---
product_id: 6075023
title: "88GMS Grosse Messer with Leather Scabbard , Brown"
brand: "cold steel"
price: "£286.24"
currency: GBP
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 9
category: "Cold Steel"
url: https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/6075023-88gms-grosse-messer-with-leather-scabbard-brown
store_origin: GB
region: United Kingdom
---

# Leather-covered wood scabbard 1050 high carbon steel power 32" razor-sharp blade 88GMS Grosse Messer with Leather Scabbard , Brown

**Brand:** cold steel
**Price:** £286.24
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 🗡️ Own the power of the past, wield the edge of legend.

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** 88GMS Grosse Messer with Leather Scabbard , Brown by cold steel
- **How much does it cost?** £286.24 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.uk](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/6075023-88gms-grosse-messer-with-leather-scabbard-brown)

## Best For

- cold steel enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted cold steel brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Elegant Rosewood Handle:** Ergonomic grip with timeless style, perfect for one or two-handed mastery.
- • **Legendary 32-Inch Blade:** Command presence with a blade that slices through chain mail and more.
- • **Premium Leather Scabbard:** Carry with confidence—durable, stylish, and reinforced for protection.
- • **Forged 1050 High Carbon Steel:** Experience unmatched edge retention and cutting power for serious performance.
- • **Authentic Renaissance Heritage:** Own a piece of history that blends noble craftsmanship with brutal efficiency.

## Overview

The Cold Steel 88GMS Grosse Messer is a 42.25-inch combat sword featuring a 32-inch hand-forged blade of 1050 high carbon steel, designed for exceptional sharpness and durability. With a rosewood handle and a leather-covered wood scabbard reinforced with blued steel fittings, this historically inspired weapon combines authentic Renaissance craftsmanship with modern quality, making it a striking collector’s piece or functional tool for martial arts enthusiasts.

## Description

Known throughout Germany as the "big knife", the Grosse Messer hails from central and Northern Europe where, in far off days of old, noblemen and peasants alike relied on it to protect hearth and home from the ravages of brigands, cut throats, outlaws and other assorted characters of ILL repute. Due to its stout, wide blade and generously sized handle, it could be wielded in one or both hands and was capable of shearing through chain mail or cutting a man in half with a single strike. This version of this elegantly simple yet remarkably effective weapon sports a hand forged blade of 1050 high carbon steel that's so sharp it has been used it to split a telephone book in half, with a single blow! the guard and heavy pommel are made from blued steel and feature Rosewood handle scales riveted to the sword's full tang. For convenience and safety, the Grosse Messer comes with a strong, handsome scabbard crafted from wood and covered in black leather. It is reinforced with a steel chape and throat that has been blued to match the guard and pommel. Specifications: - weight: 4 lbs. - blade thickness: 1/5" - blade length: 32" - handle: 10 1/4" long. - steel: 1050 high carbon - overall length: 42 1/4" - wood scabbard with leather cover with steel chape and throat. Blued fittings.

