View source for List of weapons and armour in Middle-earth

{{Short description|List of weapons and armour in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2020}}

The '''weapons and armour of Middle-earth''' are all those mentioned [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s [[Middle-earth]] [[fantasy]] writings, such as ''[[The Hobbit]]'', ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' and ''[[The Silmarillion]]''.<ref name="burdge"/>{{sfn|Piela|2013|pp=26–27}}

Tolkien modelled his fictional warfare on the [[Ancient history|Ancient]] and [[Early Middle Ages|Early Medieval]] periods of history. His depiction of weapons and armour particularly reflect [[Northern Europe]]an culture as seen in ''[[Beowulf]]'' and the [[Norse sagas]]. Tolkien established this relationship in ''[[The Fall of Gondolin]]'', the first story in ''[[Tolkien's legendarium|his legendarium]]'' to be written. In this story, the [[Elf (Middle-earth)|Elves]] of [[Gondolin]] use the [[Mail (armour)|mail armour]], [[sword]]s, [[shield]]s, [[spear]]s, [[axe]]s and [[Bow (weapon)|bow]]s of Northern European warfare. [[Tolkien and the medieval|In Tolkien's writings, such Medieval]] weapons and armour are used by his fictional [[Middle-earth peoples|races]], including [[Elves]], [[Dwarf (Middle-earth)|Dwarves]], [[Man (Middle-earth)|Men]], [[Hobbit]]s, and [[Orc (Middle-earth)|Orcs]].{{sfn|Piela|2013|pp=26–27}}

As in his sources, Tolkien's characters often [[Named weapons in Middle-earth|gave names to their weapons]], sometimes with [[runic]] inscriptions to show they are magical and have their own history and power.<ref name="burdge">{{harvnb|Burdge|Burke|2013|pp=703–705}}</ref>

{{TOC limit|3}}

==Terminology==

Tolkien devised [[Languages of Middle-earth|several]] [[constructed language]]s with terms for types of weapons.

* '''Sword''': [[Sindarin#Noldorin Sindarin|Noldorin Sindarin]]: ''magl, magol'',<ref name="J.R.R. Tolkien, p. 371" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1987|p=371}}<!--LROW--></ref> North Sindarin ''magor'',<ref name="J.R.R. Tolkien, p. 234" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1994}}<!--Jewels-->, p. 234.</ref> [[Quenya]]: ''makil'', ''macil''.<ref name="J.R.R. Tolkien, p. 371" group=T/> Specific types of sword were named ''lango'' (broad sword), ''eket'', ''ecet'' (short sword), and ''lhang'' (cutlass, sword).<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1987|p=367}}</ref>
* '''Dagger, knife''': Noldorin Sindarin: ''sigil'', [[Quenya]]: ''cirma, sicil''<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1987|p=385}}</ref>
* '''Axe''': North Sindarin: ''hathol'',<ref name="J.R.R. Tolkien, p. 234" group=T/> Quenya: ''pelekko'' (Hooker notes the similarity of the Greek [[wiktionary:πέλεκυς|πέλεκυς]] pélekys: double-headed axe),{{sfn|Hooker|2014|p=235}} [[Khuzdul]]:  ''bark'',<ref>''[[Parma Eldalamberon]]'' 17, p. 85.</ref> pl. ''baruk''
* '''Spear''': [[Quenya]]: ''hatal''<ref>''[[Vinyar Tengwar]]'' 49, p. 14.</ref> also ''nehte''<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1987|p=355}}</ref>
* '''Bow''': Noldorin Sindarin: ''peng'' also poetically ''cû'' ("arch"), [[Quenya]]: ''quinga''.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1987|p=366}}</ref>
* '''Arrow''': Quenya: ''pilin'', pl. ''pilindi''<ref group=T>[[The Etymologies (Tolkien)|The Etymologies]] under the root PÍLIM-.</ref>{{efn|Hooker notes the similarity of the Latin [[wikt:pilum|pīlum]] [javelin, throwing spear], with cognates in the Old High German [pfīl, meaning arrow], Modern German [Pfeil], Old English [pīl], late Old Norse [píla], and the Dutch [pijl].{{sfn|Hooker|2014|p=180}} }}

==Types==

===Swords===

[[Sword]]s symbolized physical prowess in battle for Tolkien, following Northern European culture.<ref name="burdge"/> Tolkien writes that [[Elf (Middle-earth)|Elves]] and [[Dwarf (Middle-earth)|Dwarves]] produced the best swords (and other war gear) and that Elvish swords glowed blue in the presence of [[Orc (Middle-earth)|Orcs]]. Elves generally used straight swords while Orcs generally used curved swords. Both races have exceptions: Egalmoth of [[Gondolin]] used a curved sword and the [[Uruk-hai]] of [[Isengard]] used short, broad blades. Tolkien often mentions the use of shields together with one-handed swords.{{sfn|Piela|2013|pp=26–27}}

===Knives===

Knives are mentioned in Tolkien's works, sometimes as backup weapons—such as the unnamed long knife of [[Legolas]] the archer.{{sfn|Piela|2013|pp=26–27}} However, some individual knives are given more significance through naming (e.g. [[Sting (Middle-earth)|Sting]], see below).<ref name="burdge"/> In "[[The Scouring of the Shire]]", [[Saruman]] attempts to stab Frodo with a knife, but is foiled by the [[Mithril#The mithril-coat|mithril shirt]] worn under his jacket. Shortly afterwards Saruman's throat was fatally cut with a knife borne by [[Wormtongue]].<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1955|loc=book 6 ch. 8 "[[The Scouring of the Shire]]"}}</ref>

For ''The Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy, Legolas possessed twin fighting knives carried in sheaths near his quiver.{{sfn|Smith|2003|p=114}}

====Special types of knife====

There are some special types of knife in Tolkien's fiction which do not have formal names, but nevertheless play important roles in the plot.

