Landsknecht Emporium – Volker type M5C Messer – Blunt Trainer

The Volker M5C Messer Blunt Trainer from Landsknecht Emporium is a fast-handling training weapon that sits between two other well-known designs in the company’s lineup—the thrust-oriented Karl and the more cut-focused Gottfried. Developed from design work by bladesmith and historical arms researcher Ádám Bodorics, the Volker was created to address common feedback from HEMA practitioners seeking a well-balanced training messer with lively handling and durable construction.

This model features an almost 25 inch long blade with pronounced profile taper, giving it quick movement and responsive handling while still retaining sufficient blade presence for proper technique during drills and sparring. As the original concept behind the Volker was to respond to feedback regarding the durability and handling of training messers, the model is currently offered exclusively with Landsknecht Emporium’s standard thick blunt blade edge, optimized for safe and reliable fencing practice. The edge is wide and rebated and the tip is slightly flared and widened for edge durability, resilience and safety.

The blade itself is ground freehand from 6150 high carbon steel and heat-treated to 50–52 HRC, resulting in a resilient spring-tempered blade suitable for repeated training use. The hilt components are likewise ground freehand from mild steel, reflecting the handmade construction methods used throughout the piece.bConstruction follows historical methods seen on original messers. The Nagel is a separate element peened through the opposite side of the quillon block, as found on period examples. The quillons are mounted by sliding them down the blade from the tip, leaving the tang protruding from the underside. Depending on the specific guard produced, this protrusion may be ground flush or peened over, both approaches being documented on surviving originals. Another historically inspired detail is the quillon block expanding slightly onto the grip, a feature commonly seen on antique messers. The 6 3/8 inch grip is constructed from handmade beech wood grip scales which are secured with adhesive and reinforced by a row of peened and hollow brass rivets for a robust and durable hilt assembly capable of withstanding regular training

Landsknecht Emporium products aim to have the aesthetics of historical pieces, not the finish of mass-produced items. Each product bears the signs of its making; small tool marks and imperfections, which do not affect the build quality or usability but give each of our pieces its unique character.