Weapons are tools and objects designed for hunting or warfare, used for both in Arda.
The most common and favoured types of weapons were bows, arrows, spears, pikes, and swords. Other weapons were axes, favoured by the Dwarves and few elves (such as Rog). Variations included maces, war hammers, iron studded clubs, et cetera.
History
As the Valar used the powers of the Ainur given to them by Eru, they had no real use for handheld weapons at least not any of any recognisable conventions, and their greatest champion bore no weapon and fought only with his hands. As Melkor began corrupting and despoiling the world creating many unnatural monsters, weapons became necessary or at the very least preferred for Oromë was a great hunter and was often in Middle-earth hunting these unnatural abominations. The weapons that he used were probably fashioned by him or perhaps Aulë assisted him, as he worked with and used many hand tools. Weapons were probably used against Melkor when he became more powerful and was a threat to the elves and had to be removed.
When Elves from Cuiviénen came to Aman, they learned much from the Valar but had no use for weapons as Aman was a hallowed place. Only when Melkor, who released from prison began spreading many lies creating dissention between the Noldor of the House of Finwë. It was then that they began fashioning weapons particularly that of Fëanor who had been trained by Mahtan, a great smith trained by Aulë. This was the first time weapons specifically designed for real warfare, and not hunting, were to be made by one of Children of Ilúvatar.
When Melkor returned to Middle-earth with the Silmarils, his armies attacked the Sindar and they were almost totally unprepared, lacking heavy weapons and suffering heavy casualties. This event was the beginning of a long war and the beginning of a long era of protracted on-and-off warfare against the forces of darkness that would last for thousands of years. During these wars, weapons and armies would not only become commonplace but a perfected art-form, which would bring many new machines of war. Over this great space of time, other races would soon develop their own crafts of weaponry.
Anglachel (meaning Iron of the Flaming Star in Sindarin) is a sword smithed by Eöl the Dark Elf. It was one of two swords Eöl forged out of a black meteorite: the other, Anguirel, he kept for himself. Eöl gave this sword to Thingol as payment for staying in his forest, Nan Elmoth, though he did not relish giving it away. Thingol's wife, Melian, prophesied the following:
- "There is malice in this sword. The dark heart of the smith still dwells in it. It will not love the hand it serves; neither will it abide with you long."
Thingol gave the sword in keeping to his subject Beleg. Whenever Beleg took the sword out of its sheath, the sword is said to have sung with gladness.
At one time, Beleg was unbinding the unconscious Túrin, who had been held captive. However, whilst undoing his bonds, the sword slipped or fell and cut Túrin in his foot. Túrin then woke, and not knowing who it was, slew Beleg with Anglachel, a mistake that he mourned for a long time.
Túrin was then given the sword by Gwindor, and Túrin travelled to Nargothrond, Gwindor's place of birth.
Anglachel was then re-forged by the expert smithies at Nargothrond, and was renamed by its new keeper, Túrin, to Gurthang, which means Iron of Death. The orcs and elves called the weapon, and Túrin, "Mormegil", signifying Black Sword. Túrin used Gurthang to kill the mighty dragon Glaurung but when he attempted to retrieve the sword Glaurungs foul blood spewed on to Túrins hand leaving him in a deadly swoon. When he awoke Túrin discovered that Nienor was his sister and that she had killed herself, in despair he fell upon his sword.
- 'Hail Gurthang! No lord or loyalty dost thou know, save the hand that wieldeth thee. From no blood wilt thou shrink. Wilt thou therefore take Túrin Turambar, wilt thou slay me swiftly?'
- And from the blade rang a cold voice in answer: 'Yea, I will drink thy blood gladly, that so I may forget the blood of Beleg my master, and the blood of Brandir slain unjustly. I will slay thee swiftly.'
- As Túrin did this the sword broke and was then buried with him.
Anguirel
Anguirel was one of the two swords forged by Eöl the Dark Elf from an iron meteorite. The other, Anglachel, he gave to Thingol for leave to dwell in Nan Elmoth, but Anguirel he kept for himself.