Review: 10 Stars! - I have several swords and do not propose to be an expert by any means. I do recognize quality, and this product surely offers that! The very sharp blade is so well polished you could comb your teeth in it. The guard and pommel are free of any marks and are well blued with no sharp edges. The scales have just a touch of grit to them that I believe a bit of handling and oil will smooth, with the rivets smooth and blued. Everything is tight with no rattles. The sheath is tight, especially when it nears the guard, but not so tight you would have difficulty removing it. Of course you will need a frog if you wish to carry this sword, which reminds me of a bayonet were the guard ring relocated. The sword is heavy, so unless you have been spending an inordinate amount of time working out, two hand use would be needed for any real use. It would be a shame to take this into the field (hacking down trees etc.) for use because it is so nice to look at. I read something recently that these swords were designed to savage the body of an opponent, not trees or barrels etc. Of course at $200 I do not expect a present-day sword to hold up to that sort of use. But of the period swords utilized during the renaissance, what of their use against shields or armor?
Review: An Absurdly powerful sword - If you're looking for a sword that rivals the chopping and hewing power of an axe, look no further. The Grosse Messer from Cold Steel is one of the most absurdly powerful hand-to-hand combat weapon I have ever had the privilege to use. The single edge, combined with the upswept tip mean that it's possible to take a full, baseball bat-style swing at either wooden or softer target, and there's a good chance this blade will go right through it. 3-4" branches? Sure. A small tree? It'll be a few strokes, but you could do it. A man shaped target in chain mail armor? Goes through it like paper. The tip is razor sharp and extremely well balanced by the pommel at the end of the weapon, but while it's completely capable of running a man through, you bought this thing for the edge. The handle, handguard, and pommel are all very well made, but could be better in at least one aspect. The rosewood scales are handsome, no nonsense, and perfectly ready to use right from the get go. The hand guard is thick, stamped, blued steel with a knuckle guard on the right side, and wobbles slightly, but this is to be expected and can be fixed by an armorer. The pommel is my real buggaboo: rather than weld it on to make it virtually inseparable from the tang, Cold Steel chose instead to peen it to the tang. The pommel comes rather tight, and is fitted well, but will start to loosen after use. I suggest nutting up and welding it to the tang. In short; this is a blade that anyone who knows the sharp end from the blunt end of a sword can use to learn to use effectively. You will not regret making this purchase.

## Features

- Blade length: 32 inch
- Overall length: 42 1/4 inch
- Steel: 1050 high carbon
- Overall Length: 42.25"
- Blade Length: 32.00"
- Handle Material: Rosewood
- Carry System: Wood Scabbard Covered in Leather, Black
- This item is not for sale in some specific zip codes

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN | B000BTEOAW |
| Best Sellers Rank | #513,174 in Sports & Outdoors ( See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors ) #1,039 in Martial Arts Swords |
| Blade Length | 32 Inches |
| Blade Material | High Carbon Steel |
| Brand | Cold Steel |
| Brand Name | Cold Steel |
| Color | Brown |
| Customer Reviews | 4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars (109) |
| Date First Available | October 19, 2005 |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00705442004738 |
| Hand Orientation | Ambidextrous |
| Handle Material | Wood |
| Included Components | Scabbard, Sword |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 46 x 11 x 3 inches |
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 45 x 10.8 x 2.8 inches |
| Item Weight | 6 Pounds |
| Manufacturer | GSM LLC |
| Material | Other |
| Model Name | 88GMS |
| Model Year | 2013 |
| Number of Items | 2 |
| Package Weight | 2.74 Kilograms |
| Part Number | 88GMS |
| Product Dimensions | 1"L x 1"W |
| Size | One Size |
| Sport Type | Hunting |
| Style | Chain,Characters,Leather |
| Suggested Users | teen-boys |
| UPC | 705442004738 |
| Warranty Description | SEE MANUFACTURER |

## Product Details

- **Blade Length:** 32 Inches
- **Blade Material:** High Carbon Steel
- **Brand:** Cold Steel
- **Handle Material:** Wood
- **Style:** Chain,Characters,Leather

## Images

![88GMS Grosse Messer with Leather Scabbard , Brown - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31HEBDA73VL.jpg)

## Questions & Answers

**Q: Can this sword be used to defend my village from barbarians?**
A: Yes, if the barbarians have used up all their ammo.

**Q: Does it come with cold steel proof papers so you know its really from cold steel**
A: Negative. However none of the large blades from cold steel come with "proof papers". if you are buying this product from Amazon I am very certain that they would not be selling fake reproductions which would hurt their credibility.

**Q: Is there a way to strap it to a bug out bag?**
A: If you sewed straps to your bag to hold the sword it could work.

**Q: does it come sharp?**
A: Yes the Grosse Messer does come sharpened. It is not hair popping sharp but not many swords are. The factory edge in mine was more than "battle worthy" though. One could make the edge extremely sharp with a little elbow grease.

