Barrow-blades

The Barrow-blades are daggers or short swords forged in Arnor in the early Third Age. They are found by the Hobbits in the barrow of a barrow-wight and given to them by Tom Bombadil. Frodo's sword breaks in the confrontation with the Nazgul on the banks of the River near Rivendell and is replaced by Sting. Sam, Merry and Pippin keep their swords.

Merry's barrow-blade plays a major role in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields- He stabs the Witch King of Angmar in the knee with it. Being of Numenorian make, it breaks the spell protecting his undead flesh and pierces his knee. He falls to the ground, and this gives Eowyn the chance to kill him.

The Barrow-blades are described as red in colour, with "flowing chararacters of Numenor" inscribed on them. They will not rust, so long as they are kept in their sheaths and are "wrought with spells for the doom of Mordor".