7 Cool Swords From Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings (LOTR) is easily the most well known and influential fantasy series of the past century and the same is true for the LOTR swords which are now counted among the most iconic movie swords. 

From high elven warrior swords to short swords used by hobbits, this renowned series has given Tolkien fans like us tons of swords to choose from for a wall plaque display, so here are some of LOTR’s most powerful and/or influential swords.

Anduril

Anduril is the elven-forged sword of Aragorn, the last heir of Isildur, a legendary king of the Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor, Middle-Earth’s ancient kingdoms of Men. Like the Narsil sword before it, Anduril comes to symbolize the kingship of the two kingdoms as well as the Numenorean people and the lineage of the kings of Men. 

Anduril stands for “Flame of the West” in Quenya. This fantasy sword features elven runes engraved along its length together with the Seven Stars. It’s later given a scabbard decorated with gold and silver flowers and leaves. Later, it became known as the sword of King Elessar, the formal kingly name of Aragorn the Strider.

This replica of Anduril is a copy of the filming prop used in Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, but it’s still a gorgeous sword made of quality stainless steel that features a simple yet elegant crossguard and a crescent moon pommel. 

• Material: Stainless steel
• Length: 131 cm

Narsil

Narsil is the original sword used by the line of Elendil, specifically the branch that later became Aragorn’s lineage. The sword was broken in the fight against Sauron but was said to be so unfathomably strong and sharp that it could still cut off Sauron’s fingers even though it was shattered into pieces.

In its time, Narsil symbolized the kings of Arnor and Gondor, so when it was later reforged into Anduril, it clearly makes the statement that a Numenorean king has returned to re-establish the kingdoms after the destruction of Arnor. 

Sting

With a name like sting, you’d think this sword was a fighting knife or a cool katana from a video game. But it’s actually a xiphos-like sword used by both Frodo Baggins and Bilbo Baggins.

Sting is said to be the size of a regular elf’s dagger, but because hobbits are much smaller, Sting counts as a sword for them. Despite its size, Sting is a powerful sword made by ancient Gondolin blacksmiths.

Bilbo Baggins gets the sword after finding it together with Orcrist and Glamdring, two other Gondolin weapons in a cave. He later names it after cutting himself by accident while fighting giant spiders in Mirkwood. The cut stings hence the name “Sting”.

This Sting sword replica is an exact copy of the one used in the movies and features a flat, broad blade with a short handle. 

• Material: Stainless steel
• Length: 60 cm 

Orcrist

The Orcrist is one of the three weapons from Gondolin found by Bilbo in a cave. That said, it’s only really Orcrist that serves as a sister sword to Glamdring.

The Orcrist is a slender sword with a curved blade and a half handguard. The sword’s design shows that it’s intended for slashing, but the cosmetic details of the sword are missing from the film. In the original books, Orcrist is described as having a jewel encrusted hilt and runes on its blade that spelled out its name. 

This replica of the Orcrist strikes a fair balance between the highly stylized book version and the overly minimalist movie version with a design that uses a golden yellow handle and engraved scroll details on the blade.

• Material: Stainless steel
• Length: 98 cm

Glamdring 

Glamdring is the third and last weapon to come from Gondolin. Also known as foe-hammer, it’s a half-and-a-hand sword meant to be a companion for Orcrist though it has a vastly different design. Unlike the more bolo-like Orcrist, the Glamdring sword takes after medieval European swords and features a thin, straight edged blade and a straight handle.

The books also describe Glamdring as having a jeweled hilt and made of white and gold metal. Later owned by Gandalf, the sword had a bone ivory sheath, making it one of the most sumptuous blades in Middle-Earth.

Though the movie version of the sword is nowhere near as beautiful given its plain design, it is still well made and has fine details in the form of runes carved along the crossguard and a single blue gem at its center.

This replica of Glamdring mimics the movie version with no additional frills aside from a display plaque for you to show it off with.

• Material: Stainless steel
• Length: 110 cm

Hadhafang

Hadhafang is one of the few swords to appear in the movies that weren’t mentioned in the books, making it a non-canonical addition unique to the films. 

Hadhafang is said to have belonged to Princess Idril, the elven ancestor of Elrond, Lord of Rivendell. Because of this, it’s only fitting that Hadhafang’s wielder was Arwen, Elrond’s daughter and Idril’s descendant. 

This replica of Hadhafang boasts finely painted gold flowers and vines running up the handle and blade of the sword. On the blade itself, you’ll find an engraving that translates to “This blade is called Hadhafang, a noble defense against the enemy throng for a noble lady.”

• Material: Stainless steel
• Length: 97 cm

Thranduil’s Sword

Just like Arwen’s Hadhafang, Thranduil’s sword is unique to the movies, specifically The Hobbit films where it’s used by Thranduil, the Elvenking of the Woodland Realm.

Not much else is known about Thranduil’s sword other than us seeing him use it to kill Narzug, an Orc soldier. He later wields two of the same sword during the Battle of the Five Armies, leading many fans to speculate that the swords are actually meant to be a pair for dual wielding.

Naturally, this replica sword follows the movie sword. It is made entirely of silver-toned steel with engraved vines on the handle and its curved blade, as befitting its kingly owner.

• Material: Stainless steel
• Length: 95 cm

Conclusion

The Lord of the Rings has inspired legions of fans to gain an interest in fantasy, role playing games, literature, and even swords thanks to its vivid portrayal of the weapons in both its books and movies. Each of these swords are signature blades for their owners, so if you’re a fan of any specific one, getting the sword of your favorite character would be a great way to remember the franchise.