=====Morgul-blades=====

{{anchor|Morgul-blade}}

The [[Witch-king of Angmar]], leader of the [[Nazgûl]], used a magical [[dagger]] called a "[[Minas Morgul|Morgul]]-blade" to wound [[Frodo Baggins]] at [[Weathertop]]. The dark magic of the knife gravely affects Frodo's well-being, threatening to turn him into a wraith, especially because its detachable point migrated in Frodo's body for more than two weeks before it could be extracted, thus causing great damage. Recurring ill effects from the wound contribute to Frodo's eventual departure to [[Valinor]].<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954a|pp=208, 210}}; {{harvnb|Tolkien|1955|p=333}}</ref> According to the ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia]]'', the weapon may owe something to the tradition of the "[[elf-shot]]" found in [[Old English]] medical texts and charms, where it denotes illnesses of presumed supernatural origin.<ref name="Donovan 2013">{{harvnb|Donovan|2013|pp=148–149}}</ref>

=====Barrow-blades=====

[[Tom Bombadil]] recovers four magical daggers, forged by the [[Dunedain|Men of]] [[Númenor|Westernesse]] to fight the powers of [[Angmar]], from a tomb guarded by the [[Barrow-wight]]. After opening the barrow and freeing the hobbits, Tom Bombadil gives them the weapons, saying "Old knives are long enough as swords for hobbit-people".<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954a|loc=book 1, ch. 8 "Fog on the Barrow-downs"}}</ref> One of these "Barrow-blades" – that given to [[Merry Brandybuck]] – proves instrumental in bringing about the death of the [[Witch-king]].<ref name="Battle of the Pelennor Fields" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1955}}, book 5, ch. 6 "The [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]]", p. 117: "No other blade, not though mightier hands had wielded it, would have dealt that foe a wound so bitter, cleaving the undead flesh, breaking the spell that knit his unseen sinews to his will."</ref>

The daggers had varying fates. The Witch-king broke Frodo's blade at the Ford of Bruinen. [[Sam Gamgee]] left his beside Frodo in [[Cirith Ungol]]; it was returned to [[Gandalf]], along with Frodo's mithril mail-shirt, by the [[Mouth of Sauron]].<ref group=T name="Black Gate Opens"/> [[Pippin Took]] used his dagger in the [[Battle of the Black Gate]] to slay a [[Troll (Middle-earth)|Troll]].<ref group=T name="Black Gate Opens">{{harvnb|Tolkien|1955|loc=book 5, ch. 10 "The Black Gate Opens"}}</ref> Merry's blade is destroyed during his attack on the Witch-king.<ref name="Battle of the Pelennor Fields" group=T/>

===Axes===

[[Battle axe]]s are especially favoured by Dwarves in Tolkien's writings;{{sfn|Piela|2013|pp=26–27}} Gimli uses the [[battle cry]]: ''Axes of the Dwarves! The Dwarves are upon you!'' ([[Khuzdul]]: ''Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu!'').<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954}}, "The Battle of Helm's Deep"</ref> For ''The Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy, [[Gimli (Middle-earth)|Gimli]] the Dwarf was assigned various axes of different makes during the course of the films.{{sfn|Smith|2003|pp=52–57}}

The Sindarin Elves of [[Doriath (Middle-earth)|Doriath]] favoured axes as weapons during the [[First Age]]. Other notable axe-bearers were [[Tuor]] (the wielder of the axe Dramborleg), the [[White Mountains (Middle-earth)#Peoples and history|Men of the White Mountains]] who marched to the defence of [[Minas Tirith]] in ''The Lord of the Rings'' movie (replacing the axe-wielding men of Lossarnach from the book), and a contingent of [[Easterling (Middle-earth)|Easterlings]] among the besiegers of Minas Tirith.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

===Bows and arrows===

[[Bow and arrow|Bow]]s of different sizes and construction are featured in Tolkien's works. Elves of [[Lothlórien]], Men, and Uruk-hai used [[longbow]]s, while Elves of [[Mirkwood]] and [[Orc (Middle-earth)|Orcs]] of [[Mordor]] used smaller ones. These bows are said to be made of wood, horn and even steel.{{sfn|Piela|2013|pp=26–27}}{{sfn|Smith|2003|pp=142–144}}

The most famous bowman in Tolkien's stories of the First Age of Middle-earth is the Elf [[Beleg]]; his bow was named [[#Belthronding|Belthronding]], and his arrow [[#Dailir|Dailir]]. Infamously Curufin, a lord of the [[Noldor]], attempts to shoot the Elf-princess [[Lúthien]] with the bow of his brother [[Celegorm]]. His first arrow is intercepted by [[Huan (Middle-earth)|Huan]]; [[Beren]] attempts to intercept the second shot, and is wounded.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977|loc=ch. 19 "Of Beren and Luthien"}}</ref>

In ''The Lord of the Rings'', set in the late [[Third Age]], a bow is the main weapon of Legolas, the Elf-member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring (characters)|Fellowship of the Ring]]. When the Fellowship meet [[Galadriel]], she gives Legolas a new bow. He later uses it to shoot all the way across the great river [[Anduin]] and bring down an airborne Nazgûl.{{sfn|Smith|2003|pp=112–115}}

