Gabe Nelson – Swish And Slash

The world of Lord of the Rings took the fantasy universe by storm with its amazing characters, incredible story, and new and old fantastic weapons. With different armies to choose from, and a seemingly diverse list of factions to entertain, it is no question that the world of Lord of the Rings is a vast one with tons to explore. However, with the faction of your choice, comes a ton of weapons that are significant to this very universe—almost every main character having their own signature weapon. Tolkien definitely did not fall short on the arsenal of this universe. With the many different factions, there is plenty of room for creativity and a variety of different weapons for anyone to base their army. Tolkien did not hesitate to expand this world with factions and, of course, weaponry. Diving in to the world of Middle-earth is sure to highlight many of the greatest factions, ideas, and weapons to come from the fantasy genre. The Shards of Narsil The longsword, Narsil, is a very famous sword in the world of Lord of the Rings as it was held and used by King Elendil during the War of the Last Alliance and by his son Isildur. The shard of a sword won’t do a ton but this sword does have its memories and certainly will gain more in the future. One would not recommend having this as a main weapon of combat. This replica of the shard by Fsknives Brazil may not be the best longsword in its state but it is a cool collector’s piece. Aragon’s Sword Andúril After Narsil lost its ability as a longsword and became nothing more than a shard, the blade was reforged in Rivendell into the infamous Andúril. This blade became a staple sword used by Aragorn II Elessar. A great longsword with a Middle-earth human-style hilt and impeccable design to surely scare off those who come near it. Aragorn wielded this sword with true strength and its simple design makes it a very nice sword along with many of the other simplistic human swords in the world of Middle-earth. Aragorn’s Hunting Knife While Aragorn was a very skilled fighter, it is not always applicable to use something like his longsword or his bow; in these cases, he had his hunting knife which was easy to carry and easy to release for a quick battle with a foe or some demented animal. This dagger does seem to be of Elven design providing even more strength to Aragorn. A great designed dagger to say the least an effective one as well. Gandalf’s Sword Glamdring Gandalf’s sword “Glamdring” was actually not originally owned by Gandalf. This sword was made for Turgon, the Elven King of Gondolin during the First Age. After a long while it then turned up in the hands of Gandalf. Even though Gandalf was a wizard, magic can’t always be relied on so it’s nice to have a backup in case of any accidents. However Gandalf may not exactly be used to a weapon of this caliber as you can’t always stab someone with a magic staff, I guess unless you tried hard enough. Gandalf the Grey’s Staff Of course, knowing Gandalf is a wizard, what wizard would be a wizard if he didn’t have his very own staff. And thus we have the staff of Gandalf or his very own walking stick; a magical walking stick, however. But this staff was made from a sapling and provided for Gandalf’s wizardly needs as it could. A more suitable weapon to say the least, and it allowed Gandalf to perform magic spells and fight enemies in style as not everyone can say they attack someone with a piece of a tree. Gandalf the White’s Staff Gandalf, being a wizard and all, had two different staffs. Gandalf the Grey had a wood staff that was more rustic and worn, while Gandalf the White had a clean and near perfect staff that looked sleek and modern. Eowyn’s Sword Eowyn’s sword is a wonderful piece of craftsmanship; with a blade nearly three feet in length, this sword is perfect for a warrior. Eowyn proved her strength with this sword and helped place herself in the history of Middle-earth. This sword shares the color of many Elven blades and has a very nice design on its hilt. A nice simple, yet intricate design from the world of Middle-earth Eowyn’s Shield Any swordsman, or swordswoman, will need a shield at some point whether it is for training or just for protection. For Eowyn, she held a shield in battle with a great design that helped protect her from many of the Middle-earth foes. Although, the shield can definitely be used as a weapon of its own; although you may want to have a sword of your own before you go hitting someone with a shield. Phial of Galadriel The Elf-queen Galadriel was kind enough to give our heroes this crystal filled with water from her fountain that contained the light of Eärendil’s star. This nifty crystal served as a great source of light for Frodo and the rest of the adventurers. I’m not sure, however, what would happen if one were to consume this liquid, maybe someday one will do it. But a great piece to have for any collector wishing to grow their Lord of the Rings collection. Frodo’s Sting Sting is a very old sword, made during the First Age in Gondolin. A troll hoard held this sword until Bilbo Baggins came along to find it, later passing it to his heir Frodo Baggins. Many swords share similar designs and build and this is one of the best examples of good craftsmanship. A very simple design with a nice branch-pattern hilt perfect for attacking the enemies of Middle-earth in style. One Ring The One Ring was one of the most potent creations in the world of Middle-earth. Crafted by Dark Lord Sauron, Sauron intended to use it to enhance his own power in hopes of gaining power over the entirety of Middle-earth. One