Weapons

Weapons are tools that are being used for combat or hunting. In Middle-earth, the most conventional weapons being used were bows with arrows, pikes, axes, spears, and swords.

Eru Ilúvatar gave the Valars the powers of the Ainur, so the Valars had no reason to have weapons. Their greatest champion was known to only fight with his hands. However, weapons became necessary when Melkor, the first Dark Lord, started spoiling and corrupting the world by creating various foul and unnatural monsters. Oromë, the great Valar hunter often came down to Middle-earth to hunt these abominations. It was believed that he or Aulë the Smith were the ones who fashioned the first weapons in Middle-earth and they produced a lot of hand tools that aided Oromë in the hunt. Melkor soon became so dominant in Middle-earth that he became a threat to the Elves. The Cuiviénen Elves transferred to Aman.

When Melkor was released from prison, he began to create chaos by spreading lies between the House of Finwë and Noldor. Because of this, the Elves started to create weapons. Fëanor was trained by Mahtan, a great smith who was trained by Aulë. With this training and knowledge, the Children of Ilúvatar was able to produce weapons specifically made for war. Melkor returned to Middle-earth with the Silmarils in his possession. He gathered his armies and attacked the Sindar. The Sindar was not prepared for warfare. They suffered a massive casualty because their weapons were not heavy and strong enough. This move started a long on-and-off war against the forces of darkness, and this would last for thousands of years. Throughout these years, weapons and armies were improved and perfected. Over time, each race had its preferred weapons and machines of war.

Swords are one of the most common weapons being used - they are suitable for slashing and stabbing. In Middle-earth, you need to have an excellent physical prowess to use a sword in battle. According to Tolkien, the Elves and the Dwarves were the best sword makers in Middle-earth. Elvish swords often glowed blue or white when there is an Orc nearby. For the Elves, the Noldor Elves were known to be good swordsmen. In the Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings film trilogy, a non-canonical Elvish sword could be seen, called “lhang.” The sword is very similar to the nagamaki of Japan. The Dwarves were more known for using axes, but they do use swords as well. Short swords known as “eket” were very common among the Númenorean, and they were used for stabbing. The Orcs often used scimitars, which are curved swords. Saruman’s Uruk-hai were also using short, broad swords.

In the books of Tolkien, knives are often used as a secondary or backup weapon. For example, Legolas uses a bow and arrow as his primary weapons, but he also carries a knife for backup. The knives made for Men and Elves were large enough to function as swords for the Hobbits. In the LOTR trilogy of Peter Jackson, Aragorn was given an Elven hunting knife. You can see him using this well during the Battle of the Black Gate. Legolas can also be viewed using twin knives, which he carries near his quiver.

Axes were the primary weapon of choice for the Dwarves. The dwarves of Dain often wielded mattocks that had to be carried and used with both hands. During the First Age, the Sindarin Elves of Doriath were known to use axes. During the Battle in the Pelennor Fields, the Orc-men were equipped with broad axes. The Men of the White Mountains who helped defend Minas Tirith bore axes on the battlefield. Some of the Easterlings who were attacking Minas Tirith can be seen using axes as well.

Bows are a primary weapon for Elves, and they come in different sizes and construction in Middle-earth. The Elves of Lothlórien and Doriath often used longbows while the Elves of Mirkwood, like Legolas, used short bows. Among the Elves, Fingon was a famous archer who was skilled enough to drive back Glaurung. The Woodsmen in the Hobbit and Saruman’s Uruk-hai could also be seen using great yew bows. The Númenóreans were also known for using a steelbow, a hollow bow made out of steel. In the Peter Jackson films, Aragorn can be seen armed with a bow. However, in the writings of Tolkien, Aragorn was only armed with a sword.

Spears are also a standard weapon in Middle-earth. The Vanyar or the Fair Elves were known to be exceptional spearmen. The Elves of Mirkwood also used spears in the Battle of the Five Armies. Saruman also had his pikemen during the Battles of the Fords of Isen.

