We really are living in the Golden age of Tolkien fan TH-cam channels... there's so many fantastic, informative TH-camrs that I cant even keep track who's who. Good stuff
Your passion for Tolkien's work has rekindled my own. I had previously only seen the movies and read LOTR and had no idea how extensive the lore truly is until I found your channel. Thank you for making these videos!
Clearly you didn't learn the Elvish script from the Appendices when you were a teenager in the 1980s. Personally, I hate the movies, both for the shallow popularity they granted my favorite work of fiction, and the poor treatment they gave it. Where is Tom Bombadil? Seriously? Suck it, Jackson, you never should have been given license to make this, your vision didn't nearly encompass Tolkein's.
@@JeffreyGoddin So let me get this straight, you're mad that Peter Jackson made an adaptation that could possibly appeal to anyone but the most hardcore of gatekeeping fanboys and instead made a series that allowed new generations of people to discover and fall in love with this thing you claim to care about? Get over yourself, please
A very insightful and plausible explanation of how Glamdring, Orcrist and Sting ended up in the troll hoard. Thanks! Those weapons also give insight into Elrond's generosity and foresight. When Gandalf, the dwarves and Bilbo showed him the blades, he could have legitimately claimed them as his property, being heirlooms of his great-grandfather's house. Elrond must have felt that the swords being picked up by Gandalf, Thorin and Bilbo meant that they were fated to wield them, so he didn't even mention his relation to Turgon (though I'm sure Gandalf knew about it and didn't mention it either). Thorin probably would have insisted on returning Orcrist to Elrond if he had known about its connection to Elrond's family since dwarves seem to be very punctilious about inheritance and property rights.
Maybe Gandalf didn't know at all. After all, he arrives to middle earth in the third age, an istari, a maiar with his memory erased, so he had to learn everything back. Otherwise why spend, him and also saruman, a lot of time in minas tirith library, to learn ancient lore from the second age? So it seems difficoult to me that he knows about blades from the first age, that he never sees with his wizard eye and that were forgotten by all but from the elves that saw them in action like Erlond himself.
I believe that if Glamdring had belonged to Elros, this would have been mentioned by Elrond. Because to him that would have been his brother's sword, rather than that of Turgon. The most plausible explanation is that it was taken by the ennemy during the fall of Gondolin, and then remained in the hands of orcs/goblins until the trolls acquired them somehow.
I love your idea of Glamdring, Orcrist and Sting ending up in Eriador through arriving at Numenor. I think it adds quite a bit more richness to their history and that they "stayed in the family" for a time, since Glamdring could have been wielded by Elrond's brother and his descendants.
I wonder why so many artists depict Gil Galad without his helmet? After all... "Gil-galad was an elven-king. Of him the harpers sadly sing; the last whose realm was fair and free between the Mountains and the Sea. His sword was long, his lance was keen. His shining helm afar was seen; the countless stars of heaven's field were mirrored in his silver shield. But long ago he rode away, and where he dwelleth none can say; for into darkness fell his star in Mordor where the shadows are. It seems bizarre that any warrior would go into battle without a helmet!
It’s not impossible that Aeglos was forged from the blade of Ringil… if it wasn’t buried with Fingolfin. It wouldn’t be the first blade of a fallen king reforged into a new weapon with a similar name and properties…
Anglachel is definitely my favorite. It's almost as much a character as it is a weapon. For the whole duration of Turin's story, you just KNOW that that blade is going to get up to some s***. Its mere presence is a constant source of foreboding.
I don't know if I would call Tuor underrated.... Lead his own House of Gondolin, father of Earendil/grandfather of Elros and Elrond, and you already explained his battle accomplishments. So yeah, probably less underrated and more one of the most important figures in Middle Earth's history.
I like that such an incredible artifact like Glamdring was lost to history and it is unknown how it ended up in the troll's cache. Not everything needs to be explained, and having mysteries is part of what makes the story so compelling.
Your reverence for Tolkien's incredible world is clear. Given today's preference for the media and their willingness to ""modernize" his work is heartbreaking. I will not watch the new series. I find it despicable. Thanks for this excellent video.
If Dave is down to give it a shot, it would be awesome to see him take a crack at narrating a one-week bedtime story version of the legendarium for kids. He has a great narrating voice.
@@tolkienuntangled Speak first, ask questions later? 😎 Also I think the family would be stoked to have a fan-fiction telling for the kids. Maybe give it a shot my bro, it might be well-received. 🤗
Considering it is the weapon that performs the single most important act in the signature story of the legendarium against Morgoth himself to obtain the greatest treasure a Man ever holds and which eventually allows the world to be saved, I really thought it would make this list. But it admittedly doesn’t get many mentions, which I imagine it’s the reason it was left off.
I really like your explanation for how Glamdring, Orcrist, and Sting wound up in the Trollshaws. I had always assumed they were raided from Gondolin by the invading orcs but them being rescued and sent to Numenor works much better. Another great video thanks Dave.
Agreed, that is the best theory for how Glamdring, Orcrist, & Sting ended up in the hands of Gandalf, Thorin, & Bilbo/Frodo I've yet heard. It's makes far more sense than any other theory I've seen.
Agreed, I think the Orcs were too scared of Glamdring & Orcrist to have plundered then from Gondolin. Trolls killing Dunedain Rangers for them makes more sense.
Back and forth from Numenor, Faithfull grab Turgon's and leave Thingol's sword? We know they at least made it over the Blue Mts after 1st age, knowing elvish weapons are only used by men & elves, who would have likely used it to cut all those knecks. I do not recall if swords ever had their names marked on them.
Like many I believe orcist was the weapon of ecthelion. If it was glorfindels, he'd want it back lol However they found themselves in the troll fells, glamdring and orcist played roles long after their forging
@@tombaker4998 The Faithful Numenorians may have also rescued Thingol's sword from Numenor before it was destroyed, but for whatever reason, the sword just didn't end up in the same troll hoard as the other three.
So true. Your absolutely right. Merry is not just a brave little person as is his depiction in the films. Merry is the reason the Witch King falls. I gotta give Pippin some love too...
Nah, I hate this kind of revisionism. Merry and Sam were heroes. But so was Frodo. And Aragorn. And Gandalf. They all were. Frodo especially gets this weird rep where, despite literally saving the world, his body and mind being destroyed by the ring as a result, people don't want to give him credit. Sam never went through what Frodo had to go through so its really unfair to say that Sam was "the real hero" when it was Frodo and Sam together that succeeded.
