I was looking forward to this sword as well as the review, and man I wasn’t disappointed! Excellent review of this very viable option for a rare sword type of the production market! Sounds like the flexibility is still an issue for the old BA maker (Erik Steelcraft?), but it’s not nearly as egregious on this kriegsmesser as some of their old BA models. Cuts beautifully! Fit and finish seem more than fine for the price, too!
Flexibility definitely an improvement from earlier BA models, but yeah, still room for more improvement. Getting close though. I'm curious about the new BA kriegsmesser KoA has teased recently. Windlass rarely uses stock thick enough for a messer - even this one is thicker than what they typically use. But at the same time, it's possible - the CS Talwar is proof of that. But will they actually make it right? Will be interesting to see.
Fantastic review my friend. I'm so glad these finally came in a production. I've been wanting a kriegmesser for way too long and I think this would be fun to customize.
Brilliant review, thank you! Regarding the rust, quick personal story: I didn't perform any maintenance of any sort other than the original one after purchase on my collection, for four full years. Some months ago decided to do so, but must admit I was terrified of beginning to unsheath swords and end up finding Thames-style levels of corrosion... welp, no. Nothing. Just like new, I used Ballistol, which I use on my firearms to lubricate some parts (not everything), and to maintain them. And there it was, 4 years later, still wet, but without its characteristic smell haha. Anyway, hope the tip helps! Oh some of them also still had that... talcum? They seem to come with within the scabbard or sheaths... and also worked, nothing rusted. Cheers!
Good video, I just got the cold steel single edge Viking sword and I like it. For the price $274 its worth it. Also I use renaissance wax and so far no corrosion.
That's one of the models I was really looking forward to when they previewed it. Looks like a pretty solid design (with the usual caveat of Cold Steel's quality control). Sadly, I'm probably not going to purchase one myself, as I'm not entirely comfortable that this design is being manufactured ethically. (I'm sure it's legal, but the path from KOA's Balaur design to the current seller seems a bit shady).
Thank you for the video. It helped me a lot to decide to purchase this sword. I’ve never owned a sword before, but I have been studying them for he past year or so, and I decided that a Kriegsmesser was really what I wanted as my first sword. I was looking at Albion swords, but they are just too expensive for a noob like me. Maybe one day... I just got the Cold Steel today, and I’m initially very happy. It seems to be a well made tool, especially for the price. Now I need to learn how to use one of these. Thanks again.
I designed it myself and commissioned a Nepalese smith to make it. I made several videos about the process, starting with this one: ua-cam.com/video/DwDJK2iRN2o/v-deo.html.
That balance seems very close to the hand, I think of kriegsmessers being a bit more forward weighted like a cavalry saber. The overflexiblily of the blade makes me nervous but I still think I might get this since finding a decent kriegsmesser below $1000 isn't easy lol
@Jesse Smith Personally I think if the point of balance was further out, it would make the kriegsmesser feel very clunky and difficult to use. Just my opinion, of course - everybody has different tastes.
I honestly wish it came with a scabbard. Probably my only hesitation with buying this. Do you think it'd be possible to find someone that can make a custom scabbard for this for not too much money?
Depends on what you consider not too much money I'd say. The least expensive scabbard makers I've found still start at around $200, and they need the sword on hand so you have to factor the cost of shipping it both ways.
I realize there are a number of similarities between various kriegsmesser designs, but this sword seems more or less like a copy of the Albion Knecht... Maybe that's the point?
I think it's certainly heavily inspired by the Knecht, but there are definitely differences. The blade geometry on this one is less complex, and the hilt design, particularly the crossguard, are different.
Look, you're not gonna get a good sky burn anyway. By no means you're gonna have to pay outward to get a good scabbard. And that's gonna cause you at least a 1000 bucks a $1000 to get a good scabbard. Or you make it yourself so I think this is a win win
@@adrenalinegroove I only know because I’ve studied and loved knives and swords for thirty years and that particularly Albion Kriegsmesser is literally my dream sword …..(yes I have most likely have some issues..but that messer …..)
@@adrenalinegroove yes that was where I saw it and wow ! (Good thing is that I’m from Wisconsin and Albion isn’t too far away the only issue is the question of will … Will Albion ever make more ?)
@@exgi76gmailcom Last year at Combat Con I spoke to Mike (Albion's rep) and asked. He specifically said they would not bring back the Knecht, but that they were working on a new kriegsmesser. No word on ETA however.