[[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'']] film trilogy assigns a bow to Aragorn{{sfn|Smith|2003|pp=202–207}} and [[crossbow]]s to the Uruk-hai.{{sfn|Smith|2003|pp=122–131}} However, in Tolkien's writings [[Aragorn]] is armed only with the sword Andúril, and crossbows are only mentioned in connection to hunting by [[Númenoreans]] in their lost homeland of Númenor.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|2021|loc=ch. 13 "Of the Land and Beasts of Númenor"}}</ref>

Sometimes individual [[arrow]]s are given special mention in Tolkien's works. In ''[[The Hobbit]]'', the ''Black Arrow'' was a royal heirloom used by [[Bard the Bowman]] to kill the dragon [[Smaug]].<ref name="Fire and Water" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1937|loc=ch. 14 "Fire and Water"}}</ref> In ''The Lord of the Rings'', the ''Red Arrow'' was a token used by [[Gondor]] to summon its allies in time of need.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1955}}, p. 72; {{harvnb|Tolkien|1980}}, p. 364, 411</ref> In the '' Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy, the Red Arrow is omitted and its role is conflated with the [[Beacons of Gondor]].<ref name="timmons">{{harvnb|Timmons|2013|pp=303–309}}</ref>

[[Hobbit]]s "shot well with the bow".<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954a|loc=Prologue §1}}</ref> [[Shire (Middle-earth)|The Shire]] sent archers to the battles of the Fall of Arnor.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1955|loc=appendix A part I(iii)}}</ref>

===Armour===

[[File:Normans Bayeux.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35<!--format for low image-->|Tolkien stated that the styles of the [[Bayeux Tapestry]] fitted the Rohirrim "well enough".<ref name="Tolkien Bayeux" group=T/>]]

[[Body armor|Body armour]] in Tolkien's fiction is mainly in the form of [[chainmail|mail]] or [[scale armour|scale]] shirts, in keeping with [[Ancient history|Ancient]] and [[Early Middle Ages|Early Medieval]] periods of history.{{sfn|Piela|2013|pp=26–27}} In contrast, the ''Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy features later medieval [[plate armour]] suits.{{sfn|Smith|2003|pp=16 (2nd Age Elves); 104 (Rohan half-plate armour)}} These kinds of plate armour are not found in Tolkien's writings, but plate does appear in the form of individual pieces such as [[vambrace]]s (forearm guards) or [[greave]]s (leg and shin guards). As with other items of war, Elves and Dwarves produced the best armour. The mail shirt forged by Dwarves from the fictional metal ''[[mithril]]'' appears in ''The Hobbit'' and ''The Lord of the Rings'', worn in turn by the protagonists [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]] and Frodo Baggins.{{sfn|Piela|2013|pp=26–27}}<ref name="mithril">{{harvnb|Burke|2013|pp=432–433}}</ref>

In Letter 211 of ''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]'', the author compared the war-gear of the Rohirrim to the [[Bayeux Tapestry]], made during the [[Norman Conquest]] of Anglo-Saxon England.<ref name="Tolkien Bayeux" group=T>{{harvnb|Carpenter|2023|loc=#211 "The Rohirrim were not 'mediaeval', in our sense. The styles of the Bayeux Tapestry (made in England) fit them well enough, if one remembers that the kind of tennis-nets [the] soldiers seem to have on are only a clumsy conventional sign for chainmail of small rings" }}</ref>

===Helmets===

[[Battle helmet]]s are commonly used by virtually all races in Tolkien's writings. The [[Rohirrim]] were partly modelled on the [[Anglo-Saxons]], who wore [[Weaponry in Anglo-Saxon England|elaborate helmets]]; [[Éomer]]'s helmet had a long white horse-tail [[panache]] that trailed in the wind.<ref name="Shippey Panache">{{cite book |last=Shippey |first=Tom |author-link=Tom Shippey |title=[[The Road to Middle-Earth]] |date=2005 |edition=Third |orig-year=1982 |publisher=Grafton ([[HarperCollins]]) |isbn=978-0261102750 |pages=142–145}}</ref> The Crown of Gondor was a jewelled battle-helmet; Aragorn received it at his coronation. Frodo Baggins and Sam Gamgee use Orc-helmets as part of their disguise in Mordor.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

In the First Age, Dwarves made dragon-helms, which were said to protect against [[Dragon (Middle-earth)|Dragons]]. The most famous of these was the [[#Dragon-helm of Dor-lómin|Dragon-helm of Dor-lómin]].{{cn|date=February 2024}}

The [[Second Age]] was dominated by Númenor. The Númenórean helmet, the '''''karma''''', reached particularly elaborate forms. Those of the [[Númenor#Uinendili|Uinendili]], a guild of mariners, were "made of overlapping plates of metal, the 'fish-crest' of leather embossed and coloured".<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1980}}, inside rear dust-jacket</ref> Tolkien's coloured drawing of the ''karma'' of a Uinendili captain features on the cover of ''[[Unfinished Tales]]''.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

==Named items==

{{main|Naming of weapons in Middle-earth}}

Tolkien emulated his Northern European mythological and literary sources in having his characters [[Naming of weapons in Middle-earth|give names to their weapons]], marking these out as important aspects of character and sometimes as ancient heirlooms. Named weapons in [[Medieval literature]] include [[Hrunting]] and [[Nægling]] in ''[[Beowulf]]'', [[Tyrfing]] in the ''[[Elder Edda]]'' and [[Gram (mythology)|Gram]] in the ''[[Völsunga saga]]''. The items illustrate the passage of time and the transfer of power or fate to their future bearers.<ref name="burdge"/>

