, very pleased with it. A job well done I say. Of course if there's anything positive that can be said about this series you deserve equal credit, as your help was what made it what it is. Thank you for everything. Who would have guessed that calling out a RU-vidr's horribly inaccurate video would lead to this? I guess it can pay off to speak up sometimes. It's awesome to hear about your website's additional traffic, I hope it will lead to more success for you. Best of luck for the future mate!

Thank you for your work in putting this together, and for giving Shad permission to explain your system to us! And of course, thank you to Shad for another very well-researched and illustrated series. I love these long in-depth discussions of specific swords and sword types!

Very cool work, thank you. Shad did explained the thing I am asking about now, but still will ask. So, type 1d: what if it will become type 2a, and type 2 will become type 2b? We have similar gradient from outward to inward curvature in cleavers of type 1, where 1a is outward (like suggested 2a), and 1b-1c are inward (like 2b)? Another question. So, cleavers have very thin blade, they are not barbaric oversized whackers. And, I presume, type 5 has more robust build, typical for messers and, well, sort of like nihonto have. What about typical blade width for other types? And balance points? Shad, you are excellent modeller and love swords. What about expanding the matrix from 0 to -, +, ++ and +++ for all types? I know that this is a lot of work, but this typology deserves clean, crisp, understandable modern illustrations. Thanks to you both.

A big, gigantic "Thank you" to you, Mr. Elmslie and you, Shad, for reseaching, putting this knowledge together and making it accessible to us through the Elmslie Typology and the videos (and everything else, of course). I think I can speak for the whole "medieval-warfare-community" when I say that we really appreciate what you have done. It is an honour to be able ot use the typology and be able to now understand more about those weapons. Greetings from a small town in Germany :)

I love falchions. Thank you for your work. Were you considering crowdfunding through myarmoury.com awhile back? I seem to recall a thread about that, but my memory is admittedly hazy. Now, if some swordmakers will just release some ACCURATE falchions for us collectors!

Exactly

How'd that go?

I just respond with "Yes, please."

I answer "Zweihander".

I made a type ---------- I now question what it can be used for.

Wheres the hilt?

I made a 00----++++ blade. Now it's a khopesh.

Scott Slack i thought it was the m7

@@baronvonbeans9887 r u guys talking abt a military knife?

I wonder if there's a place to order them from code...

Ryan Cauffman I'd rather m1a- with an "s" guard. Reminds me of a kopis. I fucking love kopides.

I like a +++ curve

I'd take M5a0

Nice pfp lol

What is the pfp from?

@@mihailmilev9909 the profile picture? That's my face. When I was 13 I did like a mock-news show about stuff going on in my school. I made the picture myself and never bothered to change it XD

As if the only blade cultures that exist are European and Japanese. Most cultures have a lot of variation compared to Japanese, nothing special with European

Thank you sir, I'm honoured.

This is quite well done series. I second Doppel's statement.

i'll take the messer type 4b or c models

I was also happy to hear you have a deviant art page as well. Needless to say I immediately added you to my watch list and will cherish your 3D rendering of the Elmslie Typology for years to come. I know it will come in very handy if I can manage to get my sh*t together and finally start making various graphic novels I've had bouncing around my skull for years.

It has been a true pleasure.

That '1d' is to me a thing of sheer beauty.

I like the 3c 1b.

3A+++ please. wanna be an evil warlord

I'll classify my grosse Messer once I find it. There's a good question: how does handle size factor in? ie single handed vs double handed. What are common examples, ie type 1a is usually a single handed falcion vs type 3c usually double handed messer, etc. What are common blade lengths? is there manuscripts on their use? etc. when is mr elmsley publishing his book?

handle size isnt really classified - partly to keep it to just 17 sub-types, instead of 30+. Generally I'd expect any detailed classification to have some notes on it. so, Thorpe falchion (as an example you can easily google for pics), is a "Type F3c, Style 6 cross, Form J pommel". - But any actual study would note, "Style 6 cross with quatrefoil piercing at the tips of the cross arms, and Form J pommel of copper-alloy with enamel decoration" - so your messer would likely be a "Type M*n* messer, style *n* cross, form *x* pommel, and the description would have something like "with extended grip" if its an overly long one. All the details of dimensions are a big list. but here's some simple basic summaries: uk.pinterest.com/jelmslie0058/falchion-reference/ there's a load of manuscripts on the use of the messer on Wiktenaur. Johannes Lecküchner, HAnd Thalhofer, Codex Wallerstein, the Glasgow Fechtbuch, and Durer's Fechtbuch all show examples. When is the book out? before I die, I hope. Still a long way to go. Hundreds of examples all over Europe that I have to travel to and make detailed measurements of, and get photography rights to. I hope to do a crowdsourcing campaign in the next year to get that going faster. Till then academic publications - the Proceedings of the RL Scott conference will be published this year, and I might get it into Gladius or the Acta Periodica Deulellorum too.

Wow, that was an awesome reply! Thank you sir! All the best in your endeavors and if you start a crowdsourced project, let Shad know and hopefully we can all help make it a reality. Thank you again for the detailed reply!

Thanks mate, I'm honoured. I'm particularly pleased with this series the people like you who appreciate it so much makes it all worthwhile ^_^

Indeed we all can see how much effort, time and love you put here, that is what makes quality Shad!

Thanks for the answer, much appreciated!

Rewatched that bit and yeah makes sense.

Yeah that sounds good but I know they eventually switch to iron later. Is that just because its tradition at that point?

That's a bit out of Shad's usual waters, considering the time period, but it would definitely be interesting to see.

no surviving examples, but we have at least half a dozen different representations of the type, in different manuscripts, and one example in sculpture. so while that's not proof they existed, it is at least a convincing argument it wasnt something made-up by one author. Someday, we'll find one in an archaeological context, I hope.... and we'll discover how totally wrong I was...

CK's channel. Nah bro, 3b is where it's at

weight distribution obviously. Different weight distribution makes sword handle differently, and have different properties in terms what is optimal way to use it, like thrust, draw cut, hack and so on

Yes, it's covered in the expanded crossguard classifications which I didn't go into.

Ok, on the second thought the reasoning behind 1d is pretty obvious (giving cleaver very acute point) and for 2 it seems so too. Yet I have no idea why would anyone purposefully make 1c.