A Gandalf Sword Lore and Replica Buying Guide

The Lord of the Rings (LOTR), a movie and book franchise created by J.R.R. Tolkien, is known for being the home of the most recognizable swords in fiction. Its fantasy setting of Middle-Earth introduced many fans to iconic fantasy swords such as Aragorn’s Anduril and Narsil, Elrond’s Hadhafang, and, lastly, Gandalf the Grey’s elven sword.

Gandalf’s sword has even exhibited the power to cut through the flesh of Balrog, a demon-like monster made of fire, and is said to be among the most beautiful blades in LOTR. 

All 5 Basic Facts About Gandalf’s Sword

The Glamdring sword of Gandalf is one of the few Lord of the Rings swords to be featured in multiple films. It’s been in three separate Lord of the Rings movies including The Fellowship of the Ring and has been featured in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey where it was discovered after centuries of being presumed lost.

1. The Sword of Gandalf Has A Quenya Name

The legendary blade of Gandalf the White has an equally intimidating name. The sword’s name “Glamdring” actually translates to “foe-hammer” in Quenya or, if you want to be really crude about it, “Beater”. This name points to the sword’s primary purpose as a defeater of orcs.

2. Glamdring Used To Belong To Turgon

Before it became the blade of Gandalf the Grey, the Glamdring sword belonged to Turgon, a Noldorin Elf who ruled as King of Gondolin and High King of the Noldor during the first age. He had Glamdring especially made for his personal use. Along with it, the swords Sting and Orcrist were crafted.

Following the Fall of Gondolin, the swords were believed to have been lost. Though rumors of them surfaced every now and then, there were no solid leads as to where the swords were for hundreds of years.

3. Glamdring Was Discovered Together With Two Other Swords

Glamdring wasn’t created alone, so it wasn’t found alone. Its sister swords Orcrist and Sting, were found in the same spot it was found in. Orcrist, whose name means “Biter”,  is later used by Thorin Oakenshield while Bilbo Baggins took Sting, which was actually an elven dagger before passing it onto his relative, Frodo Baggins.

The swords’ discovery in a cave together left their group in awe since the swords had been presumed to be forever lost following the fall of Gondolin. 

4. Glamdring Is A Lot Fancier In the Books

A lot of the swords in LOTR get downgraded in the movies for practical reasons. In the books, Glamdring is easily one of the most beautiful swords where together with Orcrist, were said to have “beautiful scabbards and jeweled hilts”.

5. Glamdring Is A Half And Hand Sword

Glamdring’s size seems as if it is too heavy to use with one hand, possibly explaining the longer grip. However, the sword’s lightness allows for it to be used with a single hand as seen when Gandalf fights in the movies with it. This design is commonly found in hand and a half swords, a type of blade that’s considered to be a sword between a longsword and a zweihander, a two-handed sword.

This hybrid design gives hand and a half swords the fluidity of movement offered by longswords while also keeping a similar thrusting power to the zweihander.

What’s A Glamdring Replica Sword And How Do I Get One?

While you won’t have any orcs or goblins to kill in real life, you can still get your own Glamdring replica sword. This type of sword is meant to mimic the appearance of the fantasy sword you’ve seen in the LOTR films without being the real thing. How real it looks might just  depend on your budget and needs.

Sword Replicas vs. Battle Ready Swords

Most commercial Gandalf sword replicas are display replicas, meaning that you can only cosplay, roleplay, and display them as part of your fantasy fiction collection. These swords are safe for general use though they are still too heavy for play time with your little hobbits. 

Battle ready swords are the true non-kid friendly replicas as they have a sharp edge and are built for swapping blows with other swords. They are also typically made of stronger stainless steel than display swords. Unless you’re already a Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) practitioner, you won’t find much use out of this type of replica.

Sword Materials

Gandalf sword replicas are made of different materials, a factor that influences their price and the quality of their appearance. 

• Stainless steel

Stainless steel gives replica swords a realistic sheen and weight, making it the premier material for replica swords. Variants of stainless steel are used by sword makers to differentiate run of the mill replicas from limited editions and battle-ready copies. Higher quality swords can be made of Damascus steel and high carbon steel, just to name a few.

• ABS Plastic

Another common material for replica swords, ABS plastic can be found in everything from keycaps to medical gear. The plastic’s stable structure and ability to keep its color and shape over long stretches of time make it ideal for collectors on a budget who just need a sword that looks like real metal.

• Wood

This is a more common material for katana replicas since wood can easily be bent to the traditional katana shape. That said, it’s still used for European-style sword replicas as a durable yet cheap alternative that won’t easily break in a play fight.

• Foam

Foam is used a lot in children’s sword replicas, so if you want to match swords with a little one, you might want to consider the safety and softness of foam. A word of warning, though: Foam will disintegrate after a few years so if it’s a collector’s item you want, you’re better off with any of the other replica sword materials.

Your Budget

The last thing to consider when you buy a Gandalf sword replica is your budget. Don’t feel pressured to overspend as most replica swords can be counted on to copy the major details of your favorite fantasy sword. However, a bigger budget lets you select more detailed replicas that are made with better materials.

Our Top Picks for the Best Gandalf Sword Replicas

You won’t have to search for your Gandalf sword replica alone as we’ve pulled together a few of the best ones on the market. These Glamdring sword replicas are the perfect balance between price point, quality, and looks, making sure you make the most out of your money.

1. United Cutlery’s Glamdring, The Sword Of Gandalf Replica

United Cutlery’s Glamdring replica is a movie-accurate reproduction of Gandalf’s sword that features a straight-edged stainless steel blade that tapers into the curved crossguard which features a small blue gemstone in the middle that lines up with the sword’s blood groove, emphasizing its symmetry relative to the crossguard.

Speaking of the crossguard, it contains an engraving in Quenya that tells its name and story. The crossguard transitions to a leather-wrapped handle and ends in a weighted pommel.

• Material: Stainless steel
• Length: 91.44

2. Glamdring Dagger Replica

If you don’t have room for a hand and a half sword, you might like this dagger-style replica of the Glamdring sword. Remember how the Sting sword is really a dagger but hobbits are so small it works as a sword for Frodo? It’s kind of like that, except it makes the “sword” more portable and easier to store for a LOTR fan who just doesn’t have the space or budget for the full-sized sword.

This replica has a simpler design where you lose the engraving on the crossguard, the crystal, and the blood groove. But it does come with a scabbard to help you with storing your orc-killing dagger.

• Material: Stainless steel
• Length: 40 cm

Conclusion

Gandalf’s Glamdring sword has been a fixture of fantasy literature and pop culture for years, making it a must-have for LOTR fans who want to pay respect to their favorite author. These Gandalf sword replicas are a great option for fans who are building their collection and/or planning a Gandalf cosplay.