Are Lord of the Rings Swords ACTUALLY Good?
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- Опубликовано: 15 окт 2024
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Nine minute gang
Uruk hai sword is as unusual as one might think as the Indian Aruval or Thracian Falx is kind of similar though bit a square in the spike to the blade.
I'd give it it 9/10 for practicality as it would function though a tad different to the real world counterparts.
I wonder if you could go through all the swords in elder scrolls online as there are so many
With Thranduils sword. Consider its sheath too... this is one crazy toy... its designed to carry the sword with a naked edge, grips the blade well. You push down on the 6 inch sheath to hold it in place as you draw the sword.. I use it for resistance training vecause thats a chunck 6 inches of thick metal that grips the whole sword... I can move it halfway down the blade or by the tip to change the weight to be really horrible. The balance isnt bad without the sheath.
Lastly. The metal details on the blade are raised on both sides. It impedes the ability to make a clean cut.. it is NOT A PATTERN its metal, just like the rest. so functionality, its a 3/10... with sheath 0/10... but for looks and Feel, 10/10. Sadly what makes it look and feel amazing are what ruins its functional use.
Also you missed the Morgul Blade used to stab frodo by the 9... its a bit more prominent than some of the others here.
"You could not wish for a finer blade!"
"I dunno, I could think of a whole lot of wishes" - Han Solo.
@@justinlast2lastharder749 Uhhh without looking it up, I believe he says to Luke, "I dunno I can imagine a lot!" Talking about reward money? Is that what you're referencing?
@@SteelValyrian I thought he was talking about sex with Leia lol
Also remember the Rohan sword were designed for calvary. So it would be one handed and no cross guard because you wouldn't want it to get tangled in the reins and the tackle of the saddle.
I 100% agree with you Calvary swords are meant to be one-handed short Easley swung from horse
@@txwarrior66 actually Cavalryswords are longer as their infantry counterparts. It gives you a few centimetres of range. And of course you aren't that likely to get it into the way if you ride on the horse.
yes hence basket guards on cavalry sabres
@@txwarrior66 No, cavalry swords are _longer_ than infantry swords, they need to be long enough to reach a man on the ground when you're up on a horse.
@@txwarrior66 Where did you get that stupid idea from?
The Elrond sword is a tool and backup weapon. The bottom area would be used for fletching arrow shafts, and the blade can be used for cutting wood as well as parrying attacks, so for an archer, it's the perfect sword
Also let's not forget it had been made for an Elven lady, (Elrond's grandmother, IIRC) as stated in the script along the blade, so possibly different in weight and weight distribution from an ordinary Elven warrior's sword
@@angeljamais8541 So, Elrond's sword was made for Dimloth?
@@bananasaur5209 Dim loth, what a name
Narsill (first version of Andurill)was forged by dwarves as a gift to Numenorain Kings. Also this sword was very big because Elendil (owner of sword) was almost 2,5 meters height. Narsill was later reforged as an Andurill by elves as a smaller version of orginal.
I believe Aragorn was the same height as Elendil. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the two swords were the same length, but he was said to be just as tall
@@fr.andygutierrez5356Based on information directly from Tolkien himself, Aragorn was described as being 6’6” tall. Elendil the Tall was an outlier even among Numenoreans, standing approximately 7’11” tall according to The Unfinished Tales. So head and shoulders taller than his descendant.
Thorkell the tall: "How the heck did I get here."
@@TheLordofDarkness1995
Telchar of Nogrod forged it.
Not only that, but they're showing Andruil on the screen but actually have Narsill in studio.( The runes in the blood groove are missing.)
Was surprised not to see the Nazgul swords on here. I honestly think that they're some of the coolest swords in LOTR. Easy 10/10.
Yeah, especially the one that has a ring in the blade
I knew this video was missing something.
Witch King too!
I commented the same thing, The Witch King of Angmar's sword is my favorite and the Wringwraiths blades are also cool.
The only bad part is the downward-pointing crossguard on the morgul blades.
23:50 The thing about Elrond's sword that you're not taking into account is that it's a calvary sword. That's why it doesn't have a crossguard, also whu the first couple inches of the blade are unsharpened. Even the little spike exists as an indicator for the rider of where the actual edge of your sword starts.