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 10 Stars!
*by R***S on May 30, 2019*

I have several swords and do not propose to be an expert by any means. I do recognize quality, and this product surely offers that! The very sharp blade is so well polished you could comb your teeth in it. The guard and pommel are free of any marks and are well blued with no sharp edges. The scales have just a touch of grit to them that I believe a bit of handling and oil will smooth, with the rivets smooth and blued. Everything is tight with no rattles. The sheath is tight, especially when it nears the guard, but not so tight you would have difficulty removing it. Of course you will need a frog if you wish to carry this sword, which reminds me of a bayonet were the guard ring relocated. The sword is heavy, so unless you have been spending an inordinate amount of time working out, two hand use would be needed for any real use. It would be a shame to take this into the field (hacking down trees etc.) for use because it is so nice to look at. I read something recently that these swords were designed to savage the body of an opponent, not trees or barrels etc. Of course at $200 I do not expect a present-day sword to hold up to that sort of use. But of the period swords utilized during the renaissance, what of their use against shields or armor?

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An Absurdly powerful sword
*by V***7 on October 9, 2013*

If you're looking for a sword that rivals the chopping and hewing power of an axe, look no further. The Grosse Messer from Cold Steel is one of the most absurdly powerful hand-to-hand combat weapon I have ever had the privilege to use. The single edge, combined with the upswept tip mean that it's possible to take a full, baseball bat-style swing at either wooden or softer target, and there's a good chance this blade will go right through it. 3-4" branches? Sure. A small tree? It'll be a few strokes, but you could do it. A man shaped target in chain mail armor? Goes through it like paper. The tip is razor sharp and extremely well balanced by the pommel at the end of the weapon, but while it's completely capable of running a man through, you bought this thing for the edge. The handle, handguard, and pommel are all very well made, but could be better in at least one aspect. The rosewood scales are handsome, no nonsense, and perfectly ready to use right from the get go. The hand guard is thick, stamped, blued steel with a knuckle guard on the right side, and wobbles slightly, but this is to be expected and can be fixed by an armorer. The pommel is my real buggaboo: rather than weld it on to make it virtually inseparable from the tang, Cold Steel chose instead to peen it to the tang. The pommel comes rather tight, and is fitted well, but will start to loosen after use. I suggest nutting up and welding it to the tang. In short; this is a blade that anyone who knows the sharp end from the blunt end of a sword can use to learn to use effectively. You will not regret making this purchase.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ good functional sword for the price.
*by E***Y on May 12, 2016*

Ok, this is my first sword, and for the price and quality I am happy with it. With that said there were a few issues. On arrival there was some damage, one of the guard had broken out of the side of the box and had a small ding in it. I was rather supprised at it was double boxed and had bubble wrap over the sword itself. For me this is going to be a used sword not a display sword so a few marks just add charachter. for over all fit, finish, and quality, it could have been better. the metal of the guard was well blued but a little rough, I would have liked to see it a bit more polished to match the pommel and fitting on the scabbard. the handle was not sealed, which i was very happy with, varnish can be rough on the hands. the handle was also a little bit rough, i am probably going to smooth mine just a little with some 220 grit sandpaper, and seal it with some boiled linseed oil that i use on wooden tool handles. (once a day for 7 days, once a month for a year, then once a year) the fit of the handle was good, the wood wraps all the way around. it was however not lined up perfectly, near the guard and pommed there are a couple spots where it stick out maybe 1/16th from them but is nothing I found to be an issue. the sword came with grease on it to prevent rust. when i cleaned and degreased I did find some light surface rust, mostly on the blued steel of the guard, pommel, and fittings of the scabbard, these mostly wiped away with some brake cleaner and a paper towel. i decided on using a wax to seal the blade, i prefer renaissance wax, which is a museam grade wax, but any wax should do. this will seal the metal and prevent rust, and it wont flash off or dry up like oils can. the blade was decently sharp out of box but from my perspective needed some work. over all, to get a functional sword, it is a good deal for the money. over all I would recommend this sword.

## Frequently Bought Together

- Cold Steel 88GMS Grosse Messer with Leather Scabbard, Brown
- Cold Steel Scottish Dirk,Black
- Cold Steel Viking Sword with Leather and Wood Scabbard Black

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*Product available on Desertcart United Kingdom*
*Store origin: GB*
*Last updated: 2026-05-18*