would not recommend attacking someone with The One with a sword as it may not go in favor of the sword. Be careful if you ever see someone wearing this, you may be in quite a large amount of trouble. Merry’s Barrow-Sword One of the four Barrow-Swords, Merry’s dagger helped protect from enemies on their quest and served as a wonderfully crafted and versatile weapon. One of the simpler designs of the Barrow-Swords, but it fulfilled its purpose nonetheless and serves in history as a strong blade. A great weapon to have in your arsenal, given you are worthy of wielding such a blade. Pippin’s Barrow-Sword Pippin also got his own Barrow-Sword and used it along the group’s quest as his main weapon. A more common design compared to some of the longswords but nothing that could be considered more than a dagger or even a short sword. If you have the other Barrow-Swords then you must have this one in your arsenal as well. Arwen’s Sword Hadhafang Hadhafang originally belonged to the Elven princess Idril, only to be passed down to Elrond, and another time to Arwen. A beautifully crafted blade that helped protect these three warriors in their times of need. It also exemplifies the design of the Elves with its pristine edges and its gorgeous hilt. A great addition to one’s collection, especially if you are into the Elven design. Nazgul’s Morgul-knife This small dagger was carried by the Witch-king of Angmar within the Third Age. It has an interestingly designed blade but was still capable of doing some damage as some may know. It does, however, look as though it has been through a bit of combat in its time. If you like the evil side of Lord of the Rings, then this is a great fit for your collection. Ringwraith’s Sword A sword used by the Ringwraiths in Middle-earth. A dark and ominous-looking sword but nothing to look away from as this longsword is strong and very well crafted. However, this blade is slightly different from a normal straight sword as it has an odd divot for the blade to become shorter towards the end. A good choice to go along with your other villainous swords. Mouth of Sauron’s Sword The Mouth of Sauron also wielded a Ringwraith sword and used it as his own longsword whenever it was needed. A sword fit for a king but instead was wielded by a different type of king who only wished to use it for evil. As it is a Ringwraith sword, this blade has the divot of the prior seen sword. It’s always great to have a backup evil sword in case your other breaks or you lose it. Suaron’s Mace As an evil being would, Sauron wielded this gargantuan mace as opposed to something more traditional like a sword or even a bow. This mace is capable of some heavy damage with its giant end. A large weapon for a large villian, however, seems rather fitting. If you are a large villain then this is a great option if you are looking to conquer and control Middle-earth. The Witch-king’s Sword The Witch-king’s broadsword is quite a deadly one given its sheer size and weight, but it was not his main weapon. With that being said, it was still used in battle when was necessary and posed a great challenge to whoever wished to combat the blade. Would recommend having a shield with any longsword, however. The Witch-king’s Flail As we know, the enemies and dark beings of Middle-earth enjoy using weapons that are not swords, and thus we have Angmar’s flail. This flail is quite large and the ball at the end is rather spikey and able to do a great deal of damage. Possibly impractical, though, if you weren’t somebody over seven feet tall. But if you are over seven feet tall, swing this thing to your heart’s content. Logolas’s Double-Swords These blades wielded by Legolas are a great example of wonderful elf craftsmanship. These two blades serve as a great close-quarters means of combat for an elven warrior when they cannot use their bow. These blades allow for a swift attack with much more versatility and speed than a longsword or something of the sort. Keep these in mind if you’re looking for some blades to keep with you as an archer. Legolas’s Bow As an elven warrior, Legolas was a skilled archer and his bow served as his main weapon of choice whenever he needed to use something against some of the more challenging enemies. The Elven bows have a very simple design but excel in the areas in which they need, making them the best, near-perfect bow. Theoden’s Sword Herugrim This sword is a very old sword in the world of Middle-earth; when Theoden held this sword it was likely to be around five hundred years old. Nevertheless, the sword held up quite well over time and served as an amazing tool for Theoden to use in battle and across the world of Middle-earth. A similar design to Eowyn’s sword, making them both some of the best swords to collect. Theoden’s Shield A king deserves a quality shield and King Theoden’s shield is no exception. The King of Rohan used this greatly designed shield in battle and used it in luxury as well as it is a beautiful shield. This shield too can be used to bash and discombobulate enemies with ease, just be careful who you actually try to bash. Boromir’s Sword Boromir held one of the four Barrow-Blades and held it in great honor as these blades are some of the greatest in all of Middle-earth. While they aren’t the biggest of longswords or broadswords, they are certainly strong and will hold up in pretty much any battle, as one would hope a sword would. Boromir’s Shield If a warrior of Middle-earth has a sword, then they likely have a shield, and Boromir of course being a warrior, had his very own shield to use in battle. A more simplistic design but as