Although not mentioned in Tolkien’s books, there were Uruk-Hai using crossbows in Helm’s Deep. You can find this scene in the second installation of The Lord of the Rings movie by Peter Jackson.

Anglachel in Sindarin means “Iron of the Flaming Star.” The Anglachel is a sword that was crafted by the Dark Elf Eöl. It is one of two swords that were forged using black meteorite [1] (the other sword was named Anguirel, which Eöl kept for himself). It was said that the Anglachel could cut through all types of iron delved from the earth. Eöl loved the Anglachel, but he gave it to Thingol for allowing the Dark Elf to stay in his forest. Melian the Maia, Thingol’s wife, believed that the dark heart of Eöl remains in the Anglachel and warns Thingol that the sword will not serve him well. Thingol gave the Anglachel to his subject, Beleg, the Sindarin Elf. It was said that every time Beleg drew the Anglachel out of its sheath, the sword makes a sound of gladness.

Beleg met his demise and lost the Anglachel when Túrin, the Prince of Dor-lómin and his friend, was captured. Beleg was unbinding Túrin, who was unconscious. However, the Anglachel slipped and cut Túrin’s foot. This woke up Túrin who attacked right away without knowing that it was Beleg. This was a mistake that Túrin had mourned and regretted. Gwindor, the Prince of Nargothrond, gave the Anglachel to Túrin when he decided to travel to Nargothrond, Gwindor’s birthplace. Upon arriving in Nargothrond, Túrin had the Anglachel reforged and in its new form, was renamed to “Gurthang,” which means “Iron of Death.” The Elves and the Orcs often referred to the weapon and Túrin as “Mormegil,” which meant “Black Sword.”

Túrin used Gurthang to slay Glaurung, the Father of the Dragons. When Túrin tried to retrieve the sword from Glaurung’s body, he came in contact with the dragon’s blood, which made him swoon. When he gained his consciousness, Túrin realized that Nienor, his wife, was his sister and that she killed herself upon knowing the truth. As Túrin mourned his misfortune, he fell on his sword and asked it to kill him swiftly. The Gurthang broke on Túrin’s body and was buried along with his master.

Anguirel was the other sword crafted by the Dark Elf Eöl. In Sindarin, Anguirel means “Iron of Eternity.” The Anguirel was made out of an iron meteorite. As the mate of the sword Anglachel, they had the same capabilities and physical properties. Maeglin, the son of Eöl, stole the Anguirel from his father. This happened when Maeglin and Aredhel, his mother, was fleeing Nan Elmoth. They were headed for Gondolin at that time. It was presumed that the Anguirel got lost during the Fall of Gondolin. This was because in the book that discussed the Fall of Gondolin. It was written that Maeglin and his men used axes in battle.

Aranrúth is a sword owned by Sindar’s High King, Elu Thingol, and the King of Doriath. In Sindarin, Aranrúth means “King’s Ire.” Thingol wielded the Aranrúth in The Silmarillion. The Aranrúth was passed on as an heirloom for the Kings of Númenor for several generations. It was last seen with Ar-Pharazon, the last King of Númenor. It is presumed that the sword was buried with him in the shores of Aman.

In Sindarin, Dagmor means “Slay Darkness.” Dagmor is a sword made out of steel belonging to Beren. Beren was from the race of men who had a relationship with Lúthien, the Elf princess of Doriath. In “The Silmarillion,” the sword was not named. However, Dagmor was mentioned in The Lays of Beleriand. It is presumed that Dagmor was lost after Beren’s death.

The Glamdring was a sword forged in the First Age by the Elves of Gondolin for Turgon, their Elven King. The Glamdring is also known by the names “Beater” and “Foe-hammer.” The sword was white and gold with jeweled hilts and beautiful scabbards. In the book Unfinished Tales, it is mentioned in the footnotes that the sheat was made out of ivory. The Glamdring will glow white or blue whenever Orcs or Balrogs are nearby because it is a High-Elven sword. The Glamdring has been missing for a thousand years until Gandalf and Thorin’s Company found it in a troll’s cave. You can find this in the book, The Hobbit. Gandalf claimed the Glamdring for himself. He has been using the sword throughout the events of the Lord of the Rings.

