Thorin’s Orcrist Sword Is the Twin to Gandalf’s Glamdring
What’s in this article?
The Orcrist sword of Thorin Oakenshield is a sword featured in the franchise The Lord of the Rings (LOTR) and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, a fantasy movie franchise based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings books. While it can be hard to tell the difference between the movie series’ swords, Orcrist stands out for being the only Elven sword wielded by a dwarf.
The Orcrist Sword Is An Elven Blade
The Orcrist sword comes into possession of Thorin Oakenshield who uses it in battle against orcs and goblins in The Hobbit movie. Though it’s known as the sword of a dwarf warrior, the blade was created by elven smiths in Gondolin during the First Age together with the Glamdring sword. It was intended for use by King Turgon, the then king of Gondolin. Its mystical origins give the sword unprecedented power when it comes to killing servants of evil forces.
The Orcrist’s Runic Inscriptions Give It Its Second Name
The hilt of the Orcrist sword has a very fine inscription running along its edge. This inscription translates to “The Serpent’s Tooth” or “The Dragon’s Tooth” which is why the sword is sometimes called Biter by Thorin’s enemies. Another name for the sword is “The Goblin Cleaver” due to its machete-like blade that’s perfectly designed for hacking into objects and enemies alike.
The sword’s curved blade is meant to resemble the Sting sword used by Frodo and Bilbo Baggins, making them the only two LOTR swords to share a design language. Mostly, the only significant difference between these swords is the blade length of their stainless steel blades.
The Orcrist Was Used Against Thranduil
Legolas borrows Orcrist from Thorin in a scene where he faces his father, Thranduil. Legolas does this to stop Thranduil from striking with his own blade and, fortunately, it’s enough to cool the king’s head in that moment.
Orcrist Replicas and Where to Find Them
Lord of the Rings swords are among the most in demand replica swords in the collecting scene so there’s a tiered market for them depending on the type of sword you’re planning to get. The rarer the replica is, the more expensive it will be.
- Display Replica:
The Orcrist sword you have in your cart or wish list is likely to be a display replica designed only for wall mounting and other decorative purposes. This can be used for cosplay and is the cheapest variant of the Ocrist sword.
- Battle Ready Replica:
Battle ready replicas are meant to serve as actual weapons so when purchasing one, make sure that the blade is full tang. This means the blade runs straight into the hilt, giving you a much sturdier overall build.
- Original Filming Prop:
This is the most expensive class of replica because it’s not really a replica. Filming props are the actual swords used during the filming of the Lord of the Rings movies. While they don’t have the powers of the real, fictional Orcrist, it’s the same sword wielded by Thorin’s actor.
Conclusion
The Ocrist sword was originally created in Gondolin together with its sister sword, Glamdring. Though it’s been eons since the First Age, the sword’s magical properties have kept it sharp and ready for the Battle of the Five Armies by the time Thorin picks it up. You can choose from several replica varieties if you’re planning to get your own Orcrist.