===Named swords and knives===

====Anglachel====

Anglachel ([[Sindarin]]: ''Iron of the Flaming Star'') was a sword forged of [[meteoritic iron]] by Eöl the Dark [[Elf (Middle-earth)|Elf]], given to [[Thingol]] King of [[Doriath (Middle-earth)|Doriath]] as a fee for leave to dwell in Nan Elmoth. It could cleave all earth-delved iron. Later wielded by [[Beleg]] Strongbow and ultimately [[Túrin]];<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977|loc="Of Turin Turambar", Index "Anglachel"}}; {{harvnb|Tolkien|1980}}, p. 148, 419</ref> Anglachel was reforged and renamed '''Gurthang''' (Sindarin: ''Iron of Death''<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1980}}, p. 443</ref>). Túrin used Gurthang to kill Glaurung, the Father of [[Dragon (Middle-earth)|Dragons]], and later used the sword to take his own life in recompense for the accidental slaying of Beleg and the unjust slaying of Brandir. The stories endow the sword with a personality; Melian the [[Maia (Middle-earth)|Maia]] perceived malice in it as it was given to Beleg Cúthalion, and the elf Gwindor observed that Anglachel (so named then) seemed to mourn the death of Beleg at the hand of his friend Túrin by Anglachel itself. Túrin asked the sword whether it would slay him swiftly if he cast himself on its point, and it responded at length (the only instance of Gurthang speaking with voice). The depiction of the sword was influenced by that of the sword of the Finnish character [[Kullervo]] in the ''[[Kalevala]]''.<ref name="burdge"/><ref name="petty">{{harvnb|Petty|2013|pp=205–207}}</ref>

====Angrist====

Angrist (Sindarin: ''Iron-cleaver''<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977|loc=Index "Angrist"}}</ref>) was a knife made by the great weaponsmith [[Telchar]] of Nogrod, and borne by Curufin. Beren, who had taken it from Curufin, used it to cut a magical [[Silmaril]] jewel out of [[Morgoth]]'s Iron Crown; as Beren attempted to remove another, the knife snapped.<ref name="burdge" /><ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977|loc="Of Beren and Luthien"}}</ref> In the earliest version of Beren's story in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]'', he uses an ordinary household knife; the element of Curufin's involvement in Beren's affairs came later.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1984b}}, "The Tale of Tinúviel</ref>

====Anguirel====

Anguirel (Sindarin: ''Iron of Eternity'') is the sword forged by Eöl the Dark Elf, similar to Anglachel which was given to Thingol of Doriath in ''[[The Silmarillion]]''.  It was the mate of Anglachel, was made of the same meteoritic iron, and had the same physical properties and capabilities as Anglachel, but there is no evidence of sentience in Anguirel.  Anguirel was kept by Eöl until it was stolen by his son, Maeglin.<ref name="burdge"/><ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977|loc="Of Turin Turambar"}}</ref>

====Aranrúth====

Aranrúth (Sindarin: ''King's Ire''<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977|loc=Index "Aranruth"}}</ref>) is the sword wielded by King Thingol of Doriath in ''The Silmarillion''.<ref name="burdge"/><ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977|loc="Of Turin Turambar", [[Akallabeth]]}}; {{harvnb|Tolkien|1980}}, p. 171</ref> Later the sword of the Kings of Númenor.

====Glamdring====

{{further|The Etymologies (Tolkien)}}

[[File:Glamdring-no-bg.png|thumb|75px|An artistic representation of the sword Glamdring based on its description in ''The Lord of the Rings'']]

Glamdring (Sindarin: '''Foe-hammer'''<ref name="A Short Rest" group=T/>) is a sword in ''The Hobbit'', ''The Lord of the Rings'' and ''Unfinished Tales'' forged in the First Age by the High Elves of the hidden city of Gondolin. It belonged first to [[Turgon of Gondolin|Turgon]], the King of Gondolin. Thousands of years later, in {{ME-date|TA|2941}}, [[Gandalf]] discovered it among the hoard of the three trolls in ''The Hobbit'', and he carried it throughout his journeys with Bilbo Baggins and the Fellowship of the Ring. It was the mate of [[#Orcrist|Orcrist]], and like Orcrist would glow blue whenever orcs were nearby. Glamdring was nicknamed "'''Beater'''" by the goblins of the [[Misty Mountains]].<ref name="burdge"/><ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1937}}, ch 2 "Roast Mutton"</ref><ref name="A Short Rest" group=T/><ref name="The Ring Goes South" group=T/><ref name="The Bridge of Khazad-dûm" group=T/><ref name="White Rider" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954|loc=book 3, ch. 5, "The White Rider"}}</ref><ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1980}}, p. 54</ref>

====Gurthang====
''See [[#Anglachel|Anglachel]]''

====Gúthwinë====
{{further|Beowulf and Middle-earth}}

Gúthwinë ([[Old English language|Old English]]: ''gúð-wine'' ''Battle Friend''<ref name="Tolkien Dictionary">[http://www.quicksilver899.com/Tolkien/Tolkien_Dictionary.html ''Tolkien Dictionary'']</ref>) is the sword wielded by Éomer, third marshal of the [[Riddermark]] in ''The Lord of the Rings''.<ref name="burdge"/><ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954}}, p. 139</ref> The name is found in the [[Old English literature|Old English]] poem ''Beowulf'', where the hero uses the word as an epithet for the sword Hrunting, lent to him by [[Hrothgar]]'s thane Unferth for the fight with [[Grendel's mother]].<ref>''[[Beowulf]]'', line 1810</ref>

