Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Have you ever heard of a "Rugger"? No, not the gun manufacturer with a typo... A Rugger is a type of Bauernwehr. Right, still not the most well known... It's a large knife used by medieval common folk, okay? :)
Unlike the Bauernwehr ("peasant's defense"), which can be seen as an everyday tool first and improvised(?) weapon second, this seems to be designed as more of a dedicated fighting implement. It has quite a stabby blade...
So let's take a closer look at these reproductions by Ádám Bodorics, a highly skilled bladesmith doing his own custom work while also acting as the co-owner of Landsknecht Emporium in Hungary.
*** Specifications ***
Blade material: 6150 high carbon spring steel
Handle material: European walnut (will be wild pear in future batches)
Hilt construction: Full tang, with pinned handle scales
Rugger A (short handle)
Overall length: 67 cm (26-3/8 in)
Blade length: 53.5 cm (21 in)
Blade thickness: 7 mm (1/4 in), tapering to 5 mm (3/16 in) near the tip
Point of balance: About 12 cm (4-3/4 in) from the hilt, which is 22% of blade length
Weight: 680 g (1 lb 8 oz)
Rugger B (long handle)
Overall length: 71.5 cm (28 1/8 in)
Blade length: 52.8 cm (20.8 in)
Blade thickness: 7 mm (1/4 in), tapering to 5 mm (3/16 in) near the tip, which thickens to 8.5 mm (5/16 in)
Point of balance: About 8 cm (3-1/8 in) from the hilt, which is at 15% of blade length
Weight: 712 g (1 lb 9 oz)
*** Where to find them ***
Rugger A (my favorite)
kultofathena.com/product/adam-bodorics-rugger-landsknecht-short-sword-with-scabbard/?koa=259 (affiliate link)
Rugger B
kultofathena.com/product/adam-bodorics-rugger-landsknecht-short-sword-with-long-grip-and-scabbard/?koa=259 (affiliate link)
Adam's social media:
facebook.com/people/Adam-Bodorics-Swordmaker/100077666115061
instagram.com/adambodorics
*** Sources / credits ***
Guide to blade grinds
knifeknowitall.com/the-guide-to-blade-grinds
Manuscripts on medieval & renaissance martial arts
wiktenauer.com
Museums
royalarmouries.org/collection
wallacelive.wallacecollection.org/eMP/eMuseumPlus
*** Merch ***
bonfire.com/store/skallswag
If you want to join Bonfire to start selling your own merch: bonfire.com/welcome/07bb14169c804
*** Support the channel ***
Help fund future videos, get bonus content and access to an exclusive Discord server:
patreon.com/skallagrim
youtube.com/channel/UC3WIohkLkH4GFoMrrWVZZFA/join
Other ways to support the channel by shopping through affiliate links:
Kult of Athena, my favorite online store for reproductions of historical arms and armor, fantasy swords, etc:
kultofathena.com/?koa=259
Where to get HEMA gear and practice swords:
woodenswords.com/?Click=1799
GamerSupps powdered energy drinks and other stuff (I particularly like the SUS snack bars):
gamersupps.gg/Skall
I highly recommend the balms and oils from Beard Sorcery:
beardsorcery.com/?ref=0UEFtHWvZEmtD
Books about history, martial arts, swords, knives, video/audio equipment, and other stuff I recommend:
US - amazon.com/shop/skallagrimnilsson
Canada - amzn.to/2HeOCMA
*** Other social media ***
https://bsky.app/profile/skallagrim.bsky.social
facebook.com/SkallagrimYT
instagram.com/skallagrim_yt
#skallagrim #medieval #knife #review #sword
Have you ever heard of a "Rugger"? No, not the gun manufacturer with a typo... A Rugger is a type of Bauernwehr. Right, still not the most well known... It's a large knife used by medieval common folk, okay? :)
Unlike the Bauernwehr ("peasant's defense"), which can be seen as an everyday tool first and improvised(?) weapon second, this seems to be designed as more of a dedicated fighting implement. It has quite a stabby blade...
So let's take a closer look at these reproductions by Ádám Bodorics, a highly skilled bladesmith doing his own custom work while also acting as the co-owner of Landsknecht Emporium in Hungary.
*** Specifications ***
Blade material: 6150 high carbon spring steel
Handle material: European walnut (will be wild pear in future batches)
Hilt construction: Full tang, with pinned handle scales
Rugger A (short handle)
Overall length: 67 cm (26-3/8 in)
Blade length: 53.5 cm (21 in)
Blade thickness: 7 mm (1/4 in), tapering to 5 mm (3/16 in) near the tip
Point of balance: About 12 cm (4-3/4 in) from the hilt, which is 22% of blade length
Weight: 680 g (1 lb 8 oz)
Rugger B (long handle)
Overall length: 71.5 cm (28 1/8 in)
Blade length: 52.8 cm (20.8 in)
Blade thickness: 7 mm (1/4 in), tapering to 5 mm (3/16 in) near the tip, which thickens to 8.5 mm (5/16 in)
Point of balance: About 8 cm (3-1/8 in) from the hilt, which is at 15% of blade length
Weight: 712 g (1 lb 9 oz)
*** Where to find them ***
Rugger A (my favorite)
kultofathena.com/product/adam-bodorics-rugger-landsknecht-short-sword-with-scabbard/?koa=259 (affiliate link)
Rugger B
kultofathena.com/product/adam-bodorics-rugger-landsknecht-short-sword-with-long-grip-and-scabbard/?koa=259 (affiliate link)
Adam's social media:
facebook.com/people/Adam-Bodorics-Swordmaker/100077666115061
instagram.com/adambodorics
*** Sources / credits ***
Guide to blade grinds
knifeknowitall.com/the-guide-to-blade-grinds
Manuscripts on medieval & renaissance martial arts
wiktenauer.com
Museums
royalarmouries.org/collection
wallacelive.wallacecollection.org/eMP/eMuseumPlus
*** Merch ***
bonfire.com/store/skallswag
If you want to join Bonfire to start selling your own merch: bonfire.com/welcome/07bb14169c804
*** Support the channel ***
Help fund future videos, get bonus content and access to an exclusive Discord server:
patreon.com/skallagrim
youtube.com/channel/UC3WIohkLkH4GFoMrrWVZZFA/join
Other ways to support the channel by shopping through affiliate links:
Kult of Athena, my favorite online store for reproductions of historical arms and armor, fantasy swords, etc:
kultofathena.com/?koa=259
Where to get HEMA gear and practice swords:
woodenswords.com/?Click=1799
GamerSupps powdered energy drinks and other stuff (I particularly like the SUS snack bars):
gamersupps.gg/Skall
I highly recommend the balms and oils from Beard Sorcery:
beardsorcery.com/?ref=0UEFtHWvZEmtD
Books about history, martial arts, swords, knives, video/audio equipment, and other stuff I recommend:
US - amazon.com/shop/skallagrimnilsson
Canada - amzn.to/2HeOCMA
*** Other social media ***
https://bsky.app/profile/skallagrim.bsky.social
facebook.com/SkallagrimYT
instagram.com/skallagrim_yt
#skallagrim #medieval #knife #review #sword
