In many of Bruegel's paintings you see fairly low status men carrying short messers (bauernwehr), often with a side ring and a knuckle bow and this is of that form.  Featuring a stout blade of appleseed grind with a distinct distal taper.  This form of short sword was popular throughout the 16thC. The owners were often fairly crude looking and the knives are shown slung from a belt or baldric through the slit the back of the sheath.  Clearly they are working items and not just for show and the owners give the impression they were used as tools as much as weapons. Grip length - 9.5cm/3.75" Blade length 36cm/14" Overall length - 49cm/19" Edge sharpness Semi-Sharp is 'butter knife sharp'; it has a very fine flat on the edge Sharp has been ground to give a reasonable cutting edge, but final honing, if required, is by the customer. Please note: The colours may vary in tone from the photos here.  Each skin of leather is different and reacts differently to the dye so they may be darker or lighter in tone Left handed version and Messer with by knife also available TC92