====Hadhafang====

Hadhafang is the sword invented for Peter Jackson's ''The Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy, where it was wielded by [[Arwen]], although she is never actually seen using it in combat, as the blade's design was for main use on horseback, and footage of Arwen at [[Battle of Helm's Deep|Helm's Deep]] was ultimately cut.{{sfn|Smith|2003|p=22}} The name is derived from Tolkien's [[The Etymologies (Tolkien)|etymological word list]] written in the 1930s; here Tolkien provides the word ''hadhathang'' (dissimilated: ''havathang, hadhafang''), which he translates as "throng-cleaver", though he never used this name in his writings.<ref group="T">{{harvnb|Tolkien|1987}}</ref> <!--Hadhafang is wielded by Arwen's father [[Elrond]] in [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' film trilogy]].{{cn|date=July 2023}} can't find any remotely usable source for this, maybe you can do better-->

====Herugrim====

Herugrim (Old English: ''Fierce Sword''<ref name="Tolkien Dictionary"/>) is the sword that belonged to [[Théoden]].<ref name="burdge"/><ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954}}, p. 123</ref>

{{anchor|Narsil|Anduril|Andúril}}

====Narsil / Andúril====

[[File:Narsil andúril final (without text).jpg|thumb|upright=2|Artist's impression of the re-forged Andúril, with runic inscription, crescent Moon and rayed Sun. A single star is shown rather than Tolkien's "seven stars".]]

Narsil ([[Quenya]]: roughly, ''Red and White Flame''<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1955|loc=Appendix A "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur", "The North-kingdom and the Dúnedain", entry for Chieftain Aranarth}}; {{harvnb|Carpenter|2023|loc= }}</ref>) is a sword in ''The Lord of the Rings'' and ''The Silmarillion'',<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977|loc="Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age", Index "Narsil"}}; {{harvnb|Tolkien|1980|pp=272, 275}}</ref><ref name="Council of Elrond" group=T/><ref name="King of the Golden Hall" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954|loc=book 3, ch. 6 "The King of the Golden Hall"}}</ref> influenced by the legendary Arthurian sword [[Excalibur]]<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Finn |first=Richard J. |title=Arthur and Aragorn - Arthurian Influence in The Lord Of The Rings |journal=[[Mallorn (journal)|Mallorn]] |pages=23–26 |date=2005 |jstor=45320521 |url=https://journals.tolkiensociety.org/mallorn/article/download/118/112}}</ref> and by [[Sigurd]]'s sword Gram, as described in the [[Old Norse]] ''[[Völsunga saga]]''.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Brisbois |first=Michael J. |date=2008 |title=The Blade against the Burden: The Iconography of the Sword in ''The Lord of the Rings'' |jstor=26814563 |journal=[[Mythlore]] |volume=27 |issue=1/2 (103/104) |at=article 9 |url=https://dc.swosu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1329&context=mythlore}}</ref> The sword was forged during the First Age by the Dwarf Telchar<ref name="King of the Golden Hall" group=T/><ref name=new>{{cite book | page=417 |chapter=Narsil |title=The new Tolkien companion |author=J. E. A. Tyler |publisher=Avon Books |year=1980 |isbn=978-0-3804-6904-8}}</ref> of Nogrod, a famous weaponsmith and artificer who also made the knife Angrist (which cut a Silmaril from the crown of Morgoth) and the [[#Dragon-helm of Dor-lómin|Helm of Hador]] (later used by [[Túrin Turambar]]). By the end of the Second Age Narsil was borne by [[Elendil]]; during the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]] it was broken in two pieces in the war against [[Sauron]]. [[Isildur]] used the hilt-shard to cut the [[One Ring]] from Sauron's hand. The two shards, acquiring the additional name '''the Sword that was Broken''', remained an heirloom of Isildur's heirs throughout the Third Age, and were thus inherited by Aragorn. Elvish smiths re-forged the sword for Aragorn before the Fellowship of the Ring began their quest; Aragorn renamed it '''Andúril''' (Quenya: ''Flame of the West'').<ref name="Council of Elrond" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954a|loc=book 2, ch. 2, "[[The Council of Elrond]]"}}</ref><ref name="The Ring Goes South" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954a|loc=book 2, ch. 3, "The Ring Goes South"}}</ref> The reforged Andúril is described as very bright, shining red and white with the light of the sun and moon.<ref name="The Ring Goes South" group=T/><ref name="The Bridge of Khazad-dûm" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954a|loc=book 2, ch. 5, "The Bridge of Khazad-dûm"}}</ref><ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954}}, book 3, ch. 7, "Helm's Deep"</ref>  ''The Silmarillion'' further states that the original Narsil already shone in such a manner, but its light was extinguished when it was broken.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977|loc="Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"}}</ref> The reforged blade had "a device of seven stars set between the crescent Moon and the rayed Sun, and about them was written many runes".<ref name="The Ring Goes South" group=T/>

====Orcrist====

[[File:Orcrist.png|thumb|175px|Sword "Orcrist" as seen in "[[The Hobbit (film series)|The Hobbit]]"]]