It was later stolen from Eöl by his son Maeglin, when he and his mother Aredhel fled Nan Elmoth for Gondolin. It was presumably lost in the Fall of Gondolin. It was said in the Fall of Gondolin book that Maeglins company bore axes so he may not have wielded Anguirel in the battle. Anglachel, eventually renamed Gurthang, was a sword wrought by Eöl, the Dark Elf.
Angrist
Angrist (Sindarin: Iron-cutter) was a knife made by Telchar of Nogrod and borne by Curufin. It was taken from Curufin by Beren, who used it to cut a Silmaril out of Morgoth's Iron Crown. However, as he was attempting to remove a second Silmaril, the knife broke in his hand and cut Morgoth waking him and starting a pursuit.
Aranrúth
Aranrúth (King's Ire), was a sword that belonged to Elu Thingol, King of Doriath and High King of the Sindar. It later became a sword of the Kings of Númenor but was eventually lost with Ar-Pharazon, who was entombed on the shores of Aman.
Black Arrow
The Black Arrow was an heirloom of the house of Girion passed down to Bard. It was his last arrow remaining when Smaug attacked Laketown and, directed by a thrush, he shot it into a weak spot in the dragon's armour killing him.
The Black Arrow was forged by Thror the Dwarf, who was "King Under The (Lonely) Mountain" according to The Hobbit. It is not known if it had any magical properties, but Bard said that he had successfully retrieved it every time he used it (like Beleg's arrow Dailir, see below). In the films the arrow was very long and could not have been shot from a regular bow.
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 Númenórean make, the sword is able to pierce through the wraith, who falls to the ground, giving Eowyn the chance to stab his head.
The Barrow-blades are described as red, with "flowing characters of Númenor " inscribed on them. They will not rust, so long as they are kept in their sheaths, and had been "wrought with spells for the doom of Mordor".
Belthronding and Dailir
Belthronding, an enchanted bow of black yew wood, and Dailir, an unerring, ever-returning arrow, both belonged to Beleg Cúthalion.
Dagmor
Dagmor was a sword that belonged to Beren.
Dramborleg
Dramborleg was the great axe used by Tuor. Apparently, it moved of its own volition and clove five Balrogs to death during the Fall of Gondolin. It was also said to sound like eagles wings rushing as it was swung.
After he sailed for the West, the axe was kept by his descendants and eventually became a royal heirloom of Númenor. It was lost in the Downfall of Númenor near the end of Second Age.
Durin's Axe
Durin's Axe was a great heirloom of the dwarves of Durin's folk. It was the axe of Durin I, the father of the Longbeard Dwarves.
It remained in Khazad-dûm after it was deserted in the 1981 year of the Third Age. In 2989 T.A. it was found again by Balin's expedition, and lost again in 2994, when the Dwarf-colony was destroyed.
Glamdring
Glamdring was a sword forged for Turgon in the First Age. For several thousand years it went missing, until Gandalf (and company) found it (along with Sting and Orcrist) in the trolls' cave in The Hobbit and claimed it for himself. He continued to use Glamdring through the events of The Lord of the Rings.
Glamdring is translated as Foe-hammer, and the goblins in The Hobbit call it "Beater".
Glamdring, along with Orcrist, its mate, are described in The Hobbit as having "...beautiful scabbards and jeweled hilts", and Glamdring is referred to by Elrond as "Foe-hammer that the king of Gondolin once wore". In Unfinished Tales, one of the footnotes to the story "Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin" mentions that the sword of Turgon was "...white and gold...in a ruel-bone (ivory) sheath,..." While Glamdring is not mentioned by name, it is reasonable to assume that the same sword is described.
Like all High-Elven swords, Glamdring would glow with a blue or white flame when Orcs (or Balrogs) are near, like Frodo's sword Sting and Thorin Oakenshield's sword Orcrist, which were also made in Gondolin. However this was left out of the Lord of the Rings movies by New Line Cinema because they felt it would be confusing.