long as it stops arrows and slashes, it should be alright. If an arrow does get through this shield, you may be in a great deal of trouble. Faramir’s Sword Faramir, the second son of Denethor II and brother of Boromir, was the captain of the Rangers of Ithilien and the White Tower. A strong warrior to say the least, and as a warrior, Faramir had his very own sword to fight his many battles with. This sword is a must-have for any collector looking to build their Middle-earth arsenal. Faramir’s Bow As a ranger, it is important to be able to wield a sword and shoot a bow, especially if you are the captain. And thus Faramir held his own bow to battle alongside his trusty sword. This bow was very basic with a wood framing and a grip for the hand, but it worked wonders for Faramir. As long as you can aim, it’ll work wonders for you as well. Gimli’s Walking Ax Gimli’s walking ax was definitely his most used weapon, next to his battle-ax. Gimli’s walking ax was nearly the size of him, in height, and is a two-handed ax that is bound to do a great deal of damage. With its one-sided blade and wide range of attack, it is a very strong choice for one who uses mainly axes, given that he is walking of course. Gimli’s Battle Ax Possibly the most memorable, and exciting, of his weapons was Gimli’s battle-ax. This ax is a bit smaller than the walking ax but has blades on both sides for any easier range of attack. While this does make the ax heavier, it probably isn’t that difficult to wield for Gimli. A strong Viking-like character can always carry an ax. Gimli’s Bearded Ax Gimli’s final ax is his bearded ax; this ax is almost a combination of the two prior, with one side having a blade reminiscent of a beard. It is much shorter than the walking ax and is much easier to wield for the average ax user, and thus makes for a great weapon in combat. Haldir’s Sword Haldir was a strong elven warrior and thus he had his own blade. Haldir’s sword is very similar to the Hadhafang in that it is a traditional elven sword with a unique pattern and design. These swords are very light and easy to travel with, making use of them only when the elf’s bow is impractical. A good thing to have if you run out of options. Haldir’s Bow As Haldir is an elf, he must have his own bow. An elf’s main way of combat is via archery and their wonderfully crafted bows show just that. Haldir’s bow has a great design and is perfect for carrying into battle or even just normal hunting, depending on the elf’s needs of course. Eomer's Sword Gúthwinë A few of the blades within Middle-earth are fairly similar if they are of a given class. For instance, the daggers are similar to one another while the longswords are the same. Gúthwinë is similar to the other daggers and yet it is so wonderfully pleasing as a sword. This was Eomer’s trusty sword and was used by him in many battles along with the rest of his grand arsenal. Eomer’s Spear To any army, one must have swordsmen, archers, shielders with spears. Even though Eomer was not a shielder he still wielded a sword, a shield, and a spear at times depending on the time of need. The spear is a strong choice for ranged throws and close range to keep distance. The spade at the end allows for easy puncture and a nice advantage to heavy armor. Eomer’s Shield Many of the shields of Middle-earth are incredibly designed and Eomer’s shield is a great example with many intricate patterns and a nice green color. This shield can certainly stop a spear, a sword, and many arrows and can do so in wondrous style. And like the other shields, if it can’t do any of this then you may need to find a new shield-maker. Thorin’s Orcrist As are many of the swords in Middle-earth, the Orcrist is one of the most stunning. This sword used by Thorin II was a blade specifically made for slaying the Orcs. While it is still a normal blade it has been enchanted with power that gives it this ability, as can be seen by the inscription above the hilt. For a sword in Middle-earth, an enchanted one is quite cool and this may be one of the most unique yet similar swords in all of Lord of the Rings. Tuor’s Dramborleg A fairly unknown character, and weapon, in the Tolkien universe, is Tuor with his trusty Dramborleg. Tuor was an ancient hero among the humans that was perhaps the strongest of heroes in all of Middle-earth. And that isn’t to mention Dramborleg came from an unknown source and helped Tuor achieve some amazing feats. Thrór’s Black Arrow This arrow was crafted by Thrór and served a fairly important purpose. While it could only be used once, this arrow was created and has the ability to slay dragons, but it was created in order to end one specific dragon. Gothmog’s Ax Of course the most powerful of Balrogs does not only use a whip, but he also uses an ax. This ax is perhaps one of the strongest weapons in all of Middle-earth. It can be combated by nearly nothing and to add a bit more damage, it is molten hot and is wielded by a gargantuan monster that is also molten. Just something to think about if you ever want to meet Gothmog. Balrog’s Whip The Balrog whip was a whip used by Balrogs, of course. These are dreadful flame whips that have the ability to burn absolutely anything in their path. These whips are the strongest of the whips in Middle-earth and are extremely hard to come by as they are only used by Balrogs. It would be wise to stay away from Balrogs when you can as these weapons cannot be dodged very easily. Lurtz’s Bow Lurtz is quite a nasty creature, but his design does allow him to have some cool weapons. His bow being one of the most interesting, Lurtz’s bow seems to be a