@@GetterRay I agree with you, but usually the hero of the story gets a happy final act, where they are transformed by their journey to a new place of power/happiness/whatever. Frodo doesn't get the hero's ending -- the girl, the fame, the glory; Sam and Aragorn do. Feels to me like Frodo not getting the hero's ending is echoing Tolkien's experience in World War I. many WWI veterans came home disfigured and permanently broken, like Frodo did. I don't think many came home in glory.
To quote Frodo: "We set out to save the Shire, Sam. And we did. But not for me. That's how it often has to be when things are in danger. Someone has to lose it, to give it up, so that others may keep it." Frodo gave it all up for others. And that's why I don't like it when people don't want to give him credit.@@inimitableminimalist
Becoming a Friday night, here that is, tradition. No Prancing Pony tonight, have an extra class for a hard working student tomorrow morning. Poor lad has worked so hard, but missed the first week of the term. Thanks for great content to look forward to, Sir of Many Colours!
I like Eol, those kind of characters that are virtuous but petty and jealous of their work, kinda remind me of Johannes Kepler. (I like it because it remind me that usually your worst enemy is yourself and that enemy is the most prone to hold you back) Also like tragic virtuous characters like Turin himself and in that version when Turin gives the final blow to Morgoth and finally kill the Dark Lord, to me, is like the Valar gave him the honor/chance to do that so he could have closure/vengeance against Morgoth for what he did to his Kin. Because that is what Morgoth did, took arguable the most virtuous man ever existing in middle earth and turn it to one of the most (if not the most) tragic stories in the Legendarioum. That makes Gurthang my favorite weapon. Excellent video! Cheers!
My favorite is Glamdring. I remember finding a secluded spot in our horse pasture and pretending to wield it while slaying imaginary orcs and balrogs. Such good memories lol. Great video Rainbow Dave!
It's interesting that we never really hear of the sword that Feanor wielded, other than it was once used to threaten Fingolfin. Surely, though, it would have a magical weapon of great properties that he used in his great battle against the Balrogs of Morgoth. Feanor didn't live long enough in Middle Earth for it to become known, and I assume it never made it into the hands of Maedhros or any of his brothers as an heirloom.
I'd like to believe the spear was made from the sword, a reforge always seems to circle around the family storylines of revenge and redemption. Like Anduil.
I always felt that that very same sword actually was Ringil, which Fingolfin later took up both as a slight and a token to remember Feanor by. Though if I had to think of a sword for Feanor, I would think it should be named Naurë - Flame - to match its weirder fiery personality.
This may be the first video of yours that I've seen, but I'm impressed. It was a well-thought-out and well-explained list, although Sting should've at least gotten an honorable mention!
Sting - while truth is it was probably forged a fairly standard knife in the first age - but in the third age its deeds are great - even if those wielding it were not the greatest warriors - it was present a key point in downfall of Sauron and wounded / drove off Shelob!
Headcanon: The Black Arrow of Dale was a unique homing arrow forged by the dwarves of Erebor, imbued with dwarven craftsmanship and with special feathers in addition to dwarven magic, thus allowing the arrow to be influenced by the thoughts of whomever shot it, so the archer would speak their target, loose the bow, and let the arrow home in on said target. Effectively an arrow that never ever misses. The morgul blade was built with old and evil magic, so that upon stabbing someone, the blade would shatter and fragment, leaving a poisoning blade piece lodged in the victim. After some time the dagger would regenerate. This made the morgul blade a very powerful finisher in a duel. Most daggers were used to parry swords and the like, but the morgul blade, suggested by its reversed crossguard, is intended as a stab and run kind of weapon.
I wonder what happened to Aeglos. As a fan of spears, I always liked it very much. Hopefully someone in the third age still wielded it in the fight against Sauron.
I love Aragorn’s Anduain Flane of the West. Remade from the blade that was broken Narsile. Sting was kinda cool the Blade glows blue when orcs are near.
Hey, 🌈 Dave! This was an interesting top ten. As usual, you add a lot of the rich backstory that make your videos so distinct, fun and fascinating. I love the Quenya (or is it Sindarin?) numbers under the English text as you count down. Maybe say them in Elvish for us once just for fun!!! It’d be interesting to hear. Whatever you think best, of course. This IS your “baby” after all! 😄 Have a marvelous weekend!!!
The breaking of the Morgul knife wasn't just an unhappy accident. Elrond says, "the purpose of the knife was to break off in the wound, leaving a shard in the victim's body." Terrifying. So presumably, a Morgul knife would be a weapon used only once, for assassination or to subdue (or skin alive?) a single target. I wonder if they keep several. Do their robes even have pockets?
Rainbow Dan, you are such a gifted storyteller. Your delivery is so fun and fresh that you made me love a video about ... weapons? Trust me, this not my thing at all. But as usual, the video was great both in terms of information and entertainment. I might actually watch it again ... how did you do that?
my favorite of all the times is Ringil , i think that The Dragon-helm of Dor-lómin should be mentioned although it is not a weapon , a defense object but should at least have a honorable mention for just being awesome . and also hail Ecthelion's helmet for finally shutting down the king slayer :')
Wow, such a good video. I read the books a long time ago makes me wonder what I have missed or forgotten after watching the movies over and over again. Great job.
Great video man! probably my favorite weapon on all of Tolkiens World would be Anglachel/Gurthang the black blade, it´s the literal definition of a double edge sword linked to probably the darkest history and saddest character ever written by Tolkien and is one of the reasons why i love the Silmarillon a little bit more than LOTR, the histories just feel a bit darker and the characters more flawed, Spoiler for the Silmarillon below... I feel part of the malice that the blade has against Turin besides of Eols rage is the fact that Turin kills Beleg the Righteous owner of Anglachel/Gurthang with it by mistake, so want vengeance on Turin for it.
Great video, I loved all the reminders. Each weapon opened up so many little things I'd forgotten about and sometimes even charactors long gone in my head...I'm going back to these books, thank you indeed. As for any suggestions 🤔 How's abouts you try and give us... *Top 10 battle moments/skills *Top 10 dark moments? * Top 10 acts of deception? * Top 10 scary hidden creatures, such as Old Man Willow... But to be fair such list's would be fairly blimmin easy to make just stand alone. But the thought, detail and graphic you put in would make any of your Top 10 tens worth the watch, keep up the good work. I enjoyed that 👍🍻😎
Do you think it would be the remnant effects of the morgul blade or simply the possession of the ring? Perhaps the professor was making a connection here. I have complex ptsd due to my time spent overseas in Afghanistan and I was injured there. For my first year or so at the naval hospital in San Diego, I experienced “phantom” like pains. Every time my anxiety spikes, my old injuries act up. I know the ring heavily influenced emotions/paranoia etc…The only thing that is strange to me is the anniversary aspect of it, almost as if it is clockwork. That’s the part that leads me to thinking it is a dark magic or will lingering in him.