@@alientude I did also attempt to make a scabbard for it. And the first sheath for it. Well I agree I will either commission or with more funds make my own scabbard.
I remember reading somewhere quite a while back that two handed Swiss sabers generally didn't have scabbards but instead used what amounted to a wooden core frog. I think Lutel made reproductions of them.
Nice ! Christmas 2022 I pre-ordered the Value Arms offering. I received it in March 2023. I would say it is a close twin of yours. The cross guard is a twisted style and the rivets are tubular. I think your nagle looks a bit beefier also. And I got a scabbard as well. 😊. It was my first messer. I have since purchased six other messers , as it is habit forming.
Tough question! Between the two of them, I would probably go for the kriegsmesser, but mostly because it's a rarer sword type in the modern market. If it was between those two swords for my ONLY sword, it would be the Albrecht.
I'm subscribed to Matt Easton and I don't see a review of it. Matthew Jensen and Shadiversity both reviewed this model as well, and I don't recall either of them having a scabbard.
@@alientude You are correct. It was late and I was sleepy. I saw Shad's and someone else's reviews and somehow conflated them with a different kriegsmesser review by Matt. My apologies.
How do your neighbors react to cutting in the driveway? Are you here in AZ? Looks like AZ. Cool sword. Does seem a little too flexible for my taste, too, not that I have any experience to draw from, I just feel paranoid about blade bend with my sword.
Thanks for giving us the background. AFAIK, CS still denies outsourcing their production. On my CS Shamshir they did a sloppy j0b of grinding away the stamp Windlass India... They also claim that their crappy QC is not the problem, but that you likely bought a knockoff of their sword... which is likely utter BS! PS: I bought it via Kult of Athena and it came with an uneven ground groove, a tilted crossguard, bad painting of the grip and crossguard and a protrusion thay keeps injuring my hand... I couldn't return it due to the absurd toll situation
There has never been a Cold Steel factory, their products were always made by whoever they found to make whichever particular product they wanted made, whether USA, India, China, Taiwan, Japan, South Africa.
Great review! Beautiful sword. You really had the viewer in mind while showing off all the angles and details. Thank you! This price seems far closer to what soldiers would have paid for one, as opposed to $2000 (equivalently). As far as techniques go, supposedly there aren't any known manuals or historical training curriculum literature. I believe HEMA recommends training with it like longsword and one other style that escapes me right now. Some constructive criticism, the music was a little distracting. Maybe volume change or something that doesn't rise and fall so much. Your channel, your choice. Just a friendly opinion. Again, great review!
I actually have a secondhand Balaur Arms single edge Viking sword on the way to me. It's for all intents and purposes the same sword as the new Cold Steel.
Listen, you don't swing before the step. You swing right as the step lands and you brace yourself on the ground. That's when you swing just like you're throwing a punch, your welcome. Put some ass in it. It will look and feel better.
I've been waiting for a review on this kriegsmesser for the longest. Absolutely amazing video.
Glad you liked it!
I was looking forward to this sword as well as the review, and man I wasn’t disappointed! Excellent review of this very viable option for a rare sword type of the production market! Sounds like the flexibility is still an issue for the old BA maker (Erik Steelcraft?), but it’s not nearly as egregious on this kriegsmesser as some of their old BA models. Cuts beautifully! Fit and finish seem more than fine for the price, too!
Flexibility definitely an improvement from earlier BA models, but yeah, still room for more improvement. Getting close though.
I'm curious about the new BA kriegsmesser KoA has teased recently. Windlass rarely uses stock thick enough for a messer - even this one is thicker than what they typically use. But at the same time, it's possible - the CS Talwar is proof of that. But will they actually make it right? Will be interesting to see.
Yes we made this kreigsmesser and definitely we will try to resolve all the flexibility issues in the next batch.
@@eriksteelcrafts3321 Good to hear! I'd love to see one of the next batch.
I particularly enjoy your intro of the companies and their business models. keep up the good work.
Thank you very much!
Sweet review! It's like you covered everything possible. That Heron sword is so unique and wickedly cool also
Thank you kindly!
Fantastic review my friend. I'm so glad these finally came in a production. I've been wanting a kriegmesser for way too long and I think this would be fun to customize.
Thanks, I appreciate that! I'd love to see these customized.