sort of metal bent in the shape of a bow with two sharp edges in the middle. Not sure how well a metal bow would work over time but it seems to be relatively effective for Lurtz. Orc Cleaver Orcs are one of the main factions of Middle-earth and since each faction has its own army, well, the Orcs must have the same. This is a wooden model of the Orc Cleaver, an incredibly designed weapon that has an interesting handle and many sharp edges for maximum damage. This weapon is certainly a great choice to cut up anything in an Orc’s way. Orc Sword Pretty much every faction has its own type of sword and this is the sword of the Orcs. This sword, much like the cleaver, has many points and edges with a more traditional grip. It is a very versatile sword as it does not only have one singular straight blade but rather it has a curved blade with talon-like blades all around. Orc Bow The Orcs aren’t necessarily known for their archery but they still have their own set of archers with a good style of bow. The Orc’s bow is a wood frame with a few metal accents. These metal accents provide great stability to the bow, but I’d still rather use the Orc cleaver if I had to choose. High Elven Warrior Sword As stated prior, the Elves are known for their archery and not necessarily their skills with a sword, but this does not mean that they weren't skilled in wielding a blade. When their bow was impractical, Elven warriors would use a blade like this one in more close combat; a very lightweight choice that is relatively easy to use. A more basic version of the Hadhafang and yet it still has a pristine style. Elven Bow Of course the Elves had their own bows. These Elven bows are all wood with golden accents and have a very simple and reliable design. It is safe to trust that the Elves have the best bows in all of Middle-earth, just try not to be on the other end of one as you may not enjoy what can be done with just this simple wooden bow. Elven Dagger In cases of extremely close combat or when all else failed, the elves had their very own daggers that got them out of a sticky situation. These daggers are similarly designed to that of the Elven sword but just a bit smaller. This blade is the same one used by Aragorn as his trusty dagger. Ranger Sword Rangers, of course, carried a longsword with them to defend themselves. These aren’t entirely special in their design other than that they are extremely well-crafted and are sure to slice through anything one can think of. Well, not really, but you get the idea. Easterling Shield Not a ton of detail is known about the Easterlings but along with their spears, they used these large rectangular shields that seem to be metal with a nice gold color. A mysterious shield to say the least but a rather effective one given its great size. Uruk-Hai Scimitar A very simple blade but very effective for the Uruk-Hai, the scimitar is a basic straight blade with an angled point at the end for a bit of extra versatility. An odd choice for a blade but of course, it has its upsides as well: a long blade and, well, that’s about it. Uruk-Hai Crossbow The Uruk-Hai had a slightly more advanced version of archery with their crossbows. The advantage was their force and speed of fire, with the downside that you must be accurate, and they take much longer to load an arrow as opposed to a traditional bow. However, if this can be loaded quickly then it is a great choice of a weapon. Goblin Sword Goblins have one of the oddest blades in Middle-earth with the metal creating a sort of holder along with a grip that is wrapped with a sort of leather. This design is interesting but seems to provide for a greater sense of control. Goblins may not be the best of craftsmen but they are still quite creative in their design choices. Galadriel’s Nenya Nenya was one of the three Elven rings in Middle-earth created against evil in the realm. A very lovely ring that is invisible to the average eye, however, if you are a ring-bearer then you should be able to see it just fine. While it is not The One, it is still one of the most powerful weapons in all of Middle-earth. With that being said, this ring has its own abilities that are unknown to many but understood by all. Just, don’t let it fall into the wrong hands. Weaponry from The Lord of the Rings Universe The universe that is Lord of the Rings is a vast and expansive realm of adventure, knowledge, power, and weaponry. Not many universes have this many different factions with many different types of weapons all being catered and designed towards a certain group of friends or enemies. With different factions using primarily swords, some using bows, some daggers, and some using specifically magic it definitely just shows how creative of a and expansive Tolkien’s world really is. For any collector or fan of Lord of the Rings, there are enough different weapons in Middle-earth to fill an entire house and probably another. It also gives a great sense of choice and exploration when one gets to choose their own faction in our universe and choose to wield a sword or shoot their enemies with their very own custom bow and arrow; this truly is the magic of the Lord of the Rings universe—it brings the fantasy world so close to our reality. It also allows humans to see what it really would be like to be a wizard or to be an elf who must go on an adventure and protect a ring from being captured by evil. It is a wonderful world that allows the minds of many to travel to Middle-earth and be part of the fantasy, and for that, it deserves a great place in history as one of the greatest series of stories and universes of all time.