Dude your knowledge of Tolkien is extremely impressive. I love watching your videos, but I wonder why you haven't been described as a Tolkien Scholar. If you have been, then I apologize.
Thanks very much! I'm really glad you enjoy the videos. I'd be honoured to be considered a Tolkien scholar, although I feel there are scholars and then there are Scholars. I'm a huge fan of Tolkien's, but I'm nowhere near as knowledgeable as the Tolkien Professors who have dedicated their academic careers to Tolkien's works.
Great channel! I am just now finding this and watching a bunch of your previous videos. I liked your explanation of how Glamdring, Orcrist, and Sting ended up where they did. I guess they might have shared part of their fate with the weapons recovered from the barrow downs that the hobbits all used as well. One of which even helped defeat the chief Nazgul.
I have subscribed and will like all of your videos. So hard to find good entertainment on TH-cam and your channel is excellent with very high production values.
Gotta say that im biased to axes and hammers but the stories behind each weapon and those who bore them are amazing. Have you thought about having a discord server so people can get notified of uploads regularly (youtube doesn't notify about some of your uploads occasionally)
Aranruth definitely belongs on the list. Thingol's sword and the king sword of numenor. Not to mention that it will be at the end battle when morgoth returns.
This is all I could think of during that section. Stormbringer was pure evil, it killed Elric's wife and eventually killed him. The fact that it made weird singing/chanting noises when in battle as it consumed peoples souls just made it worse. A truly terrible weapon/entity.
It started with the forging of the great Films. The threads were given by Tolkien, immortal, wisest and fairest of all beings. The rights were granted to Jackson, the great mountain miner and craftsman of the mountain of lore .And nine, nine hours were given to the race of men, who above all else desire quality. But they were all of them deceived, for another show was made. In the Land of Amazon, in the fires of Mount Prime, the Dark Lord Bezos forged in secret a Master Flop. And in to this show he poured his money, his greed and his will to dominate every film. ONE SHOW TO RUIN THEM ALL. ⚔️
Gorthanc had its own will but I would argue the one ring also had its own will. Tolkien claimed a being that was stronger than Sauron could master the ring. It's just that the cost is he would get corrupted by the ring. So I would argue the ring is also entirely sentient. Even if it couldn't "speak"
The black arrow that was in the Animated Hobbit was awesome looking…..I still remember seeing it for the first time an ABC Special back in the mid-70’s (one of the few times my brothers and I were allowed to stay up past our 8:00 bed time)
The "aiglos" flower could be a snowdrop - reputed to be one of the first flowers to appear in the spring, often while there's still some snow on the ground.
I Really LOVE hearing this list of your TOP 10 WEAPONS along with the various, attached tales 💙 I’m rereading The Silmarillion as we speak…..THANKS DAVE! Excellent video as usual.
Glamdring had a short sword "twin" if you will that was made together as a set. The blade was later to be called "Sting." Frodo is the current owner of Sting.
What about the spear of Boldog, later used by Mablung? This is really strange because Boldog was an Orc captain and Mablung was an elf-captain of Doriath. Boldog has a curious vibe, as if he had some kind of redeeming feature -- maybe just bravery and determination. In the Lay of Leithian Beren, disguised as an Orc, is challenged with: Boldog he sent, but Boldog was slain: Strange ye were not in Boldog's train. This recalls a line in 'Balder Dead', an 1855 poem by Matthew Arnold. It tells of a journey to the Norse Hell, reminiscent of the crossing of the Helcaraxe. Anyway Odin reproaches the other gods: Balder has met his death, and ye survive The English name for Balder was Baeldaeg, so I 'm fairly sure of the connection. But it only deepens the mystery of Boldog.
I'm sure you already know this, but in Tolkien's later writings, he suggested that Boldog may not be a name, but instead it's the title of a type of Maia in orc form. Sort of like a step down from balrogs. It's a fascinating detail.
The Black Arrow is my favorite weapon of Tolkien. It's depiction in the movie was a huge disappointment. but I understand that movie had major production problems.
I enjoyed you speculation on Glamdring. I always pictured Glamdring and Orcrist as troll loot after the fall of Gondolin. I guessed the Orcs/Goblins would not have touched them but trolls apparently held no such fear. After the fall of Morgoth and his forces not destroyed were scattered. It held in my mind that trolls which have a natural tendency to gather and horde would have escaped to the east with what loot they could have carried from Angband. The life span of trolls is not addressed to my knowledge so whether they escaped as a band from the fall of Angband or whether they acquired them by some other means was always interesting mystery to me.
Had to freeze frame for a momen at mark 9:00 to admire the complexity and horrible beauty PJ put into his depiction of "Grond" for The Return Of The King. Perfect!!! :)
Turin’s axe HAD to be forged by elves because he came to Gondolin equipped with only those items left at Nevrast. Since he never left Gondolin until after the fall of that kingdom, the axe had to be crafted there.
My favourite would be Gurthang, I think. It was forged of Galvorn, if I remember correctly (the meteoric material). It was definitely sentiment and could speak, and so was a sort of precursor to the intelligent swords in Rolemaster and Dungeons & Dragons. But it wasn't psychopathic, and had sentiments for one of its owners... The Peter Jackson movies in my opinion suffer from something that so many works of fantasy, science fiction and super heroism do that are produced these days: something I think you might call 'extremis extremis.' It always has to be so violently over-the-top. A castle can't just be a castle of the Mediaeval sort we all know and love. It can't just have normal bastions and crenellations, which to my mind are cool enough. It must be a sort of unrealistic, special, Flash Gordon type design that a politically correct designer educated at a fancy American film academy dreamt up in a fever dream, that makes no sense and that no military historian could ever conceive. Elvish swords have to look like scimitars - a weapon Tolkien specifically associated with Orcs - and always be curved, fluted and embossed. (This is my chief beef with the movies.) Couldn't Elves ever design anything that was straight, even when it was practical do to so? Just because Gothic architecture was popular for cathedrals in the High Middle Ages, it did not mean all windows designed by High Mediaeval stonemasons and other artisans had pointy arches. I much prefer how Tolkien must have envisioned Noldorin ('... my kin...' as Legolas says in one of the movies - 'my kin' - Legolas' father was a Sinda and his mother Wood-elven) and other Elven swords, as their Mediaeval counterparts. In my version of Tolkien's world, in my mind's eye, the Elves wield straight, real world European Mediaeval swords, of the kind categorised by Oakshott. My images are those of David Day's "Tolkien Bestiary" and the "Tolkien Encyclopaedia." Those are way cooler than any curvy-wurvy scimitars imagined by Jackson (and which with their almost complete lack of cross-guards look more Chinese, a cool culture in its own right, than anything else). If Tolkien mentioned 'leaf-shaped' blades, he must with 100% certainty have meant of the Ancient Greek variety (such as those used as back-up weapons by Hoplite warriors). They should stop always trying to make everything 'extra cool.' What we actually have from the European Middle Ages (and which Tolkien actually intended) is way better.