Orcrist means “Goblin-cleaver” in Sindarin. This sword was crafted by the elves of Gondolin and is presumed to belong to the Ecthelion of the Fountain. It was believed that the Orcs feared this sword because it has slaughtered many of their kind in so many battles. The Orcrist is not only feared by the Orcs but also by other wicked beings of Middle-earth. The Orcrist was missing, but it was discovered by Thorin’s Company in a troll cave while they were headed to the Lonely Mountain. Thorin Oakenshield took the sword for himself. Thorin carried the Orcrist through the Misty Mountains.

Still, the sword was taken away from him when they were imprisoned by the Elves of Mirkwood. He had not seen it again as he died during the Battle of the Five Armies. Thranduil, the Elven King, and Father of Legolas, later returned and laid the sword on the tomb of Thorin. In Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit film trilogy, the Orcrist ended up in the hands of Legolas, and he used it to fight the Orc leader, Borg. Later, Legolas returns the Orcrist to Thorin so that Thorin can use it to slay Azog the Defiler. The Orcrist is considered to be the mate of Glamdring, the sword that Gandalf took for himself from the troll’s cave.

Gúthwinë means “Battle-friend” in Old English. It is a sword that belonged to Éomer of Rohan, the third marshal of the Riddermark who later became the King of Rohan. The Gúthwinë was used during the battle before Black Gate, the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, and the Battle of the Hornburg. The Gúthwinë had a strong reputation as it slew through numerous orcs and Uruks. It was known to be the best sword of Rohan.

The Herugrim is an ancient sword created by the Rohirrim. In Old English, its name can be translated into “Fierce Sword.” It is considered to be an essential heirloom for the Kings of Rohan. During the time of King Théoden, the Herugrim was about 500 years old. Théoden gave the Herugrim to Grima Wormtongue, his chief advisor, for safekeeping. However, Grima was a spy of Saruman, and he hid the sword and let it be consumed by rust. When Gandalf healed Théoden, the sword was also renewed.

Narsil is a long sword that was forged by Telchar, the famous Dwarf smith who also forged the knife Angrist. Narsil in Quenya is translated to “Red and White Flame.” The Narsil was a sword owned by the Dúnedain King, Elendil. Elendil used Narsil during the Siege of Barad-dûr, where he fought against Sauron.

The Narsil broke under Elendil’s weight when Sauron defeated him. Isildur, the son of Elendil, grabbed the hilt shard of the sword and used it to cut off the finger that bore the One Ring from Sauron’s hand. Isildur took the shards of Narsil home with him. By then, the Narsil was referred to as “the Sword that was Broken.” However, on the way home a few years after the War of the Ring, Orcs attacked him and his company. He sent Ohtar, his esquire, to Rivendell with his youngest son, Valandil, and the shards of Narsil. These were considered to be an essential bequest belonging to the Arnor Kings – the heirs of Isildur.

When Arnor was destroyed, it became an heirloom for the Rangers of the North. In the Third Age, Narsil was reforged in Rivendell for Aragorn, the heir of Isildur. After being reforged, the blade was known as “Andúril.” In Quenya, the name means “Flame of the West.” The Andúril was featured a couple of times during the story of the Fellowship of the Ring. Aragorn often used the sword to establish his lineage and credentials.

Ringil is the sword of Fingolfin, the High King of Ñoldor. Ringil means “Cold Star” or “Cold Spark” in Sindarin. The sword was indeed cold, and the blade felt like it was chilled. The blade was said to glitter like blue ice. Fingolfin used Ringil when he faced Morgoth. The sword was able to wound the Dark Lord seven times - the damage was so significant that Morgoth lived with a limp for the rest of his existence. However, Fingolfin was not strong enough and was slain by Morgoth. It is unknown what happened to Ringil after. It is presumed that the sword broke when it came in contact with Morgoth’s foot, or it could have been stolen. The sword is mentioned in The Silmarillion and The Lays of Beleriand.

