Overview of Lecküchner’s langes messer master strikes

Overview of Lecküchner’s master strikes / master cuts / meisterhau for langes messer. This video won't go into great technical detail or try to summarise all of the plays for each master strike. Instead I will try to describe what roles the strikes play within the system. The description will also be from a longsworder’s perspective, so if you do have a background in KDF longsword that will help.

Lecküchner has used the structure and contents of the Liechtenauer longsword sources as a template. If you want to know more about the longsword and langmesser connection I talk a bit more about that in the channel intro video, link in the description (   • Messering Around channel intro  ). Lecküchner gives us versions of the five familiar longsword master strikes, but for langmesser and with new names. Just like for longsword, we get vier versetzen, where four of the strikes are used to counter the four guards. Lecküchner also adds a sixth strike - Wincker - which does not correspond to a longsword strike. Just like in the Liechtenauer longsword sources, footwork is only occasionally described.

While the master strikes get rather a lot of content, they still make up a smaller proportion of the system as Lecküchner gives us so much additional material. It is also interesting to note
that after having introduced the master strikes, the guards and using the master strikes to counter the guards, Lecküchner immediately goes on to state that it is better to counter the guards (at least Stier and Eber) with thrusts instead.

2:00 Zornhau
While the other master strikes change name in the move from longsword, zornhau is still zornhau in messer. As cuts go this is a pretty basic descending diagonal long edge cut. Most of the sophistication comes into play in the follow-ups after the zornhau itself.

3:11 Wecker
Wecker is the langmesser cut that corresponds to Krumphau in longsword and counters the guard Stier. The cut is not aligned with your lower arm and instead goes forward and down at an angle to your lower arm. Wecker is most easily launched from or passing through Shrankhut. Wecker can cut from both sides. From your dominant side use the long edge and from your non-dominant side use the short edge. There is a lot of material for Wecker. In many of the plays Wecker is used to create a dominant bind and then thrust from there.

4:20 Entrüsthau
Entrüsthau corresponds to Zwerchau in longsword and counters the guard Luginsland. A thumb grip is used to allow the messer to rotate at an angle to your lower arm. During the cut the hilt is held high and in front of your head. This shortens your range, but keeps your head protected from descending cuts, while you attack. Entrüsthau can be used from both sides. From your dominant side you will hit with the short edge and from your non-dominant side you will hit with the long edge. Entrüsthau can target both high and low openings. When targeting a high opening this becomes a horizontal cut. When targeting low openings, your reach is further reduced and it is important to remember to still keep the hilt high or you will lose the protection an Entrüsthau should give you. Being able to target all four openings makes Entrüsthau very versatile and also well suited for feints.

6:05 Zwinger
Zwinger corresponds to Schielhau in longsword and counter the guard Eber. Use a thumb grip for this cut. It is a vertical short edge cut that makes it easier to push the opponent’s blade to the side, at the price of some range. Footwork isn't described, but the illustration shows a turn of the body being used.

6:48 Geferhau
Geferhau corresponds to Sheitelhau in longsword. It is a long edge vertical cut that keeps the hand high and angles the point down. With a longsword this combination of properties can be accomplished by moving the hands in relation to each other. With langmesser and only one hand on the handle, it is very difficult to angle the point down without overextending the wrist
Geferhau gets just two pages in the manual - one with countering Bastei and the 2nd contains a rather odd variant of durchwechsel.

8:04 Wincker
Wincker is Lecküchner’s extra master strike that does not correspond to one of the longsword master strikes. The cut pretends to be a regular descending long edge cut, but when the opponent moves to parry, the short edge is turned forward. Wincker switches to the short edge to turn the messer away from the opponent’s messer. This is used either to cut around a parry or to avoid blade contact in order to attack on the other side instead.
Lecküchner recommends Wincker against opponents that rely too much on parries.

Lecküchner's langes messer guards
   • Lecküchner's langes messer guards  

Lecküchner's secondary positions
   • Lecküchner's secondary langes messer ...  

Images from Cgm 582 are courtesy of Bayerische Staatsbibliothek.