Langes Messer/Grosse Messer

Literally a "long knife" or a "great knife". Centurions use a variety of different swords but the Langes Messers are a favorite of many. It is a single-edged blade with excellent stabbing, hacking, and slashing capabilities. They are extremely sharp and very strong. Langes Messers are designed for one-handed use. Grosse Messers are slightly longer and may be used one-handed or two-handed. A kriegsmesser (war knife) is even longer with blades up to 36" and overall lengths of up to 44". Kriegsmessers are designed to be used two-handed and are rarely used by Centurions.
Messers and Falchions are closely related as sword types. The primary difference is the handle construction with Messers having a traditional knife handle construction while Falchions have a traditional sword handle construction. This distinction arose as the knife guilds tried to compete with the sword guilds for part of the weapon market. (Messers are an early 10th-century development in the world of the Centurions because of the earlier rise of the craft guilds). Messers are especially popular in East Francia (Germany) and among eastern Centurions. Western Centurions frequently carry falchions instead.
Sir Gerard's Langes Messer is a notable sword of this style. His sword has a 28" blade with a total length 34".

Mechanics & Inner Workings

Made of Centurion steel

Manufacturing process

A Centurion secret alloy incorporating Tungsten and Vanadium and smelted at extremely high temperatures.

Significance

They are common enough among Centurions that they are often called Centurion swords, even when made from something other than Centurion steel.

https://www.knifecenter.com/item/CN101932HC/condor-tool-knife-ctk1019-32hc-grosse-messer-sword-carbon-steel-blade-walnut-and-hickory-handle-leather-wrapped-sheath

Item type

Weapon, Melee

Subtype / Model

Langes Messer/Grosse Messer

Used by

• Langes Messer/Grosse Messer
• Swordbreaker

Manufacturer

Centurion Artisans

Related ethnicities

• Centurion

Owning Organization

The Order of the Centurion

Weight

2 - 3 lbs

Dimensions

Blade Lengths are between 24" and 30" with a total length of 32" to 38".

Raw materials & Components

Centurion steel blade with a full tang, wooden handle with a full leather wrap.

Tools

Each sword is unique and engraved by the smith who made it near the base of the blade next to the hilt with a signature decoration. Garret, senior smith of Castle Warrick puts Chi-Rho symbols in a chain around the base of the blade and engraves the initials of the own on the hilt.

The Chi-Rho: this is an ancient Christian symbol. The Chi-Rho is made of the Greek letters X and P (chi and rho) which are the first two letters of the name "Christ" in Greek.