Brilliant review, thank you! Regarding the rust, quick personal story: I didn't perform any maintenance of any sort other than the original one after purchase on my collection, for four full years. Some months ago decided to do so, but must admit I was terrified of beginning to unsheath swords and end up finding Thames-style levels of corrosion... welp, no. Nothing. Just like new, I used Ballistol, which I use on my firearms to lubricate some parts (not everything), and to maintain them. And there it was, 4 years later, still wet, but without its characteristic smell haha. Anyway, hope the tip helps! Oh some of them also still had that... talcum? They seem to come with within the scabbard or sheaths... and also worked, nothing rusted. Cheers!
I'm surprised how clean the hilt is, I was watching Matthew Jensens's review on the Albion soldat and this almost seems cleaner
Good video, I just got the cold steel single edge Viking sword and I like it. For the price $274 its worth it. Also I use renaissance wax and so far no corrosion.
That's one of the models I was really looking forward to when they previewed it. Looks like a pretty solid design (with the usual caveat of Cold Steel's quality control). Sadly, I'm probably not going to purchase one myself, as I'm not entirely comfortable that this design is being manufactured ethically. (I'm sure it's legal, but the path from KOA's Balaur design to the current seller seems a bit shady).
Yeah, totally understand that stance. If you're not aware, Kult of Athena recently teased a redesigned kriegsmesser for their Balaur Arms line.
@@alientude Hopefully they keep similar blade geometry to this one. And include some sort of scabbard.
@@joshuafair5599 Their tease seemed to include a scabbard!
@@alientude got a link to that by chance?
@@jessesmith7553 facebook.com/kultofathena/posts/pfbid02jTLEtugnkVKupu8HPN2gaduLZNJLyhDLi9Ms8oHT4k98ePBuEYdcvrficdE9DqqBl
Thank you for the video. It helped me a lot to decide to purchase this sword.
I’ve never owned a sword before, but I have been studying them for he past year or so, and I decided that a Kriegsmesser was really what I wanted as my first sword. I was looking at Albion swords, but they are just too expensive for a noob like me. Maybe one day...
I just got the Cold Steel today, and I’m initially very happy. It seems to be a well made tool, especially for the price. Now I need to learn how to use one of these. Thanks again.
what do you think about it now? how does it feel when you use it?
Great review
Great review again sir.
Thanks!
Just found this channel. Great reviews!!!
Awesome, thank you!
It’s beautiful
Where did you get the heron marked sword! Huge WOT fan and I have been looking for a cost effective Heron blade.
I designed it myself and commissioned a Nepalese smith to make it. I made several videos about the process, starting with this one: ua-cam.com/video/DwDJK2iRN2o/v-deo.html.
That balance seems very close to the hand, I think of kriegsmessers being a bit more forward weighted like a cavalry saber. The overflexiblily of the blade makes me nervous but I still think I might get this since finding a decent kriegsmesser below $1000 isn't easy lol
@Jesse Smith Personally I think if the point of balance was further out, it would make the kriegsmesser feel very clunky and difficult to use. Just my opinion, of course - everybody has different tastes.
I honestly wish it came with a scabbard. Probably my only hesitation with buying this. Do you think it'd be possible to find someone that can make a custom scabbard for this for not too much money?
Depends on what you consider not too much money I'd say. The least expensive scabbard makers I've found still start at around $200, and they need the sword on hand so you have to factor the cost of shipping it both ways.
I realize there are a number of similarities between various kriegsmesser designs, but this sword seems more or less like a copy of the Albion Knecht... Maybe that's the point?
I think it's certainly heavily inspired by the Knecht, but there are definitely differences. The blade geometry on this one is less complex, and the hilt design, particularly the crossguard, are different.
@@alientude Yes I love how you charted out the dimensions of both. Great videos!
Look, you're not gonna get a good sky burn anyway. By no means you're gonna have to pay outward to get a good scabbard. And that's gonna cause you at least a 1000 bucks a $1000 to get a good scabbard. Or you make it yourself so I think this is a win win
Wow that is an exact Albion knock-off …….
I was thinking the same thing
@@adrenalinegroove I only know because I’ve studied and loved knives and swords for thirty years and that particularly Albion Kriegsmesser is literally my dream sword …..(yes I have most likely have some issues..but that messer …..)
I don't blame you. Skallagrim has helped to take the Albion Knecht to a legendary status.
@@adrenalinegroove yes that was where I saw it and wow ! (Good thing is that I’m from Wisconsin and Albion isn’t too far away the only issue is the question of will … Will Albion ever make more ?)