Grond
"Grond" is the name of two weapons:
In the First Age, Grond was the great mace of Morgoth Bauglír, the first Dark Lord, who wielded it when he fought with Fingolfin, High King of the Noldor. With every blow from the hammer that struck the ground, a crater was formed. Morgoth managed to kill the High King, but not without receiving seven wounds himself. It was often referred to as the hammer of the underworld.
During the War of the Ring in the Third Age, the name was used for a great battering ram. A hundred feet long with a head shaped like a snarling wolf, it was used in the siege of Minas Tirith. Aided by spells laid on it by the Witch-king of Angmar, and the spells cast upon it during its forging in Mordor, Grond destroyed the formidable gate of Minas Tirith in just three or four blows.
In Peter Jackson's The Return of the King, Grond has fire spewing from its gaping jaws and is pulled by four huge rhinoceros-like creatures (such "Great Beasts" were briefly mentioned as pulling it in the book). The wolf design is extended, with the whole battering ram carved to resemble a great wolf. Gothmog refers to it as "the wolf's head" in the film.
Gúthwinë
Gúthwinë (Old English battle-friend) was a sword that belonged to Éomer. It was borne by him at the battle of Hornburg, and presumably at the battle of the Pelennor Fields and the battle before Morannon.
Herugrim
Herugrim was a sword that belonged to Théoden. He had entrusted the blade to Gríma Wormtongue for "safekeeping", but Gríma hid it away and allowed it to rust. When Gandalf restored Théoden to power, the sword was renewed as well. After the death of King Theoden, this sword was passed to his son. It seems that this Herugrim sword was very popular due to its appearance in Lord of the ring movie with the king Theoden.
- External Link: Herugrim Sword Reproduction
- External link: Licensed Herugrim Reproduction
Morgul-blade
A Morgul-blade was a magical, poisoned dagger.
At Weathertop, during his journey to Rivendell with the One Ring, the Hobbit Frodo Baggins was stabbed with a Morgul-blade by the leader of the Nazgûl. A fragment of the blade remained within the wound, working its way toward his heart and threatening to turn Frodo into a wraith. Elrond was able to remove the shard and heal the wound, but each year on the anniversary of his stabbing Frodo became seriously ill. Only his eventual departure to Eldamar offered a permanent cure.
Athelas (or kingsfoil) is known to slow the poisonous effect of the Morgul-blade. This remedy is also known to heal other Mordor-associated illnesses, like the Black Breath of the Ringwraiths.
Another victim of a Morgul-blade was Boromir, the eleventh Steward of Gondor (not the Boromir of Frodo's company). He eventually died of his wound but did not become a wraith.
Narsil and Andúril
Narsil was the sword of King Elendil of the Dúnedain. It was forged during the First Age by the Dwarf Telchar, making it a cousin to the blade Angrist which cut a Silmaril from the crown of Morgoth. The name contains the elements nar "fire" and thil "white light", referring to the sun and moon.
Elendil used Narsil in the Siege of Barad-dûr and, being slain in combat with Sauron, fell over it and broke it. His son Isildur took it up and used its shard to cut the One Ring from the hand of Sauron. Isildur took the shards home with him. After Isildur was killed in TA 2, the shards were rescued by Ohtar, esquire of Isildur. He took them to Rivendell, where Isildur's youngest son Valandil was fostered.
The Shards of Narsil were one of the heirlooms of the Kings of Arnor, and after the Northern Kingdom was destroyed they remained an heirloom of the Rangers of the North, although it was not reforged until the War of the Ring.
In 3019 TA Narsil was reforged in Rivendell as the sword Andúril (Sindarin for "Flame of the West") for the heir of Isildur, Aragorn. He carried the sword during his journey south as part of the Fellowship of the Ring and it featured prominently at several points in the story, where it was sometimes referred to as the Sword that was Broken.
Boromir, son of the Steward of Gondor, travelled to Rivendell in time for the Council of Elrond because of the prophetic dream of his brother Faramir, in which he was told to "Seek for the Sword that was broken". Aragorn often uses the sword to help to establish his credentials.
Narsil (broken and reforged) acts as a symbol of the kingship of Arnor and Gondor. As Chieftain of the Rangers of the North, Aragorn carries the fragments of the ancient sword, secret but ever vigilant, and the blade is reforged when he sets out to reclaim his kingdom.
