Bifur

Bifur, along with his cousins Bofur and Bombur, was a companion to Bilbo Baggins and Thorin Oakenshield on the quest of the Lonely Mountain (Erebor). His parents are unknown, and most of his familial relations are unclear.

History
Bifur was a descendant of the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm, but was not of Durin's Folk. He and his family were driven out of their home of Lonely Mountain (Erebor) by the dragon Smaug. Forced to live in exile the Dwarf warrior worked as a toy maker. Following Thorin II Oakenshield to a new life in the Blue Mountains (Ered Luin), he continued life as a toy maker.

In the earliest partial manuscript of The Hobbit much of the dialog later assigned to a few of the Dwarves is more evenly distributed. In the opinion of John Rateliff (author of The History of The Hobbit) this streamlining strengthened the story through simplification, but at the cost of relegating some of the Dwarves to obscurity since they barely speak at all. Bifur is one of these "silenced" members of the company.

Quest to Erebor


Answering Thorin Oakenshield's quest of Erebor he went to the meeting at Bag End with his cousins Bofur and Bombur, where he played the clarinet. On the Quest of Erebor he was nearly cooked on a spit by trolls and nearly killed by Orcs, Wargs, Stone giants, Goblins, Giant Spiders and Smaug himself. A valiant warrior, Bifur never gave up, but fought on with his boar spear and knives, and wards, killing numerous enemies. He fought at and survived the Battle of the Five Armies. Following the defeat of Smaug, Dain II Ironfoot gave him his share of the treasure and he remained to live at the Lonely Mountain.

Portrayal in Adaptations
Bifur was played by Brian Haines in The Hobbit (1968 radio series).

Bifur is played by William Kircher in the Peter Jackson Hobbit films. The studio released the following statement about Bifur:


 * Born in the West, Bifur has the rusting remains of an Orc axe embedded in his forehead, which has rendered him inarticulate and occasionally feisty! He communicates only​ with grunts and hand gestures. Unlike most of the others in The Company of Dwarves, Bifur is not related to Thorin, nor is he of noble lineage, but rather is descended from miners and smithies – simple folk with simple tastes.

Source:↑J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Mr. Baggins, The First Phase, "The Pryftan Fragment", (i) The Lost Opening, p. 14