In the Lord of the Rings film trilogy by Peter Jackson, the Hadfahang is the sword of Arwen. She inherited the sword from her father, Elrond, who used the sword during the War of the Last Alliance. You can see Arwen using Hadhafang in the scene when she helped Frodo flee away from the Ringwraiths. In the books, Arwen was never in combat. But since she was given an action scene in the film, the producers created a weapon with a back story just like the other special weapons in the books. The name was derived from a list of etymological words written by Tolkien in the 1930s. In the list, “Hadhafang” meant “throng cleaver.”

Angrist means “Iron Cleaver” in Sindarin. The Angrist was a knife crafted by Telchar, a renowned weaponsmith Dwarf who comes from Nogrod. Angrist belonged to Curufin, the Ñoldorin prince. The Angrist was stolen from Curufin by Beren. Beren used the Angrist to get a Silmaril out of the iron crown of Morgoth. However, the Angrist broke in his hand while he was trying to get the second Silmaril. This caused Morgoth to wake up and started a pursuit between the two.

The Morgul-knife is an enchanted short blade owned by the Witch-king of Angmar. It is known to poison its foes and in the worse cases, can turn an enemy into a wraith. The poison can be slowed down by Athelas or kingsfoil. When the Morgul-knife the knife breaks in the wound and leaves a shard, the shard will make its way to the heart. However, if it stays in the body too long before the shard kills the victim, the victim will turn into a wraith.

The Morgul-knife was used to stab Frodo at Weathertop, and it almost turned him into a wraith. Frodo was able to arrive in Rivendell with just enough time for Elrond to remove the shard and heal the wound. Though the injury was treated, on the anniversary of the stabbing, Frodo feels the pain and gets seriously ill every year. When he departed for Eldamar, Frodo was able to find a permanent cure for the wound.

Sting is an Elvish dagger made by the Elves of Gondolin during the First Age. Like all Elvish weapons, the blade of Sting glowed blue whenever an Orcs are nearby. Bilbo Baggins named the dagger as “Sting” after he used it to fight off giant spiders as they passed through the Mirkwood forest. Sting was found in a troll cave along with the Orcrist and Glamdring by Thorin’s Company. It had the size of a standard dagger for Elves and Men, but the size made it an exceptional weapon for Hobbits. Gandalf gave Sting to Bilbo Baggins. Before the Fellowship of the Ring left Rivendell, Bilbo gave Sting to Frodo. In Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit [2] and The Lord of the Rings film adaptation, [3] Sting has a Sindarin inscription on the blade. In Tolkien’s books, Sting does not have any engraving.

The Barrow-blades are daggers that were forged in the early Third Age in Arnor. They were red and inscribed in the dagger were Númenór letters. It was said that it was formed with spells and enchantments specifically for Mordor’s doom. The Barrow-blades did not rust as long as they were kept in their sheaths when not in use. The Hobbits found the daggers in the barrow of a Barrow-wight, a shape-shifting being. The daggers were then given to the Hobbits by Tom Bombadil, a mysterious figure who lived in the Old Forest near the Barrow-Downs. The Hobbits Frodo, Sam, merry, ad Pippin each have a Barrow-blade. It could be remembered that Frodo’s Barrow-blade broke when he was attacked by Nazguls on the riverbank near Rivendell. The Barrow-blade of Merry is the most notable since it played a significant part in killing the Witch-king of Angmar during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. Since the Barrow-blades were made by the Númenóreans, it was able to hurt the Witch-King. Merry stabbed the Witch-king in the knee, which gave Eowyn, the White Lady of Rohan, a chance to stab the Witch-king in the head.

