Cold Steel Grosse Messer:LOTS of pics
Sept 12, 2007 21:21:35 GMT
Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2007 21:21:35 GMT
Hi again all. This time I’m going to review my Cold Steel Grosse Messer. Over the years I’ve read a lot of negative comments regarding this sword, mainly faulting poor construction, but I always felt that most of those comments held an underlying dislike of Cold Steel (thus weren’t exactly unbiased).
If I remember correctly, I bought mine from the blade shop (www.thebladeshop.com), a company I’d have no problems recommending to anyone (very professional, very prompt, great communication)
The sword was 167.00, shipped free, and arrived in 2 days, in a very sturdy shipping box, well padded and wrapped
The stats:
Overall length 42.5 inches
Blade length 32 inches
Blade width, at hilt 1.75 inches
Blade width, widest 2 inches
Blade thickness, hilt 0.25 inches
Hilt width 10 inches
Hilt thickness, less ring 0.22 inches (avg, approx)
Ring height 2 inches
Ring width 2 inches
Handle length, less pommel 8 inches
Handle width 1.25-1.5 inches (tapers from hilt to pommel)
Handle thickness 0.90 inches (avg, approx)
Pommel length 2 inches
Pommel width, widest point 2.125 inches
Pommel width, narrow 1.25 inches
POB 4.25 inches from hilt
COP 18.25 inches
Weight sorry, still no scale
The blade is “standard” messer shape, kind of like an enormous bowie for those not familiar with the sword type (grosse messer translates roughly to “large knife” I think), the hilt iron or mild steel, grip is rosewood (very functional and to me, attractive), mild steel pommel. Hilt and pommel are blackened.
My son and I needed to work off a bit of frustration, so we drug out old the old shield target for what became its final hurrah. The cutting session lasted about an hour all together, with both of us giving the sword a turn through its paces. The pics of the sword hanging and lying were made after the session. All of the pics below are of cuts made with the sword’s factory edge.
First, the sword
.
.
hilt close up (the dark spot on the hilt is sweat, the hilt is a uniform color)
.
.
blade
.
the target (may it rest in peace)
and on to the other side...
Underhand, one hand thrust (almost 2.5 inches of penetration)
.
After all of that, you might expect the blade to be in bad shape, but far from it. Other than a few light scratches, the only marks on the blade came from when it split the shield and hit the iron post support the arm rest of the futon to which it was strapped. Image magnified 200%
So, do I believe those other posts? Nope. This sword is a serious piece: fast to use, solidly made, and one that delivers powerful cuts. A person could do a whole lot worse in buying a sword, and probably not a lot better in the preformance department.
Ratings:
Historical accuracy: bah, its a Cold Steel 2.5 of 5
fit and finish: very well done, smooth and clean 4 of 5
handling: excellent for its size 5 of 5
structural integrity; what do you think? 5 of 5
value for money: from the blade Shop, excellent 5 of 5
overall 4.75
buy one and see for yourself
If I remember correctly, I bought mine from the blade shop (www.thebladeshop.com), a company I’d have no problems recommending to anyone (very professional, very prompt, great communication)
The sword was 167.00, shipped free, and arrived in 2 days, in a very sturdy shipping box, well padded and wrapped
The stats:
Overall length 42.5 inches
Blade length 32 inches
Blade width, at hilt 1.75 inches
Blade width, widest 2 inches
Blade thickness, hilt 0.25 inches
Hilt width 10 inches
Hilt thickness, less ring 0.22 inches (avg, approx)
Ring height 2 inches
Ring width 2 inches
Handle length, less pommel 8 inches
Handle width 1.25-1.5 inches (tapers from hilt to pommel)
Handle thickness 0.90 inches (avg, approx)
Pommel length 2 inches
Pommel width, widest point 2.125 inches
Pommel width, narrow 1.25 inches
POB 4.25 inches from hilt
COP 18.25 inches
Weight sorry, still no scale
The blade is “standard” messer shape, kind of like an enormous bowie for those not familiar with the sword type (grosse messer translates roughly to “large knife” I think), the hilt iron or mild steel, grip is rosewood (very functional and to me, attractive), mild steel pommel. Hilt and pommel are blackened.
My son and I needed to work off a bit of frustration, so we drug out old the old shield target for what became its final hurrah. The cutting session lasted about an hour all together, with both of us giving the sword a turn through its paces. The pics of the sword hanging and lying were made after the session. All of the pics below are of cuts made with the sword’s factory edge.
First, the sword
.
.
hilt close up (the dark spot on the hilt is sweat, the hilt is a uniform color)
.
.
blade
.
the target (may it rest in peace)
and on to the other side...
Underhand, one hand thrust (almost 2.5 inches of penetration)
.
After all of that, you might expect the blade to be in bad shape, but far from it. Other than a few light scratches, the only marks on the blade came from when it split the shield and hit the iron post support the arm rest of the futon to which it was strapped. Image magnified 200%
So, do I believe those other posts? Nope. This sword is a serious piece: fast to use, solidly made, and one that delivers powerful cuts. A person could do a whole lot worse in buying a sword, and probably not a lot better in the preformance department.
Ratings:
Historical accuracy: bah, its a Cold Steel 2.5 of 5
fit and finish: very well done, smooth and clean 4 of 5
handling: excellent for its size 5 of 5
structural integrity; what do you think? 5 of 5
value for money: from the blade Shop, excellent 5 of 5
overall 4.75
buy one and see for yourself