From an artist direction point, each race having strikingly different aesthetics is a much more efficient and evocative method of story telling. The harmonisation of slender curvature aesthetic across elven architecture, armour and weaponry, attempts to convey beauty and elegance. Curves lend to a perception of elegance, grace and harmony with nature far better than stark battlements covered in crenelations. I personally think the art direction of the film would suffer if replaced with utilitarian medieval castles and baroque spires. Arda and its history are fantastical, and the jewels of each races architecture should be visually arresting and possess characters that not of this world. Tolkien's world, to my interpretation has elements realism and fantasy, containing elements of it high fantasy and grimdark. The wonders of Middle Earth would be made so much more parochial and mundane if the resembled our own history verbatim.
It pleases me to know that the 1977 RankinBass animated Hobbit movie got the Thrush talking to Bard correct, and that what he said of the Black Arrow after the Thrush told him of the missing scale upon Smaug's breast was almost word for word identical to what he said in the book. It's been more than 20 years since I read The Hobbit so I honestly remember very little of it because I was less than 10 years old so I didn't really comprehend most of it lol
As proof that I'm going to Tolkien Hell: Every time I read the contretemps that occurs over Anduril at the gate to Theoden's hall, I can't help but visualize, that once Aragorn, et. al. have entered; the gate keeper picks up Anduril and says something like; "Fetch me some grapefruits, I wanna see how sharp this thing is!" Verily, I am bound for the dungeons of Angband for my insolence. .
Did Tolkien ever mention how the special elf-forged weapons were imbued with their magical properties and why more were not forged? It must have been a special process that was very difficult to repeat since there are so few.
Most of them were "magical" in their making. It was pretty much only the Noldorin and Sindarin Elves that ever forged weapons, but id venture a guess that the Noldorin weapons were mightier in their crafting because they were either forged in Valinor and by the clan who above all other Elves were known for their crafting of things and if not made in Valinor, then made by those who had beheld the light of the Two Trees in ME. The reason they may seem like such a rarity in the Third Age, is because after the First Age, the vast majority of the Noldor-In-ME and many of the Sindar were allowed to return to/pass on to Valinor. In fact, it wasn't until the Noldor were banished and just coming back to ME that the First Age of the Sun and Moon began which coincided with Morgoth's first attacks upon the Sindar and Nandor began, making the NEED for weapons apparent. Basically there WERE many elven-forged "magical" weapons in ME....they just passed into the West with their wielders. Not to worry though, the Dagor Dagorath hasn't been fought yet lol.
The whole black arrow heirloom thing has always felt a little odd to me, since arrows are basically disposable. If you pick up a spent arrow, you have to check them over very carefully before using them again, unless you're willing to risk them snapping or splintering when you draw the bow and potentially injuring you or the person standing next to you. Arrows only last so long. For an arrow to be an heirloom, fired who knows how many times and always hitting the target and never being destroyed or broken... sounds like magic to me. The dwarves of Erebor sure knew what they were doing.
![The History of Morgoth [COMPILATION] | Tolkien Explained](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ktet64d9O-c/mqdefault.jpg)
The apple Sam throws at Bill Ferny in Bree deserves an honourable mentioning! 🍎
Can't argue with that logic.
And Ecthelion's spiked helmet.
The Frying pan
Nice book reference
An apple a day keeps Bill Ferny away!
We really are living in the Golden age of Tolkien fan TH-cam channels... there's so many fantastic, informative TH-camrs that I cant even keep track who's who. Good stuff
Your passion for Tolkien's work has rekindled my own. I had previously only seen the movies and read LOTR and had no idea how extensive the lore truly is until I found your channel. Thank you for making these videos!
I concur.
Clearly you didn't learn the Elvish script from the Appendices when you were a teenager in the 1980s. Personally, I hate the movies, both for the shallow popularity they granted my favorite work of fiction, and the poor treatment they gave it. Where is Tom Bombadil? Seriously? Suck it, Jackson, you never should have been given license to make this, your vision didn't nearly encompass Tolkein's.
The amount of writing Tolkian did is absolutely dizzying. He created entire languages.
@@JeffreyGoddin Shut up Jeff let people enjoy what they enjoy, who cares you read Elvish in the 80s do you want a sticker?
@@JeffreyGoddin So let me get this straight, you're mad that Peter Jackson made an adaptation that could possibly appeal to anyone but the most hardcore of gatekeeping fanboys and instead made a series that allowed new generations of people to discover and fall in love with this thing you claim to care about? Get over yourself, please
"The Children of Húrin is the least childfriendly book in the legendarium"
Facts gonna be facts, people
A very insightful and plausible explanation of how Glamdring, Orcrist and Sting ended up in the troll hoard. Thanks! Those weapons also give insight into Elrond's generosity and foresight. When Gandalf, the dwarves and Bilbo showed him the blades, he could have legitimately claimed them as his property, being heirlooms of his great-grandfather's house. Elrond must have felt that the swords being picked up by Gandalf, Thorin and Bilbo meant that they were fated to wield them, so he didn't even mention his relation to Turgon (though I'm sure Gandalf knew about it and didn't mention it either). Thorin probably would have insisted on returning Orcrist to Elrond if he had known about its connection to Elrond's family since dwarves seem to be very punctilious about inheritance and property rights.
Maybe Gandalf didn't know at all. After all, he arrives to middle earth in the third age, an istari, a maiar with his memory erased, so he had to learn everything back. Otherwise why spend, him and also saruman, a lot of time in minas tirith library, to learn ancient lore from the second age? So it seems difficoult to me that he knows about blades from the first age, that he never sees with his wizard eye and that were forgotten by all but from the elves that saw them in action like Erlond himself.
@@Rankidu Pretty sure Gandalf tells them which is which. Could be wrong though.
I believe that if Glamdring had belonged to Elros, this would have been mentioned by Elrond. Because to him that would have been his brother's sword, rather than that of Turgon. The most plausible explanation is that it was taken by the ennemy during the fall of Gondolin, and then remained in the hands of orcs/goblins until the trolls acquired them somehow.
What about Sam’s frying pan? It’s so multipurpose!
Bonk, Concusser of Orcs
@@valentinblue1952you know that frying pan is heavy af too
We all know Sam’s frying pan is the most OP weapon in the entire legendarium lol 😆
I would put Sting as an honorable mention for being the sidearm of two of the most important ring bearers & killing the descendants of Ungoliant
My thought exactly! I was SURE this blade would make the list!