Orcrist (Sindarin: '''Goblin-cleaver'''<ref name="A Short Rest" group=T/>), a sword in ''The Hobbit''. was originally forged in Gondolin and was nicknamed "'''Biter'''" by the goblins of the Misty Mountains. After finding it in a troll-hoard, [[Thorin Oakenshield]] carries the sword through the Misty Mountains and Mirkwood before being taken prisoner by the [[Silvan Elves#Mirkwood|Elves]]; it was laid on his tomb after his death in the Battle of Five Armies. It is the mate of Glamdring.<ref name="burdge"/><ref name="A Short Rest" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1937}}, ch. 3, "A Short Rest"; ch. 18, "The Return Journey"</ref>

====Ringil====

Ringil (Sindarin: ''Cold-Star / Cold-Spark'') is a sword wielded by [[Fingolfin]] in ''The Silmarillion'' and ''The Lays of Beleriand''. It bit with chilling cold, and glittered like ice with a pale light.<ref name="burdge"/> This was the sword with which Fingolfin wounded Morgoth seven times, causing the first dark lord to limp forever afterward.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977|loc="Of the Ruin of Beleriand", Index "Ringil"}}</ref><ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1985}}, "The Lay of Leithian", Canto XII</ref>

In Tolkien's early writings, Ringil was the name of [[History of Arda#Spring of Arda|one of the two pillars supporting the Two Lamps]] of primeval Middle-earth.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1984}} (Part I) pp. 69–70</ref>

====Sting====

[[File:Frodo Baggins holding Sting.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Elijah Wood]] as Frodo, holding Sting, in [[Peter Jackson]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy]]]]

Sting is a large Elvish dagger in ''The Hobbit'' and ''The Lord of the Rings''. It functioned well as a sword for the hobbits Bilbo and Frodo Baggins.<ref name="burdge"/><ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1937}}, ch. 2, "Roast Mutton"; {{harvnb|Tolkien|1954a|pp=23, 290}}; {{harvnb|Tolkien|1954}}, p. 221, {{harvnb|Tolkien|1955}}, p. 173, 204</ref>  Bilbo named the weapon after using it to fend off the giant spiders in Mirkwood forest, then later passed it on to Frodo to use in his quest to destroy the One Ring. Sting glows blue when orcs are nearby, as in [[Moria (Middle-earth)|Moria]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Science of Middle-earth |first=Henry |last=Gee |publisher=Cold Spring Press |date=2004 |page=[https://archive.org/details/scienceofmiddlee00geeh/page/236 236] |isbn=978-1-59360-023-5 |url=https://archive.org/details/scienceofmiddlee00geeh/page/236 }}</ref> In Europe, [[Bilbo (sword)|bilbo blades]] were exceptionally fine swords, named after the city of [[Bilbao]] which made them. It is possible that Tolkien connected Bilbo's name with his acquisition of this weapon.<ref name="Rateliff 2010">{{cite journal |title=The Hobbitonian Anthology of Articles on JRR Tolkien and His Legendarium |last=Rateliff |first=John D. |author-link=John D. Rateliff |journal=[[Tolkien Studies]] |volume=7 |year=2010 |doi=10.1353/tks.0.0066 |pages=330–335 |s2cid=171003460 }}</ref>{{efn|Rateliff comments: "I would suggest that it's far more likely Bilbo gains Sting because Tolkien became aware of the 'bilbow blade <nowiki>=</nowiki> sword' entry in the [[OED]] than that the character was given the name with the idea of his becoming a sword-wielder already in mind.  However, as there was a Count Frodo and a Bishop Bilbo in the Frankish Kingdom of the middle ages as well as another noble named Fredegar it is more likely that these Hobbit names were mined from Frankish history."<ref name="Rateliff 2010"/>}}

In [[Peter Jackson]]'s ''The Lord of the Rings'' and ''The Hobbit'' film adaptations, Sting is depicted as leaf-shaped, with gentle curving edges. Engraved on the [[blade]] and [[Hilt#Guard|cross-guard]] are letters in Sindarin that read phonetically, ''Maegnas aen estar nin dagnir in yngyl im''. Translated into English, they read, "''Maegnas'' is my name, I am the spider's bane." According to the Appendix of ''The Silmarillion'', the element ''maeg'' in Sindarin means "sharp" or "piercing".<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977|loc=Appendix "Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names", ''maeg''}}</ref> The film version of Sting is {{convert|23|in}} long (24 while in [[scabbard]]) and {{convert|3|in}} wide at the hilt. Its scabbard is made of brown leather and reinforced with metal.{{sfn|Smith|2003|p=43}}

===Named bows and arrows===

====Belthronding====

Belthronding (Sindarin/Ilkorin: ''Intractable Bow''<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1987|p=388}}</ref>) is the bow wielded by Beleg Cúthalion (Strongbow) in ''The Silmarillion'' and ''[[The Lays of Beleriand]]''.<ref name="burdge" /><ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977|loc="Of Turin Turambar", Index "Belthronding"}}; {{harvnb|Tolkien|1985}}, p. 26, 117, 127</ref>

====Black arrow====

The black arrow was used in Esgaroth by Bard the Bowman; he mentions that it has been used many times, always successfully, and always recovered. An heirloom from many generations of Bard's family, that he believed had been made in the forges of the [[Durin's folk#Durin|King under the Mountain]]; Bard recites its history, urges it to "go now and speed well", and shoots Smaug. It was lost with the Dragon's corpse in the [[Long Lake (Middle-earth)|Long Lake]].<ref name="Fire and Water" group=T/>
<!--
In [[Peter Jackson]]'s [[The Hobbit (film series)|''Hobbit'' films]], the black arrow's significance was elaborated on. Instead of being a regular-sized arrow, the black arrow was the size of a short spear, and was used as ammunition for a windlance (a [[Ballista|ballista-type weapon]]) in Dale.{{cn|date=July 2021}}-->