In the movie trilogy by Peter Jackson, Narsil was not broken in two but in several parts (which were kept at Rivendell), and is not reforged until the third movie, when it is brought to Aragorn (who seems to need the encouragement) by Elrond. In the book, Aragorn actually wears the broken blade and shows it to the Hobbits when they meet at Bree, and its reforging prior to the departure of the Fellowship is a decisive move toward kingship.
- External link: Licensed Anduril Narsil Sword
- External link: Licensed Narsil Reproduction
- External link: Licensed Anduril Reproduction
Orcrist
Orcrist is a noted sword of the Dwarf-lord Thorin Oakenshield from The Hobbit. Orcrist is Sindarin for "Goblin-cleaver" ("Goblin" being another word for "orc"). It was crafted by the elves of Gondolin, it was presumed to be the sword of Ecthelion of the Fountain who made it a feared blade in his assault upon the orcs where more orcs fell than in all other battles in middle-earth, thereafter it was feared particularly among traditional enemies of the elves: orcs and other evil creatures of Middle-earth. Orcrist, as well as Sting and Glamdring, was found in a troll lair on a Journey to the Lonely Mountain.
Red Arrow
The Red Arrow was used by Gondor to summon allies in time of need.
Its flights were black and its barbs were made of steel, and it took its name from a mark of red painted on the arrow's tip, standing for blood. First mention of the Red Arrow is when Borondir of Gondor and five other messengers rode north along Anduin to seek out Gondor's old allies, the Éothéod, when Gondor was being overrun by Easterlings, in TA 2509. Borondir was the only survivor, and presented the Red Arrow to the Éothéod King Eorl the Young.
Later it became a summons for the Rohirrim. The Red Arrow was presented to Rohan by Hirgon in the War of the Ring, and King Théoden rode out after the Muster of Rohan, far away to Minas Tiri
Ringil
Ringil was the sword of Fingolfin, High-King of the Noldor. It bit with chilling cold, and glittered with blue ice. Fingolfin wielded it to great effect against Morgoth, wounding him seven times. However, he was slain by the Black Enemy, who broke his neck with his foot.
Sting
Sting was an elvish knife made in Gondolin in the First Age. Sting was used as a sword by Bilbo, who found it in a troll-hoard together with Glamdring and Orcrist. Although it was just the size of a dagger by the standard of men or elves, it made an excellent sword for a Hobbit. Bilbo gives Sting to Frodo, just before the Fellowship of the Ring sets off from Rivendell. Peter Jackson, the director of the movie series of the Lord of the Rings, added an inscription on the blade. This is not mentioned in any of Tolkien's works, but is a completely original idea of Jackson's. The inscription is in Sindarin, but means "Maegnas (Sting in Sindarin) is my name, I am the spider's bane." It has the magic ability to detect any orc presence near it. When this presence is felt, it glows blue, as it does when the Fellowship encounters orcs in the mines of Moria. Gollum, who clearly dislikes anything made by elves, is afraid of Sting. This fear helped Bilbo when confronting Gollum under the mountain in The Hobbit. It also helps Frodo to tame Gollum (temporarily) in The Lord of the Rings.
- External link: Licensed Sting sword
- External link: Licensed Sting Reproduction
The Witch-king's weapons
In The Fellowship of the Ring, the Witch-king of Angmar wields a broadsword of steel, as do his fellow Ringwraiths, as well as the Morgul-blade he stabs Frodo with. In The Return of the King, he wields a flaming sword at his confrontation with Gandalf at the Gate of Minas Tirith. He does not use it at his duel with Éowyn, however; instead he wields a great mace.