@@josephdriesse1157 It should have been number 1 from a Hobbits point of view it was a great and very important weapon.
I love your idea of Glamdring, Orcrist and Sting ending up in Eriador through arriving at Numenor. I think it adds quite a bit more richness to their history and that they "stayed in the family" for a time, since Glamdring could have been wielded by Elrond's brother and his descendants.
I wonder why so many artists depict Gil Galad without his helmet?
After all... "Gil-galad was an elven-king.
Of him the harpers sadly sing;
the last whose realm was fair and free
between the Mountains and the Sea.
His sword was long, his lance was keen.
His shining helm afar was seen;
the countless stars of heaven's field
were mirrored in his silver shield.
But long ago he rode away,
and where he dwelleth none can say;
for into darkness fell his star
in Mordor where the shadows are.
It seems bizarre that any warrior would go into battle without a helmet!
Because it would conceal his pretty eleven face...I have no prove yet no doubt .
It’s not impossible that Aeglos was forged from the blade of Ringil… if it wasn’t buried with Fingolfin. It wouldn’t be the first blade of a fallen king reforged into a new weapon with a similar name and properties…
I love this guy’s positive vibes.
Anglachel is definitely my favorite. It's almost as much a character as it is a weapon. For the whole duration of Turin's story, you just KNOW that that blade is going to get up to some s***. Its mere presence is a constant source of foreboding.
It's the only weapon that has a voice unless you include the One Ring. Hail Gurthang; Iron of Death~!
I don't know if I would call Tuor underrated.... Lead his own House of Gondolin, father of Earendil/grandfather of Elros and Elrond, and you already explained his battle accomplishments. So yeah, probably less underrated and more one of the most important figures in Middle Earth's history.
"Underrated" in the sense of not much discussed by fans, I suppose.
I always imagine divers in thousands of years searching the ruins of Beleriand and finding all the lost things and ruins from the Silmarillion
Or divers in Forochel discovering the Palantiri.
I like that such an incredible artifact like Glamdring was lost to history and it is unknown how it ended up in the troll's cache. Not everything needs to be explained, and having mysteries is part of what makes the story so compelling.
Your reverence for Tolkien's incredible world is clear. Given today's preference for the media and their willingness to ""modernize" his work is heartbreaking. I will not watch the new series. I find it despicable. Thanks for this excellent video.
Just came back from 8 hours at the ER, this video was a very pleasant surprise to relax before sleep. Thank you!
If Dave is down to give it a shot, it would be awesome to see him take a crack at narrating a one-week bedtime story version of the legendarium for kids. He has a great narrating voice.
@@technodrome I’d definitely listen to that.
Thanks! That would be a lot of fun, but I don't know how it would work legally with copyright.
@@tolkienuntangled Speak first, ask questions later? 😎
Also I think the family would be stoked to have a fan-fiction telling for the kids. Maybe give it a shot my bro, it might be well-received. 🤗
Well, there is Beron's knife Angrist, the knife-kin to Narsil, the knife that freed the first Simiril from Melkor's Iron Crown
Considering it is the weapon that performs the single most important act in the signature story of the legendarium against Morgoth himself to obtain the greatest treasure a Man ever holds and which eventually allows the world to be saved, I really thought it would make this list. But it admittedly doesn’t get many mentions, which I imagine it’s the reason it was left off.
I'd put that on the list, no question about it.
Angrist tops all the other weapons by its use in action.
You make me ashamed to be a Tolkien fan
@@alextwide1523😉
I really like your explanation for how Glamdring, Orcrist, and Sting wound up in the Trollshaws.
I had always assumed they were raided from Gondolin by the invading orcs but them being rescued and sent to Numenor works much better.
Another great video thanks Dave.
Agreed, that is the best theory for how Glamdring, Orcrist, & Sting ended up in the hands of Gandalf, Thorin, & Bilbo/Frodo I've yet heard. It's makes far more sense than any other theory I've seen.
Agreed, I think the Orcs were too scared of Glamdring & Orcrist to have plundered then from Gondolin. Trolls killing Dunedain Rangers for them makes more sense.
Back and forth from Numenor, Faithfull grab Turgon's and leave Thingol's sword? We know they at least made it over the Blue Mts after 1st age, knowing elvish weapons are only used by men & elves, who would have likely used it to cut all those knecks. I do not recall if swords ever had their names marked on them.
Like many I believe orcist was the weapon of ecthelion.
If it was glorfindels, he'd want it back lol
However they found themselves in the troll fells, glamdring and orcist played roles long after their forging
@@tombaker4998 The Faithful Numenorians may have also rescued Thingol's sword from Numenor before it was destroyed, but for whatever reason, the sword just didn't end up in the same troll hoard as the other three.
Also, I would like to say how much a breath of fresh air this channel is. Dave of many colors, you are unique and an excellent teacher of Tolkien.
I think the fact the Merry kind of saves the whole day is really understated in this whole thing. Merry and Sam are the real heroes.
So true. Your absolutely right. Merry is not just a brave little person as is his depiction in the films. Merry is the reason the Witch King falls. I gotta give Pippin some love too...
Oh jeeeez. My precious.
Nah, I hate this kind of revisionism. Merry and Sam were heroes. But so was Frodo. And Aragorn. And Gandalf. They all were. Frodo especially gets this weird rep where, despite literally saving the world, his body and mind being destroyed by the ring as a result, people don't want to give him credit. Sam never went through what Frodo had to go through so its really unfair to say that Sam was "the real hero" when it was Frodo and Sam together that succeeded.
@@GetterRay I agree with you, but usually the hero of the story gets a happy final act, where they are transformed by their journey to a new place of power/happiness/whatever. Frodo doesn't get the hero's ending -- the girl, the fame, the glory; Sam and Aragorn do. Feels to me like Frodo not getting the hero's ending is echoing Tolkien's experience in World War I. many WWI veterans came home disfigured and permanently broken, like Frodo did. I don't think many came home in glory.
To quote Frodo:
"We set out to save the Shire, Sam. And we did. But not for me. That's how it often has to be when things are in danger. Someone has to lose it, to give it up, so that others may keep it."
Frodo gave it all up for others. And that's why I don't like it when people don't want to give him credit.@@inimitableminimalist
Awesome list. Keep up the great work Mellon! Do you believe that Orcrist was Ecthelion's sword? My favorite weapon was Gil-Galad's spear.
I believe that
' Sting' was very popular.
Becoming a Friday night, here that is, tradition. No Prancing Pony tonight, have an extra class for a hard working student tomorrow morning. Poor lad has worked so hard, but missed the first week of the term.