====Dailir====

Dailir is the arrow favoured by Beleg, the great bowman of the First Age of Middle-earth. Beleg was always able to retrieve this arrow for reuse.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1985}}</ref>

====Red Arrow====<!--"Red Arrow (Middle-earth)" redirects here (case dependent)-->

The Red Arrow is a black-feathered arrow barbed with steel; its tip was painted red.<ref name="Muster" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1955}}, book 5, ch. 3 "The Muster of Rohan"</ref> It was a token used by Gondor to summon [[Rohan (Middle-earth)|Rohan]] in time of dire need. In ''[[The Return of the King]]'', the Red Arrow was presented to Théoden by Hirgon with the message: "...the Lord [[Denethor]] asks for all your strength and all your speed, lest Gondor should fall at last."<ref name="Muster" group=T/> Théoden pledged his assistance, but Hirgon was killed during the ride back to Minas Tirith, leading Denethor to believe that no help was forthcoming from Rohan. The Red Arrow has a historical antecedent in the Old English poem ''[[Elene (poem)|Elene]]'' in which [[Constantine the Great]] summoned an army of mounted [[Visigoths]] to his aid against the [[Huns]] by sending an arrow as a "token of war".<ref>[[Cynewulf]], ''[[Elene (poem)|Elene]]'', lines 43–45</ref>

===Other named weapons and armour===

====Aeglos====

Aeglos (Sindarin: ''Snow Point'', i.e. icicle;<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977|loc=Index "Aeglos"}}</ref> also spelt '''Aiglos''') is the spear wielded by the Elf-King [[Gil-galad]]. It was said that "the Spear of Gil-galad and the Sword of Elendil, Aiglos and Narsil, none could withstand."<ref name="burdge"/><ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954a|loc=book 2, ch. 2: "[[The Council of Elrond]]"}}; {{harvnb|Tolkien|1977|loc="Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"}}; {{harvnb|Tolkien|1980}}, p. 148, 417</ref>{{efn|A [[Tolkienist]] semiannual almanac published by the Polish Silesian Science-Fiction Club, parent organisation of the Polish Tolkien Society, is named ''Aeglos''.<ref>{{cite book |title=[[J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarship and Critical Assessment]] |editor1-first=Michael |editor1-last=Drout |editor1-link=Michael Drout |chapter=Poland: Reception of Tolkien |first=Marcin |last=Morawski |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-415-96942-0}}</ref>}}

====Dragon-helm of Dor-lómin====

The Dragon-helm of Dor-lómin, also called the '''Helm of Hador''', is the fabulous helmet of the lords of the House of Hador, including [[Húrin]] and Túrin.<ref name="burdge"/> The helm was made of heavy steel, decorated with gold and [[Cirth|runes]]; a gold likeness of Glaurung the Dragon was set upon its crest. It was made for the Dwarf-king {{Visible anchor|Azaghâl}} by [[List of Middle-earth Dwarves#Telchar|Telchar]], the great Dwarf-craftsman of Nogrod.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1985}}, part 1 "[[The Lay of the Children of Húrin]]", second version ch. 2, p. 115, line 678</ref> Azaghâl ruled the neighbouring city of Belegost; he gave it to [[Maedhros]], who gave it to Fingon. Fingon then gave it to Hador, along with the lordship of Dor-lómin.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1980}}, part 1 ch. II p. 75</ref>

====Axe of Tuor====

The Axe of Tuor, called '''Dramborleg''' (Gnomish: ''Thudder-Sharp'')<ref name=thuddersharp>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1984b}} Appendix: Names in the Lost Tales – Part II", entry "Dramborleg"</ref> in ''The Book of Lost Tales'', is the great axe belonging to Tuor, son of Huor in ''Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth''<ref name="burdge"/> that left wounds like "both a heavy dint as of a club and cleft as a sword".<ref name=thuddersharp/> It was later held by the Kings of Numenor, until lost in the downfall.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1980}}, p. 172; {{harvnb|Tolkien|1984b}} (vol. 2), "The Fall of Gondolin"</ref>

====Durin's Axe====

[[Durin]]'s Axe was part of the regalia and weaponry of the Dwarf-kings of [[Khazad-dûm]].  Some years before the War of the Ring, [[Balin (Middle-earth)|Balin]] attempted to [[Moria (Middle-earth)#Balin's colony|recolonize Khazad-dûm]] (by then called Moria), and the early records of the colony mention Durin's Axe, indicating it was sought for or even found.<ref name="The Bridge of Khazad-dûm" group=T/>

====Grond====

Grond (Sindarin: ''Club'') is the [[Mace (bludgeon)#European Middle Ages|mace]] of Morgoth used against Fingolfin in ''The Silmarillion''<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977|loc="Of the Ruin of Beleriand", Index "Grond"}}</ref> as well as a battering ram in ''The Lord of the Rings'',<ref name="burdge"/><ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1955}}, p. 112</ref> used to assault the Great Gate of Minas Tirith. Grond the battering ram was in-universe named after Morgoth's mace: "Grond they named it, in memory of the Hammer of the Underworld of old."<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1955}}, book 5, ch. 4 "The Siege of Gondor".</ref> <!--In the Rankin-Bass adaptation of ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|The Return of the King]]'', the ram Grond is called "the arm of the devil" and "the hammer of the underworld".{{cn|date=July 2023}} unable to source this; cite media wouldn't be ok as it wouldn't name "Grond", hence WP:OR-->