- External link: Licensed Witch-king sword Reproduction
- External link: Licensed Witch-king dagger Reproduction
Weapons in general
Swords
One of the most common weapons in Middle-earth, Swords make a good stabbing weapon as well as a slashing weapon. Among the elves, the Noldor were famed for their swords. The Dwarves used swords as well. In The Hobbit Dain's troops bear short swords and shields as well as mattocks. Telchar the dwarf forged Narsil, the sword of Elendil and later Aragorn (as Andúril). As described in Unfinished Tales, the Númenoreans used a short sword called an eket. It was a stabbing weapon. Isildur threw all his weapons and armour away except his eket when escaping from an orc-ambush at the Disaster of the Gladden Fields. Common orcs used curved swords (the word Tolkien uses is scimitars) while Saruman's Uruk-hai used short broad-bladed ones.
Axes
Axes were primarily the weapons of the Dwarves. Dain's dwarves were described as wielding "two-handed mattocks". The Sindar of the First Age were lightly armed in battle, and used axes as well. The Orc-men at the Pelennor Fields used broad axes.
Bows
Elves were known to have used longbows (in the case of the elves of Doriath and Lothlórien) and smaller bows (in the case of Legolas and the elves of Mirkwood). The human woodsmen in The Hobbit were said to use great yew bows, as did Saruman's Uruk-hai. As described in Unfinished Tales, the Númenóreans used a type of bow called the steelbow, which was hollow and made of steel, as its name implies. It was much feared by their enemies.
Fingon was a reknowned archer and with his company of archers even drove back a young Glaurung.
Spears
Spears were common in Middle-earth. The Vanyar were famous for their spears. The Rangers of the Grey Company bore spears in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. The elves of Mirkwood also bore spears in the Battle of the Five Armies. Saruman used pikemen in the Battles of the Fords of Isen (though not at the Hornburg, as they do in the corresponding film).
Non-canonical weapons
Hadhafang
In the Lord of the Rings film trilogy, "Hadhafang" is a sword used by Arwen. The sword and its history are not part of the original story, but were invented for the movies. In the books, Arwen is never seen in combat. Since her character was given an action scene in the movie version, it was deemed necessary to give her a weapon and to provide the weapon with a back story like many of the fictional weapons described in the original novel. According to the movie trilogy's official publicity material, Hadhafang (whose name is a newly-coined Sindarin word meaning "throng-cleaver"), once belonged to the Elven Princess Idril, who wed a mortal man (Tuor) and bore Eärendil, the father of Elrond, who in turn was father to Arwen. Before Arwen's birth, Elrond wielded Hadhafang at the end of the second age of Middle-earth, during the Last Alliance of Elves and Men in the great battle against Sauron on the slopes of Mount Doom.
Later his daughter, Arwen, used Hadhafang when she aided Frodo in his escape from the Ringwraiths. Inscribed on the blade are Cirth (runes) in Sindarin that say, "Aen estar Hadhafang i chathol hen, thand arod dan i thang an i arwen." Which transfers to "this blade is called Hadhafang, a noble defense against the enemy throng for a noble lady." (In Sindarin "Arwen" actually means "noble (or royal) woman").
Like all of the props used in the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, Hadhafang was manufactured by Weta Workshop.
- External link: Licensed Hadhafang Reproduction
The Pale Blade
In the Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game, the Pale Blade is the sword borne by the Witch-king.
Non-canonical weapons in general
Crossbows
The Uruk-hai used crossbows at Helm's Deep in the The Two Towers film, although Tolkien had not specified this in the books.
Lhang
"Lhang" is another elvish sword developed by designers and armourers at Weta Workshop for use in the films. It is reminiscent of the Japanese nagamaki. Some viewers have found this Eastern-influenced weapon odd, since Tolkien drew from Western sources for his work.
Gallery
Swords
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| Barrow-blades • Sting | |
| Durin's Axe • Orcrist | |
| Grond (battering ram) • Grond (hammer) • Morgul-knife | |
| Aeglos • Anglachel • Anguirel • Angrist • Aranrúth • Belthronding • Dailir • Glamdring • Orcrist • Ringil | |
| Andúril • Dramborleg • Black arrow • Dagmor • Gúthwinë • Gurthang • Herugrim • Narsil • Red Arrow | |
- ↑ The Hobbit, Chapter III: "A Short Rest"
- ↑ The Hobbit, Chapter IV: "Over Hill and Under Hill"
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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