Thanks for great content to look forward to, Sir of Many Colours!
I like Eol, those kind of characters that are virtuous but petty and jealous of their work, kinda remind me of Johannes Kepler. (I like it because it remind me that usually your worst enemy is yourself and that enemy is the most prone to hold you back)
Also like tragic virtuous characters like Turin himself and in that version when Turin gives the final blow to Morgoth and finally kill the Dark Lord, to me, is like the Valar gave him the honor/chance to do that so he could have closure/vengeance against Morgoth for what he did to his Kin. Because that is what Morgoth did, took arguable the most virtuous man ever existing in middle earth and turn it to one of the most (if not the most) tragic stories in the Legendarioum.
That makes Gurthang my favorite weapon.
Excellent video!
Cheers!
it is indeed the most tragic story in the Legendarioum
I love the connections you are making between certain weapons. Some of your speculations seem solid.
This channel has really good production value. You deserve to be a lot bigger!
My favorite is Glamdring. I remember finding a secluded spot in our horse pasture and pretending to wield it while slaying imaginary orcs and balrogs. Such good memories lol. Great video Rainbow Dave!
It's interesting that we never really hear of the sword that Feanor wielded, other than it was once used to threaten Fingolfin. Surely, though, it would have a magical weapon of great properties that he used in his great battle against the Balrogs of Morgoth. Feanor didn't live long enough in Middle Earth for it to become known, and I assume it never made it into the hands of Maedhros or any of his brothers as an heirloom.
Maybe he did not feel the need to name it as it was possibly the first sword ever created in the world or at least presented to a public
I'd like to believe the spear was made from the sword, a reforge always seems to circle around the family storylines of revenge and redemption. Like Anduil.
I always felt that that very same sword actually was Ringil, which Fingolfin later took up both as a slight and a token to remember Feanor by.
Though if I had to think of a sword for Feanor, I would think it should be named Naurë - Flame - to match its weirder fiery personality.
This may be the first video of yours that I've seen, but I'm impressed. It was a well-thought-out and well-explained list, although Sting should've at least gotten an honorable mention!
I would put as first three: 1) Gurthang as it was used to kill Melkor in the Dagor Dagorath, 2) Grond, 3) Weapon that killed Ancalagon
Sting - while truth is it was probably forged a fairly standard knife in the first age - but in the third age its deeds are great - even if those wielding it were not the greatest warriors - it was present a key point in downfall of Sauron and wounded / drove off Shelob!
Headcanon:
The Black Arrow of Dale was a unique homing arrow forged by the dwarves of Erebor, imbued with dwarven craftsmanship and with special feathers in addition to dwarven magic, thus allowing the arrow to be influenced by the thoughts of whomever shot it, so the archer would speak their target, loose the bow, and let the arrow home in on said target. Effectively an arrow that never ever misses.
The morgul blade was built with old and evil magic, so that upon stabbing someone, the blade would shatter and fragment, leaving a poisoning blade piece lodged in the victim. After some time the dagger would regenerate. This made the morgul blade a very powerful finisher in a duel. Most daggers were used to parry swords and the like, but the morgul blade, suggested by its reversed crossguard, is intended as a stab and run kind of weapon.
I like that idea but i love the fact it was a Father/Son team that bought Smaug down and a damn good eye!🧐🏹🐉
I wonder what happened to Aeglos. As a fan of spears, I always liked it very much. Hopefully someone in the third age still wielded it in the fight against Sauron.
Recently started watching your videos. Their so epic and interesting. I love the passion with which you describe Tolkien's lore. Thanks!
Love the video. Very informative. Honestly I struggled with the Silmarillion, so your content really helps fill in my lore gaps :D
Would love to know what became of Anglachel's sibling Anguirel.
I love Aragorn’s Anduain Flane of the West. Remade from the blade that was broken Narsile. Sting was kinda cool the Blade glows blue when orcs are near.
Hey, 🌈 Dave! This was an interesting top ten. As usual, you add a lot of the rich backstory that make your videos so distinct, fun and fascinating.
I love the Quenya (or is it Sindarin?) numbers under the English text as you count down. Maybe say them in Elvish for us once just for fun!!! It’d be interesting to hear. Whatever you think best, of course. This IS your “baby” after all! 😄
Have a marvelous weekend!!!
Ive been doing the rounds through the middle earth youtube buffs. You are by far my favorite.
And what of Samwise's frying pan, might I inquire?...............
42 minutes and 40 seconds well-spent. Thank you, RD!
The breaking of the Morgul knife wasn't just an unhappy accident. Elrond says, "the purpose of the knife was to break off in the wound, leaving a shard in the victim's body."
Terrifying. So presumably, a Morgul knife would be a weapon used only once, for assassination or to subdue (or skin alive?) a single target. I wonder if they keep several. Do their robes even have pockets?
*Nazgul tries on new robe and cowl*
“Ohhhh look! This one has pockets! I never get pockets!”
Finally important questions!
@@archangeldad2007 i just imagined an excited lil nazgul showing his pockets to daddy sauron exlaiming itself in the cutest lil black speech
What does the Nazgul have in it's nasty little pocketses?!
I think my favorite weapon from the whole setting is Sting. A blade used by simple folks in dark times to do great things.
Rainbow Dan, you are such a gifted storyteller. Your delivery is so fun and fresh that you made me love a video about ... weapons?
Trust me, this not my thing at all. But as usual, the video was great both in terms of information and entertainment. I might actually watch it again ... how did you do that?
my favorite of all the times is Ringil , i think that The Dragon-helm of Dor-lómin should be mentioned although it is not a weapon , a defense object but should at least have a honorable mention for just being awesome .
and also hail Ecthelion's helmet for finally shutting down the king slayer :')
Fantastic research and ideas for the trails the swords took!
Thanks for mentioning my flaming sword ! Keep up the great work. ☺️
Wow, such a good video. I read the books a long time ago makes me wonder what I have missed or forgotten after watching the movies over and over again. Great job.
I've always been fascinated by Gil-Galad's spear. Thanks for another TERRIFIC video.
Coffee and Dave!! It's gonna be a rainbow day 😆 love this episode
Enjoy your day!
Great video man! probably my favorite weapon on all of Tolkiens World would be Anglachel/Gurthang the black blade, it´s the literal definition of a double edge sword linked to probably the darkest history and saddest character ever written by Tolkien and is one of the reasons why i love the Silmarillon a little bit more than LOTR, the histories just feel a bit darker and the characters more flawed, Spoiler for the Silmarillon below...
I feel part of the malice that the blade has against Turin besides of Eols rage is the fact that Turin kills Beleg the Righteous owner of Anglachel/Gurthang with it by mistake, so want vengeance on Turin for it.
