Kriegsmesser

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A Kriegsmesser was a large, curved, single-edged two-handed sword typically around the same length as the longsword or hand-and-a-half sword. They were popular in the 15th and 16th century Germany. The name literally translates from German to "War Knife."

It was named so because the hilt configuration resembled that of a knife handle, having two slabs of material (often wood, bone, leather, or a combination thereof) on either side of the wide, flat tang. The robust tang and acute distal taper common among these swords gave them attractive handling characteristics. The pommel was usually curved towards one side, while the cross guard was frequently equipped with a ring, plate, or lug which offered superior hand protection during the advanced winding maneuvers often associated with these types of swords.

Although these blades were usually single edged and curved, there are surviving examples which sport a wide variety of blade types, causing this type of sword to be defined more by its hilt configuration, rather than its blade geometry. For example, a Falchion can have the exact same blade as a messer, yet it could still be considered a different type of sword because of its more traditional hilt.