The Dramborleg was a great ax owned by Tuor, the cousin of Túrin, and the Lord of the House of the Wing. In Sindarin, its name means “Thudder-Sharp.” The Dramborleg can move on its own will, and it makes the sound of flapping eagle wings when it is swung. During the Fall of Gondolin, it was noted that the Dramborleg was able to pierce to death five Balrogs. When Tuor sailed West, Dramborleg was left to his descendants. The ax soon became a royal heirloom for the Kings of Númenor. The Dramborleg got lost in the Second Age during the Downfall of Númenor. This particular ax is mentioned in the Book of Lost Tales and the Unfinished Tales.

Durin’s Axe was owned by Durin I, the Father of the Longbeard Dwarves. Durin’s Axe is an essential heirloom to the Dwarves of Durin’s Folk. Durin’s Axe was deserted in Khazad-dûm and was later found during the expedition of Balin, who was known as the Lord of Moria and a member of Thorin’s Company. However, when the Dwarf colony was destroyed, Durin’s Axe was lost again. The moment Balin found Durin’s Axe was recorded in the Book of Mazarbul. In the Third Age, the Fellowship of the Ring arrived in Moria. There, they discovered the Book of Mazarbul and learned about the fate of the Dwarves.

Grond is a great mace that belonged to the first Dark Lord, Morgoth. Grond was also called the “hammer of the underworld.” It was a weapon that was so heavy and powerful that it formed craters every time it struck the ground. Morgoth used Grond when he battled and killed Fingolfin, the High King of Noldor. The First Age Grond is not to be confused with the battering ram (Battering Ram) of the Third Age, which has the same name.

Dailir was an ever returning and infallible arrow owned by Beleg. He often uses the arrow with Belthronding, an enchanted bow made out of black yew wood. You can find this weapon in The Silmarillion and The Lays of Beleriand. Dailir was always in good condition until the night when Beleg rescued Túrin from an Orc camp. Beleg accidentally fell on Dailir while he was carrying Túrin and the arrow broke. It was believed to be a symbol of his impending death as Túrin accidentally killed him later that night. When Túrin and Gwindor buried Beleg, they also buried the Belthronding with him.

The Bow of the Galadhrim is a gift from Lady Galadriel to Legolas given before the Fellowship of the Ring left Lothlorien to continue their quest. The length of the bow is superior compared to other standard bows, and it has the power and range that matches the fundamental archery skills of the Elven Prince. In Tolkien’s book, the bow’s power was shown when Legolas was able to take down a Nazgul from the sky. In the movie, the bow’s power was shown when Legolas was able to kill an Olyphant.

The Black Arrow is an arrow that was created by Thror the Dwarf, the King Under the Lonely Mountain. It is considered to be an essential heirloom of the house of Girion, the last Lord of Dale, who passed it on to his son, Bard the Bowman. When Smaug the Dragon assailed Laketown, Bard used the Black Arrow and shot it in the dragon’s weak spot. This killed the dragon and put an end to his attacks. It is undetermined if the Black Arrow has magical properties.

However, Bard claimed that he can retrieve the Black Arrow successfully every time he uses it. But when Bard used the arrow to kill Smaug, he was unable to retrieve it as it sank in the Long Lake with the dragon’s corpse. In Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit film trilogy, the size of the Black Arrow was exaggerated to the size of a spear. It was presented that way to emphasize its significance.

The Red Arrow is an arrow that is used by Gondor when it has to summon its allies. The arrow has a black feather, and it has steel barbs. The name was derived from the arrow’s tip, which was marked with red paint to represent blood. The Red Arrow was first mentioned when Borondir of Gondor sought out the Éothéod, one of Gondor’s oldest allies. This was at the time when the Easterlings were invading Gondor during the Third Age. Borondir and five other messengers were considered to be the only survivors. They presented the Red Arrow to Eorl the Young, the Éothéod King at that time. The Red Arrow was also used to summon the Rohirrim during the War of the Ring. The Red Arrow was brought to Rohan by Hirgon, an errand-rider of Gondor. Upon receiving the Red Arrow, King Théoden and his men rode out to aid Gondor.

1. ^Overview: Meteors & Meteorites.
2. ^Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit.
3. ^The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.