Great video, I loved all the reminders.
Each weapon opened up so many little things I'd forgotten about and sometimes even charactors long gone in my head...I'm going back to these books, thank you indeed.
As for any suggestions 🤔
How's abouts you try and give us...
*Top 10 battle moments/skills
*Top 10 dark moments?
* Top 10 acts of deception?
* Top 10 scary hidden creatures, such as
Old Man Willow...
But to be fair such list's would be fairly blimmin easy to make just stand alone.
But the thought, detail and graphic you put in would make any of your Top 10 tens worth the watch, keep up the good work. I enjoyed that 👍🍻😎
Do you think it would be the remnant effects of the morgul blade or simply the possession of the ring?
Perhaps the professor was making a connection here.
I have complex ptsd due to my time spent overseas in Afghanistan and I was injured there. For my first year or so at the naval hospital in San Diego, I experienced “phantom” like pains. Every time my anxiety spikes, my old injuries act up. I know the ring heavily influenced emotions/paranoia etc…The only thing that is strange to me is the anniversary aspect of it, almost as if it is clockwork. That’s the part that leads me to thinking it is a dark magic or will lingering in him.
I've heard people suggest that Frodo's heightened senses in Moria may be an effect of his PTS.
I've loved that opening quote since I first read it. Thank you for including it.
Dude your knowledge of Tolkien is extremely impressive. I love watching your videos, but I wonder why you haven't been described as a Tolkien Scholar. If you have been, then I apologize.
Thanks very much! I'm really glad you enjoy the videos. I'd be honoured to be considered a Tolkien scholar, although I feel there are scholars and then there are Scholars. I'm a huge fan of Tolkien's, but I'm nowhere near as knowledgeable as the Tolkien Professors who have dedicated their academic careers to Tolkien's works.
Great channel! I am just now finding this and watching a bunch of your previous videos. I liked your explanation of how Glamdring, Orcrist, and Sting ended up where they did. I guess they might have shared part of their fate with the weapons recovered from the barrow downs that the hobbits all used as well. One of which even helped defeat the chief Nazgul.
I have subscribed and will like all of your videos. So hard to find good entertainment on TH-cam and your channel is excellent with very high production values.
Thanks! I'm really glad you enjoy the videos!
Your passion is so AWESOME, I love that I just found you channel, keep up the work you legend.
Gotta say that im biased to axes and hammers but the stories behind each weapon and those who bore them are amazing. Have you thought about having a discord server so people can get notified of uploads regularly (youtube doesn't notify about some of your uploads occasionally)
I may set up a Discord server in the relatively near future.
Aranruth definitely belongs on the list. Thingol's sword and the king sword of numenor. Not to mention that it will be at the end battle when morgoth returns.
Fabulous interpretations and explications… best I’ve found… thank you!
Note the strange resemblance between Gurthang and Stormbringer, the great black sword wielded by Elric in the series by Michael Moorcock.
This is all I could think of during that section. Stormbringer was pure evil, it killed Elric's wife and eventually killed him.
The fact that it made weird singing/chanting noises when in battle as it consumed peoples souls just made it worse. A truly terrible weapon/entity.
It started with the forging of the great Films.
The threads were given by Tolkien, immortal, wisest and fairest of all beings. The rights were granted to Jackson, the great mountain miner and craftsman of the mountain of lore .And nine, nine hours were given to the race of men, who above all else desire quality. But they were all of them deceived, for another show was made. In the Land of Amazon, in the fires of Mount Prime, the Dark Lord Bezos forged in secret a Master Flop. And in to this show he poured his money, his greed and his will to dominate every film.
ONE SHOW TO RUIN THEM ALL. ⚔️
Good work sir. I really enjoyed that. Thank you for the laugh.
And sank from after shooting the stars into the ocean Atlantic with Smaug's treasure. Pr north Korea... take your pick
Great video, research, and art featured
Gorthanc had its own will but I would argue the one ring also had its own will. Tolkien claimed a being that was stronger than Sauron could master the ring. It's just that the cost is he would get corrupted by the ring. So I would argue the ring is also entirely sentient. Even if it couldn't "speak"
That was absolutely incredible video, thanks for that!
The black arrow that was in the Animated Hobbit was awesome looking…..I still remember seeing it for the first time an ABC Special back in the mid-70’s (one of the few times my brothers and I were allowed to stay up past our 8:00 bed time)
Wait, what about Beleg's great Bow? --loved the video 🥰
34:24 Scandalous that Tolkien named an orc lord after a primary Celtic god 🤣
The "aiglos" flower could be a snowdrop - reputed to be one of the first flowers to appear in the spring, often while there's still some snow on the ground.
Gurthang for me.... The story of Turin Turambor is epic...
I Really LOVE hearing this list of your TOP 10 WEAPONS along with the various, attached tales 💙 I’m rereading The Silmarillion as we speak…..THANKS DAVE! Excellent video as usual.
This Dunedine Dagger stuff is amazing never having read the books. Something so beautiful about “unseen sinews”.
Omg awesomeeeee I loves videos like this
Fingolfin's sword was my favorite
Sam's Holy Frying Pan should have been on the list. Not only can you cook with you can bonk orcs with it
Glamdring had a short sword "twin" if you will that was made together as a set. The blade was later to be called "Sting." Frodo is the current owner of Sting.
What about the spear of Boldog, later used by Mablung? This is really strange because Boldog was an Orc captain and Mablung was an elf-captain of Doriath. Boldog has a curious vibe, as if he had some kind of redeeming feature -- maybe just bravery and determination. In the Lay of Leithian Beren, disguised as an Orc, is challenged with:
Boldog he sent, but Boldog was slain:
Strange ye were not in Boldog's train.
This recalls a line in 'Balder Dead', an 1855 poem by Matthew Arnold. It tells of a journey to the Norse Hell, reminiscent of the crossing of the Helcaraxe. Anyway Odin reproaches the other gods:
Balder has met his death, and ye survive
The English name for Balder was Baeldaeg, so I 'm fairly sure of the connection. But it only deepens the mystery of Boldog.
I'm sure you already know this, but in Tolkien's later writings, he suggested that Boldog may not be a name, but instead it's the title of a type of Maia in orc form. Sort of like a step down from balrogs. It's a fascinating detail.
The Black Arrow is my favorite weapon of Tolkien. It's depiction in the movie was a huge disappointment. but I understand that movie had major production problems.
Loved this content.
Good choices dave.
