Tod Cutler German Grosses Messer Review

The Tod Cutler line of swords promises to bring historical accuracy, good fit and finish, and great handling at an affordable price. Did some corners need to be cut in order to accomplish all of these goals? We'll let you know in our official review of the Tod Cutler German Grosses Messer.
**Disclaimer**
We're not experts in weapons, history, or anything really. We don't study HEMA or any other form of material arts that would tell us how to use the weapons we talk about. We are simply enthusiasts and consumers. We'll give you our honest opinions so that you can make informed buying decisions.
Specs
Overall length - 30.75"
Blade length - 25.5"
Weight - 2lbs 2 oz
Distal Taper - 6.0mm - 2.1mm
POB - 4.5"
Grip length - 3.75"
Blade - En45 Steel
Where to buy
todcutler.com/en-us/collectio...
Tod's Workshop
/ @tods_workshop

[@tods_workshop]

HI guys, Loved the film and your style; really just a fun and comfortable chat - you work well together. I am glad you like the sword (mostly) but I would like to add that there is in fact an option for sharpening on the site, so they can be bought either semi or fully sharp. The swords themselves are made for me following my masters and you are correct that they are made in small batches in India.

[@RandomName48]

Thanks for the thorough and informative review. $800 is too much for a "sharp" sword that doesn't actually come sharp. If I were to get a messer, I'd probably buy one from Landsknecht Emporium instead.

[@FortuneFavoursTheBold]

World premier of Tod Cutler sword review! Been interested in seeing the opinions around the new TC sword line and you guys have shown and told everything I need to know about it. Very attractive sword aside from the lack of sharpening and the slightly high prices (basically on par with Tod Cutler's dagger prices if you think about the complexity differences). Quality seems to be on par with Matt Easton/Royal Armouries' sword line but not based on any one historical example. The hilt length does seem short comparing to most langesmessers that I have seen. Awesome video, and I am looking forward to your review of the Teutonic arming sword and the Atrim type XVIIIb.16!

[@UnsheathedSwordReviews]

High praise, given the source. Thanks for watching sir!

[@DebbieK117]

Yet another fantastic review. I would only like to point out that you definitely have more than one German follower. 😁

[@UnsheathedSwordReviews]

Das freut mich sehr zu hören. Danke fürs Zuschauen!!!

[@Boggsy.]

Thanks for the honest & thorough review, guys. I really do love the look of this piece, but you definitely gave me some things to consider. I do wish it had a bit more of a “beak” on the inside grip of the pommel too, considering the shorter handle. One or two minor tweaks and this is my dream messer.

[@jarodmasci3445]

Hey guys, if you've never used one I highly recommend the Sandflex Rust Eraser blocks. Not only do they gently take off surface rust (like you showed in the Vision Ansbach review) but they also take a mirror polish down to semi-mirror or satin depending on which block grit you use. And they last forever. Bonus: pay attention to the angle when using near the edge and it will actually make semi-sharp blades sharper/easier to reprofile.

[@UnsheathedSwordReviews]

That's good info. Thanks! And thanks for watching!

[@TheCrusader1099]

Your one german subscriber here☝️😅 you nailed the pronounciation! After i ordered my scabbard from Tod for my Albion(which is superb btw;)) one week (!) later he did the video on his new line of swords...my savings were gone for the scabbard already😅 next up will be one of Matt Eastons/ Royal Armouries Windlass swords! keep up the good work guys! cheers from Solingen!

[@UnsheathedSwordReviews]

Congrats on the Tod scabbard. His work is amazing and I'd love to get one someday. I have definitely been burned by new releases right after spending money, I feel your pain. Which Royal Armouries sword are you getting? I have the 14th Century Longsword and love it. Thanks for watching and all of your comments, we appreciate it! Cheers!

[@TheCrusader1099]

@@UnsheathedSwordReviews i want to get the single edge one handed sword with the off center grip and the false edge! i think its also Matt s favourite from the first batch....we will see;)

[@kianasiefkas]

Wonderful review, learned lots about fit and finishes and messers. Great content!

[@Fuerwahrhalunke]

"Groß" means big or large without specifying a subject/object/gender and "Großes" is basically the same, just that it is the neuter form of "Groß" meaning it describes something specific in the neuter form (In German we have "der", "die" and "das", whereas in English there is only "the"). You have "Groß" (Unspecified), "Großer" (Specified, masculine), "Große" (Specified, feminine) and "Großes" (Specified, neuter). In German it's "das Messer". Just as an example: "Das Messer" is "Großes Messer", "Der Bus" is "Großer Bus" and "Die Blume" is "Große Blume". Greetings from Germany! 🙂

[@UnsheathedSwordReviews]

Greetings! Thanks for the info!

[@octanejunkie6501]

Thanks for the review guys. I think it was fair, I’ll probably wait on picking one up for quite a while myself as I just got in a new VA Craftsman series sword. I recently got a custom Messer from Landsknecht Emporium in that I ordered special for my Girlfriend and honesty I think I would prefer them for a Messer purchase since they did such a great job. I am interested in getting the Wakefield hanger that that is also in this product line. Thanks for the review fellas.

[@UnsheathedSwordReviews]

I am dying to get my hands on a landsknecht messer. I hope you enjoy it. I mean, I hope your girlfriend enjoys it. Thanks for watching!

