fighting with a messer and a "hungarian shield" (Gladiatoria fechtbuch fol. 55r, mid 15th century)

A grosses messer (meaning great knife, also called langmesser or hiebmesser) was a type of German single-edged weapon, similar to a falchion, that was used between the 15th and 16th centuries. grosses messer, or simply messer was the term used in the 15th century, and the weapon's 16th century continuant was called dussack. Much less expensive than an actual sword, it was the weapon of the common man. Used for menial work in addition to battle, the hiebmesser sported a short, deep blade with a single curved edge that lead to a clipped-back tip (like a kilij). The tip is pointed, though its use for thrusting in combat is questionable. Its hilt looked very much like that of a bastard-sword with a cross upper-guard. Quite notable in it's construction was the attachment of blade to hilt via a slab tang sandwiched between two wooden grips and pegged into place. Also of note is that many pommels were 'drawn out' or leaned to one side of the hilt (edge side); this is called a hat shaped pommel. Extant examples seem to be 40-46 inches in length (31 of which is in blade) and between 2.5 and 3 pounds. Used in also by the Swiss this sword was later modified and gave arise to a basket-hilted Swiss sword.