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Main => The Armoury => Topic started by: Das Bill on 2008-06-13, 02:55:07
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So John Lundemo of Odinblades called me this week to discuss the custom messer he's doing for me. I got my name on his list last summer, and it's finally my turn. I'm psyched. He's making a langes messer for me inspired by the images in Paulus Kal. I asked him to try making the hilt scales out of bone instead of wood, and he said he's going to experiment. He's worried that bone may be too brittle, and if it is, he'll use walnut instead.
I picked John Lundemo for this project because I've seen the crazy cool curved fantasy blades he's made before, and the Paulus Kal images have that same kind of fantasy blade look to them (though they're historical). I figured John would be a good candidate for pulling that off.
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Wow, you're making out like a bandit right now, with all the cool new toys in the works. I can't wait to see it (and handle it). I've thought about getting a messer at some point myself; I just haven't bitten the bullet yet, so to speak. That is a pretty wicked looking blade. The bone hilt sounds like a cool idea. It can probably work, depending on the bone material he can get. I have a couple of pieces with bone grips that are very nicely done, though not historical designs.
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Wow, you're making out like a bandit right now, with all the cool new toys in the works.
Yeah, its a little ridiculous, especially with my plans on buying a new place. I wouldn't have minded if John took a little longer before finishing the messer so that I could have put off the payment (I'd already put half down last summer). Ah, well, at least when I buy the new place it will be well armed. :)
I can't wait to see it (and handle it). I've thought about getting a messer at some point myself; I just haven't bitten the bullet yet, so to speak.
I actually have another messer on commission. Yeah, go ahead and say it: I have a problem. :)
Its by Jan Chodkiewicz in Poland. Here's his website:
http://ensifer.carbonmade.com/
He's posted some really nice stuff up on myArmoury.com. I'd contacted him last Fall, and he gave me an incredibly reasonable price quote, and he also said he did not want to accept any payment until he was done. He said he'd probably finish around September/October, and at that time he'd send me high res pics. If the product was to my liking, I could pay him, and if he didn't do it right, I don't have to pay him. You really can't beat that kind of business ethics, huh?
He also really wanted to make a historical scabbard with a by knife in it, and I liked his work so far, so I couldn't turn that down.
The only bummer is that he quoted me the price in Euros... and the declining price of the USD means my commission only gets more and more expensive as time goes on. :(
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Ah, well, at least when I buy the new place it will be well armed. :)
True enough! Are you going to plan an interesting display for them, or keep them tucked away?
I actually have another messer on commission. Yeah, go ahead and say it: I have a problem. :)
Its by Jan Chodkiewicz in Poland. Here's his website:
http://ensifer.carbonmade.com/
I've never seen his website before. It looks like he does some beautiful work. Some of it looks very similar to Albion. I like how he's showing some of the examples of his work, with a wooden chest as a backdrop and the like. The photography looks great.
So many temptations, so little money. :)
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Ah, well, at least when I buy the new place it will be well armed. :)
True enough! Are you going to plan an interesting display for them, or keep them tucked away?
Depends on the place I get and how much room I have. Ideally I'd like to have a room dedicated to my arms and armor, but which will only be seen if I invite you into it. But we'll see.
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John called me up today, and he's decided that the bone just isn't going to work, so we're going with wood. Too bad, though, because I really liked the idea.
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So John just called me today to confirm my address, as he was about to go to the post office with my sword! Looks like it'll be here soon.
I admit to being a little nervous... I have no doubt that the blade will be amazing, but I'm a little concerned that the hilt won't be as historically inspired as I like. Some of John's historical pieces are great, but others have really missed the mark in my eye, so I'm crossing my fingers.
On a separate note, Arms and Armor just charged my credit card a couple days ago, so I assume that means I'll be receiving a shipment from them soon as well. Score!
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Awesome!! I look forward to seeing them both! I still haven't taken the plunge on a messer yet myself. So in my case, it'll be useful to compare the ones you've bought, as a basis for selecting one in the future. Though I must say, I like David's Albion quite a bit.
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It arrived...
And that's all I'm saying for right now. :)
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Awww, no pictures?? :)
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Awww, no pictures?? :)
Patience. For the Jedi, it is time to sleep as well. Or at least it was when I posted the above, because I'd just gotten home from work, and it was after midnight. :)
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Here it is...
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Another shot, and the inspiration...
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Wow, gorgeous :)
How does it handle? How does the craftsmanship look? We'll have to have another cutting party so you can put it through its paces (well, so we can help you do so, anyway) :)
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:o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o
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The craftsmanship is top notch. John really captured the feel of the fechtbuch images while still fulfilling the specs I asked for.
It handles pretty well. It is a little on the heavy side for a typical messer (at 2 lbs 14 oz), and when I first pulled it out of the box, that was a little disappointing. However, even though I say that, it still handles incredibly well for a *sword*, and if I think of this as more of a true falchion it handles very nicely. It has a nice "flow" to movement, and a good amount of authority. It feels like the types of sword that were common for fighting against mail clad opponents, or from horseback.
The fact that it isn't quite as light as typical messers is largely my fault. I should have requested a slightly smaller sword (I gave John the measurements), and John had to balance my measurements, the proportions of the image (with the wide "clip"), and the necessity of making sure the narrow point wasn't fragile. I should have been more specific in what I wanted, because he definately has the ability to do one much lighter. Having said that, once I started doing some solo work with it, I decided I really like it anyway. It really is a very nice sword, even if it isn't quite the type that you'd use for fencing in the style of Hans Lecküchner. (Performing an entrüsthau, the messer variant of the zwerchhau, isn't very natural, but most other typical cuts and attacks are just fine.)
:o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o
That was my reaction when I tried test cutting with this thing today. Wow.
I suspected it'd be a really good cutter, but this thing excelled beyond what I could have expected. Quite simply, this sword is the absolute best cutting weapon I've ever used. I've done test cutting with all sorts of longswords, katana, sabres, and so forth. Not a single one came close to the ease in which this thing slices through targets. It even blows away David's Albion messer, which is an amazing cutter in its own right.
I had my cutting stand at VAF, and a couple of the narrow, light pool noodles. You know, the ones that are so light that you can't cut them when they're free-standing because they keep bending over. The ones that I think are pretty much worthless as a test cutting medium due to the fact that you have to modify your technique so much that it isn't even martial arts anymore. Well, this sword not only sliced through them, but I barely had to even move to do it. It was honestly a little shocking, and quite frankly, a little frightening how easy it was. David had the exact same experience.
John Lundemo called me today to ask me how I liked it. While we were chatting, he told me about when he finished the blade alone and wanted to test the edge and durability, so he got a heavy plastic trashcan (the kind you put out for the garbage truck to pick up) and destroyed it with the sword. He said that this is possibly among the best cutting swords he's ever made.
So, I for one, am quite impressed. Normally, raw cutting ability means the sword has to sacrifice something else. In this case, yes, the sword is a little on the heavy side, but not so much that it sacrifices function.
I cannot wait until I have a yard to do some serious tatami cutting with this!
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That's great! I can't wait to see it. I won't be in class next week, of course, so I'll have to see it another time. So this one took about a year?
Speaking of having a yard, how's that progressing?
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So this one took about a year?
Yep, almost on the nose. I first contacted John last August, I believe.
Speaking of having a yard, how's that progressing?
Ugh. Same as before: Completely up in the air. Since I bid on a short sale, they won't get back to me for 4-6 weeks. Its been four at this point, so I'm hoping to hear from them soon.
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Yeah, that's the problem with short sales. Good luck (keeping fingers crossed).