@@exgi76gmailcom Last year at Combat Con I spoke to Mike (Albion's rep) and asked. He specifically said they would not bring back the Knecht, but that they were working on a new kriegsmesser. No word on ETA however.
Wow I didn't know Mihawk's Yoru was based on a real sword
Basically a discount of the Albion Knecht and thats no bad thing
Very informative and intelligent review 👌
Thumbs 👍
Thank you so much 👍
Great review. I do love my kriegsmesser and made a sheath with a spot for my nearly matching knife and picker set 🙂👍
I'll probably commission a scabbard for this at some point. It deserves one!
@@alientude I did also attempt to make a scabbard for it. And the first sheath for it. Well I agree I will either commission or with more funds make my own scabbard.
Btw it's not naygel it's nahgel
And the ch in Knecht is pronounced like the j in trabaja not like ck in knacken
He literally says... "I'm sorry for my pronunciation."
@@DirtMufflerButt it takes 5 seconds to google how it is pronounced and that wasn't critique that was telling him how it's done
Forms good but try to be more fluid especially on your up strike l, trust it works, great video you for the review
I remember reading somewhere quite a while back that two handed Swiss sabers generally didn't have scabbards but instead used what amounted to a wooden core frog. I think Lutel made reproductions of them.
Nice ! Christmas 2022 I pre-ordered the Value Arms offering. I received it in March 2023. I would say it is a close twin of yours. The cross guard is a twisted style and the rivets are tubular. I think your nagle looks a bit beefier also. And I got a scabbard as well. 😊. It was my first messer. I have since purchased six other messers , as it is habit forming.
Balur Arms. !!!! I hate auto correct.
Dang, now I want one
Nice review! Compared to the hanwei albrecht would you prefer this one and if yes why?
Greetings from Germany
Tough question! Between the two of them, I would probably go for the kriegsmesser, but mostly because it's a rarer sword type in the modern market. If it was between those two swords for my ONLY sword, it would be the Albrecht.
@@alientude Thanks!
Matt Easton (Scholagladiatoria) reviewed this sword a few weeks ago and it had a scabbard. What the heck is up?
I'm subscribed to Matt Easton and I don't see a review of it. Matthew Jensen and Shadiversity both reviewed this model as well, and I don't recall either of them having a scabbard.
@@alientude You are correct. It was late and I was sleepy. I saw Shad's and someone else's reviews and somehow conflated them with a different kriegsmesser review by Matt. My apologies.
Without scabbard??? Nothing for my.
How do your neighbors react to cutting in the driveway? Are you here in AZ? Looks like AZ.
Cool sword. Does seem a little too flexible for my taste, too, not that I have any experience to draw from, I just feel paranoid about blade bend with my sword.
Southern California, actually. Neighbors are generally fine with it (driveway is actually in the backyard).
Thanks for giving us the background. AFAIK, CS still denies outsourcing their production. On my CS Shamshir they did a sloppy j0b of grinding away the stamp Windlass India... They also claim that their crappy QC is not the problem, but that you likely bought a knockoff of their sword... which is likely utter BS!
PS: I bought it via Kult of Athena and it came with an uneven ground groove, a tilted crossguard, bad painting of the grip and crossguard and a protrusion thay keeps injuring my hand... I couldn't return it due to the absurd toll situation
There has never been a Cold Steel factory, their products were always made by whoever they found to make whichever particular product they wanted made, whether USA, India, China, Taiwan, Japan, South Africa.
Great review! Beautiful sword.
You really had the viewer in mind while showing off all the angles and details. Thank you!
This price seems far closer to what soldiers would have paid for one, as opposed to $2000 (equivalently).
As far as techniques go, supposedly there aren't any known manuals or historical training curriculum literature. I believe HEMA recommends training with it like longsword and one other style that escapes me right now.
Some constructive criticism, the music was a little distracting. Maybe volume change or something that doesn't rise and fall so much. Your channel, your choice. Just a friendly opinion.
Again, great review!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the video.
beautiful weapon
Excellent review, very informative and insightful. Now please review the new Coldsteel single edge Viking sword
I actually have a secondhand Balaur Arms single edge Viking sword on the way to me. It's for all intents and purposes the same sword as the new Cold Steel.
Listen, you don't swing before the step. You swing right as the step lands and you brace yourself on the ground. That's when you swing just like you're throwing a punch, your welcome. Put some ass in it. It will look and feel better.
finally ty