== Film prop construction ==

{{further|Production of The Lord of the Rings film series}}

In [[The Lord of the Rings film trilogy|''The Lord of the Rings'' film trilogy]], "hero" weapons, used for "beauty" shots such as close-ups, were made from high-quality materials: sword blades from heat-treated [[spring steel]]; sword hilts from cast [[bronze]] or [[Forged steel|forged and ground steel]]. "Stunt" swords, used in combat scenes, were made with soft [[aluminium]] blades and [[Urethane casting|urethane]] grips. "Extras" swords were cast entirely from urethane, in one piece. Bows were made of urethane with an inner armature of spring steel. Legolas's arrows were all-digital, so the actor simply mimed shooting each arrow.<ref name="Woosnam-Savage 2011">{{harvnb|Woosnam-Savage|2011|pp=139–167}}</ref>

== Notes ==

{{notelist}}

== References ==

=== Primary ===

{{reflist|group=T|28em}}

===Secondary===

{{reflist|28em}}

=== Sources ===

<small>{{colbegin}}
* {{cite book |last1=Burdge |first1=Anthony |last2=Burke |first2=Jessica |title=[[J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarship and Critical Assessment]] |editor-first=Michael |editor-last=Drout |editor-link=Michael Drout |chapter=Weapons, Named |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2013 |orig-year=2007 |isbn=978-0-415-86511-1 |pages=703–705}}
* {{cite book |last=Burke |first=Jessica |title=[[J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarship and Critical Assessment]] |editor1-first=Michael |editor1-last=Drout |editor1-link=Michael Drout |chapter=Mithril |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2013 |orig-year=2006 |isbn=978-0-415-96942-0 |pages=432–433}}
* {{ME-ref|Letters}} <!--Carpenter 1981-->
* {{cite book |last=Donovan |first=Leslie A. |chapter=Elf-shot |title=[[J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia]] |editor-first=Michael |editor-last=Drout |editor-link=Michael Drout |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2013 |orig-year=2007 |isbn=978-0-415-86511-1 |pages=148–149}}
* {{cite book |last=Hooker |first=Mark T. |date=2014 |title=The Tolkienaeum |publisher=Llyfrawr |isbn=978-1499759105}}
* {{cite book |last1=Petty |first1=Anne C. |title=[[J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarship and Critical Assessment]] |editor1-first=Michael |editor1-last=Drout |editor1-link=Michael Drout |chapter=Finland: Literary Sources |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2013 |orig-year=2006 |isbn=978-0-415-96942-0 |pages=205–207}}
* {{cite book |last=Piela |first=Joseph |title=[[J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarship and Critical Assessment]] |editor-first=Michael |editor-last=Drout |editor-link=Michael Drout |chapter=Arms and Armour |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2013 |orig-year=2007 |isbn=978-0-415-86511-1 |pages=26–27}}
* {{cite book |last=Smith |first=Chris |year=2003 |title=The Lord of the Rings: Weapons and Warfare |url=https://archive.org/details/lordofringsweapo00smit |url-access=registration |publisher=Mariner Books |isbn=0-618-39100-2}}
* {{cite book |last=Timmons |first=Dan |chapter=Jackson, Peter |title=[[J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarship and Critical Assessment]] |editor-first=Michael |editor-last=Drout |editor-link=Michael Drout |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2013 |orig-year=2006 |isbn=978-0-415-96942-0 |pages=303–309}}
* {{ME-ref|TH}}      <!--1937-->
* {{ME-ref|FOTR}}    <!--1954a-->
* {{ME-ref|TT}}      <!--1954-->
* {{ME-ref|ROTK}}    <!--1955-->
* {{ME-ref|Silm}}    <!--1977-->
* {{ME-ref|UT}}      <!--1980-->
* {{ME-ref|BoLT}}    <!--1984-->
* {{ME-ref|BoLT2}}   <!--1984b-->
* {{ME-ref|Lays}}    <!--1985-->
* {{ME-ref|LROW}}    <!--1987-->
* {{ME-ref|WJ}}      <!--1994-->
* {{cite book |last=Tolkien |first=J. R. R. |author-link=J. R. R. Tolkien |editor-last=Hostetter |editor-first=Carl |editor-link=Carl Hostetter |title=[[The Nature of Middle-earth]] |year=2021 |publisher=[[HarperCollins]], Mariner Books |isbn=978-0-35-845460-1}}
* {{cite book |last=Woosnam-Savage |first=Robert C. |chapter=The ''Matériel'' of Middle-earth |editor1-last=Bogstad |editor1-first=Janice M. |editor2-last=Kaveny |editor2-first=Philip E. |title=Picturing Tolkien: Essays on Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings Film Trilogy |title-link=Picturing Tolkien |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jNjKrXRP0G8C&pg=PA158 |year=2011 |publisher=[[McFarland & Company|McFarland]] |isbn=978-0-7864-8473-7 |pages=139–167}}
{{colend}}</small>

{{Middle-earth}}
{{Lord of the Rings}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Middle-earth Weapons And Armour}}
[[Category:Middle-earth weapons|*]]
[[Category:Middle-earth objects|*]]
[[Category:Fantasy weapons|*]]
[[Category:Middle-earth lists|Weapons]]
[[Category:Lists of fictional weapons|Middle-earth weapons]]