[@anthonymasse]

Top notch content! Keep it coming!

[@UnsheathedSwordReviews]

Thanks for watching!

[@alientude]

Very balanced review - great job guys. I'd love to get my hands on one of the new TC swords...someday I'm sure I will. As long as I stop blowing my sword budget at Combat Con...

[@UnsheathedSwordReviews]

High praise coming from you sir. Thanks a lot.

[@MrBob2099]

Great review, I also managed to get a messer from Todd’s and I completely agree great sword don’t love polish on the blade also mine was very dirty with a lot of left over polishing compound all over the sword hilt particularly in the cut in details on the guard and nagel. That said still love the sword.

[@messerlittle6166]

At $800, if you guys are not a hard yes on this, then it's really a no. There are outstanding messers available in the $600 range. I've got a Landsknecht Emporium Gottfried and absolutely love it. You'd love the Gottfried too - it doesn't seem to be popular and I haven't seen any reviews for it - it gets passed over for the Guntherand Gustav. It's worth a look, if you haven't ordered something else from them already.

[@HobieH3]

Might also have been due to local laws about who could and could not carry a "sword".

[@UnsheathedSwordReviews]

True. We mentioned that in our other messer review. Though the guild issue is the more likely of the two explanations. Thanks for watching.

[@peerschulz2029]

To the question of why a Messer exists currently floats 2 awnsers. 1 is a cultural/legal awnser, 2 is the copyright awnser and the most probable thing is that the best awnser sits right in the middle of the 2. The legal/cultural aspect: During the time the Messer developed we can see a significant gain in wealth in rural areas. However, these people were usually serfs and peasents and thus were not permitted to own actual weapons. City-folks (actual citizens) and Freemen on the other hand were given the right to arms. At the time it became a symbol of status to carry a sword as a sign of wealth, so citizens often wore these by their side (these civilian show-swords first became Bürgerschwerter (citizen-swords) and later developed into side-swords and rapiers). The rural serfs of course wanted to go with the fashion and wear swords as a sign of wealth as well but (of course) weren't allowed to do so. They were however allowed to carry all sorts of tools, including knifes. So, since they couldn't carry actual swords they ordered these long knives/Messer as a substitude. The copyright aspect is also cool: German cities regulated their industries quite heavily. As an example: a Helmschmied (helmet-smith) was often allowed to ONLY produce helmets and nothing else. The same goes for tool- and weapon-smiths. A toolsmith is only permitted to produce tools (hammers, axes, knifes, scythes etc.) by the guild. The problem is that in a late medieval/early modern German city there is a HUGE demand for weapons (usually cities by this time require their full citizens to own at least a full set of armor and some weapons). The local weaponsmiths often can't keep up with the demand and also charge a pretty penny for it (not as much as one often thinks but still comparatively expensive) and going through a merchant to order something from somwhere else takes time (usually about 3 to 6 months). So, we have a huge market, limited inventory BUT craftsmen who could fill in the gap. In comes the Messer. Since it's technically a tool it doesn't fall under guild-regualtions and can be produced by a toolsmith or a self-employed journeyman. Messer often also were cheaper than swords (because the guilds loved local price-gouging) but still just as effective and thus were a popular choice for citizens with smaller wallets, who still needed weapons by law.

[@andreford5249]

Where would you recommend to get this sword sharpened. It sounds like we are in the same area in washington.

[@UnsheathedSwordReviews]

I took it to BladeGallery and they did a good job. Thanks for watching! maps.app.goo.gl/tcNdXPb5HkuSw3MRA

[@Ian.Mackenzie]

Very nice early review that points out the flaws of this sword. The short grip is indeed an odd design choice.

[@wpjohn91]

Matt Eastern has just done videos of his indian forge tour for his products. Do you think todd uses the same people?

[@ajwall1]

It looks nice but i think I'd rather spend some extra money on a landsknecht emporium messer with a couple of upgrades and still pay less money overall

[@UnsheathedSwordReviews]

I can't blame you there. There is definitely a Landsknecht messer in my future. -Jon Thanks for watching.

[@doratheexploder286]

Großes simply means large, so large knife. Also known as langes messer, or long knife.

[@UnsheathedSwordReviews]

Thanks for watching.

[@inregionecaecorum]

I bought a Breughel Messer from Todd Cutler a while back, I was disapointed with the blade compared with a hand crafted Sheffield bowie several of which I own. The blade might be authentic but it is not really very good in the scheme of things, then again most medieval stuff wasn't either. Not that I would not buy anything else from Todd, however they are a budget line and you get what you pay for.

[@corvanphoenix]

Only nobles could carry swords in the Holy Roman Empire. So to get around that issue, the hilt is constructed like a knife, not a sword.

[@jakelilevjen9766]

Okay, the real question: What scotch are you drinking? 😅

[@UnsheathedSwordReviews]

We change it up for different videos 😂 Thanks for watching!

[@conorhudson1486]

How can you not like it looking handmade. its a reproduction of a medieval weapon, and they were all handmade. if you want something perfect why not buy a blade with a modern design.

[@UnsheathedSwordReviews]

Thanks for watching. There is room in this hobby for a broad range of tastes as regards esthetics.