Hard though to pick a number one favourite for myself
I enjoyed you speculation on Glamdring. I always pictured Glamdring and Orcrist as troll loot after the fall of Gondolin. I guessed the Orcs/Goblins would not have touched them but trolls apparently held no such fear. After the fall of Morgoth and his forces not destroyed were scattered. It held in my mind that trolls which have a natural tendency to gather and horde would have escaped to the east with what loot they could have carried from Angband. The life span of trolls is not addressed to my knowledge so whether they escaped as a band from the fall of Angband or whether they acquired them by some other means was always interesting mystery to me.
Amazing video!
Had to freeze frame for a momen at mark 9:00 to admire the complexity and horrible beauty PJ put into his depiction of "Grond" for The Return Of The King. Perfect!!! :)
No, no, no. The most powerful weapon in Middle Earth is Tom Bombadil's laughter. :)
Badass list for a badass channel
Gurthang/Anglachel *definitely* my favorite.
My top one is Ringil. Great list!!!
Lobelia's umbrella
Turin’s axe HAD to be forged by elves because he came to Gondolin equipped with only those items left at Nevrast. Since he never left Gondolin until after the fall of that kingdom, the axe had to be crafted there.
*Tuor's axe.
Great commentary!
My favourite would be Gurthang, I think. It was forged of Galvorn, if I remember correctly (the meteoric material). It was definitely sentiment and could speak, and so was a sort of precursor to the intelligent swords in Rolemaster and Dungeons & Dragons. But it wasn't psychopathic, and had sentiments for one of its owners...
The Peter Jackson movies in my opinion suffer from something that so many works of fantasy, science fiction and super heroism do that are produced these days: something I think you might call 'extremis extremis.' It always has to be so violently over-the-top. A castle can't just be a castle of the Mediaeval sort we all know and love. It can't just have normal bastions and crenellations, which to my mind are cool enough. It must be a sort of unrealistic, special, Flash Gordon type design that a politically correct designer educated at a fancy American film academy dreamt up in a fever dream, that makes no sense and that no military historian could ever conceive. Elvish swords have to look like scimitars - a weapon Tolkien specifically associated with Orcs - and always be curved, fluted and embossed. (This is my chief beef with the movies.) Couldn't Elves ever design anything that was straight, even when it was practical do to so? Just because Gothic architecture was popular for cathedrals in the High Middle Ages, it did not mean all windows designed by High Mediaeval stonemasons and other artisans had pointy arches. I much prefer how Tolkien must have envisioned Noldorin ('... my kin...' as Legolas says in one of the movies - 'my kin' - Legolas' father was a Sinda and his mother Wood-elven) and other Elven swords, as their Mediaeval counterparts. In my version of Tolkien's world, in my mind's eye, the Elves wield straight, real world European Mediaeval swords, of the kind categorised by Oakshott. My images are those of David Day's "Tolkien Bestiary" and the "Tolkien Encyclopaedia." Those are way cooler than any curvy-wurvy scimitars imagined by Jackson (and which with their almost complete lack of cross-guards look more Chinese, a cool culture in its own right, than anything else). If Tolkien mentioned 'leaf-shaped' blades, he must with 100% certainty have meant of the Ancient Greek variety (such as those used as back-up weapons by Hoplite warriors). They should stop always trying to make everything 'extra cool.' What we actually have from the European Middle Ages (and which Tolkien actually intended) is way better.
From an artist direction point, each race having strikingly different aesthetics is a much more efficient and evocative method of story telling.
The harmonisation of slender curvature aesthetic across elven architecture, armour and weaponry, attempts to convey beauty and elegance. Curves lend to a perception of elegance, grace and harmony with nature far better than stark battlements covered in crenelations.
I personally think the art direction of the film would suffer if replaced with utilitarian medieval castles and baroque spires. Arda and its history are fantastical, and the jewels of each races architecture should be visually arresting and possess characters that not of this world.
Tolkien's world, to my interpretation has elements realism and fantasy, containing elements of it high fantasy and grimdark. The wonders of Middle Earth would be made so much more parochial and mundane if the resembled our own history verbatim.
Happy Friday, Rainbow Dave. Stay Groovy 🤟
I'm not even a big weapon guy and I think these were all pretty cool.
It pleases me to know that the 1977 RankinBass animated Hobbit movie got the Thrush talking to Bard correct, and that what he said of the Black Arrow after the Thrush told him of the missing scale upon Smaug's breast was almost word for word identical to what he said in the book. It's been more than 20 years since I read The Hobbit so I honestly remember very little of it because I was less than 10 years old so I didn't really comprehend most of it lol
As proof that I'm going to Tolkien Hell: Every time I read the contretemps that occurs over Anduril at the gate to Theoden's hall, I can't help but visualize, that once Aragorn, et. al. have entered; the gate keeper picks up Anduril and says something like; "Fetch me some grapefruits, I wanna see how sharp this thing is!"
Verily, I am bound for the dungeons of Angband for my insolence.
.
It's a nice place, from what I've seen.. You'll fit right in!
@@Durins_Babe Yes, I hear it's quite...toasty in it's hospitality.
Did Tolkien ever mention how the special elf-forged weapons were imbued with their magical properties and why more were not forged? It must have been a special process that was very difficult to repeat since there are so few.
Most of them were "magical" in their making. It was pretty much only the Noldorin and Sindarin Elves that ever forged weapons, but id venture a guess that the Noldorin weapons were mightier in their crafting because they were either forged in Valinor and by the clan who above all other Elves were known for their crafting of things and if not made in Valinor, then made by those who had beheld the light of the Two Trees in ME. The reason they may seem like such a rarity in the Third Age, is because after the First Age, the vast majority of the Noldor-In-ME and many of the Sindar were allowed to return to/pass on to Valinor. In fact, it wasn't until the Noldor were banished and just coming back to ME that the First Age of the Sun and Moon began which coincided with Morgoth's first attacks upon the Sindar and Nandor began, making the NEED for weapons apparent. Basically there WERE many elven-forged "magical" weapons in ME....they just passed into the West with their wielders. Not to worry though, the Dagor Dagorath hasn't been fought yet lol.
The whole black arrow heirloom thing has always felt a little odd to me, since arrows are basically disposable. If you pick up a spent arrow, you have to check them over very carefully before using them again, unless you're willing to risk them snapping or splintering when you draw the bow and potentially injuring you or the person standing next to you. Arrows only last so long. For an arrow to be an heirloom, fired who knows how many times and always hitting the target and never being destroyed or broken... sounds like magic to me. The dwarves of Erebor sure knew what they were doing.
Im suprised you didnt include Sting- its probably the only wepon name people remember from just the films- and probably the wepon we see most.
Love it when he says "mmmBUT!"
Forged by a dwarf, reforged by elves, wielded by a Man, talk about some themes going on there with anduril.