You should do a part 2 with the swords of:
Witch-king
Ringwraith longsword
Ringwraith arming sword
Faramir
Eomer
Isildur
Uruk-hai Berserker
Mirkwood elf
Bard
Thorin’s Erebor sword
Sam, Merry and Pippin’s short swords
Morgul blade, Aragorn’s elven dagger
Theodred’s sword is a more richly decorated sword in a similar shape to eowyn and Eomer’s sword has an asymmetrical guard which would be interesting
@@tombearclaw Theodred’s sword is basically an exact copy of eowyn’s sword, which is why I didn’t add his to the list. Eomer’s is the only one with an asymmetrical guard.
I was hoping for Merry and Pippin's short swords too 💀
@@tombearclaw they might as well do a seperate ranking video and add daggers, including Legolas' knives and Tauriël dagger.😃
Short answer. Yes.
Long answer: yyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssss
Long answer. Very Yes.
But what's the 32min answer?
@@battlebawn yaaaaassssssssss
@@battlebawn the 32 min answer is yes those swords were good but not as good as stick
Glamdring, Orcrist and Sting, were made by the 1st Age Elves of Gondolin, they were incredibly ancient and Glamdring was wielded by the King of Gondolin, so Elves definitely carried swords other than single edged blades. Who knows why Sting was made, a dress sword for a very young elf prince, or a letter opener for the King's good Lady? We will never know.
It was a poop knife for the elven aristocracy.
Probably a dagger for either a very tall elf or Numenorean.
Tolkien made it very clear that the only blade that glows blue are of Gondolindrim making because of their hatred of orcs. Sting was most likely made to be used in warfare judging by its size and also its ability to cut Shelob's web in addition to piercing the Troll hide in Moria when Boromir's's sword couldn't. I think that sting was made to be a dagger to the side of an elf warrior. From The Cloud Burst chapter in The Hobbit: « Their hatred for the goblins is cold and bitter. Their spears and swords shone in the gloom with a gleam of chill flame, so deadly was the wrath of the hands that held them. » Like the cloaks from Lothlorien that were made to conceal the plot of the fellowship and hid Frodo and Sam in plain sight, elven smiths' intention are imbued into their crafts. I like to think it was either the dirk Glorfindel used to kill that Balrog during the fall of Gondolin, most likely even Turgon's personal backup dagger or at least a seax design in the Anglo-Saxon-loving imagination of Tolkien.
The sting is a very useful sword. It could have been used for hunting orcs and getting behind their backs without being noticed. I think they missed this part when they gave the review. It is better to have the sting in regards of this feature.
@@bojanradanovic5577 The light is a dead giveaway. Bad sneaking weapon if you ask me.
You say "Rings of Power is not LotR" with the same level of disgust that I say anything Disney has put out about Star Wars is not Star Wars😂 (ESPECIALLY not the Acolyte).
Indeed. Star Wars = George Lucas.
Middle Earth = JRR and Christopher Tolkien.
100% Disney SW is not SW. SW died when Disney took over.
I do love/hate that both franchises follow the same path, (not counting Tolkien's books cause they on another level) but they started with a great trilogy then some meh prequels, then the evil company came in and try to kill it,
but originals are still great, and the prequels tried, no matter how hard evil tries to taint them,
Does not work.
Mandalorian was awesome. Book of Boba Fett had great potential. Ashoka was good. Kenobi was great.
So, you found a one or two you don't like. But the argument you make falls flat.
I don't like the rings of power either, but then I don't like Game of Thrones or Witcher either.
i mean yeah both are corporate fanfiction that dont understand the source material
You forgot all nine of the Nazgul swords, the barrow wight swords (for Merry, Pippin, and Samwise), Faramir, Denethor, Bard the Bowman, Wood elf infantry, and Sam's frying pan :) Part 2?
And that random soldier's sword at Helm's Deep that Aragorn examined and was like "It's not much to look at, but it's balanced and sharp!"
@@Oddi0 "This is a good sword"
They also forgot Arwen’s sword
@@Cayota_FoxpawArwen’s sword is the same as Lord Elrond’s sword
They didn’t do Éomer’s sword either
In terms of pure design based on their purpose, I would put the Uruk Hai machete up there with Glamdring. Just as Glamdring is an elegant weapon fit for a king, the Uruk Hai machetes are simple yet effective weapons that are just as menacing as their wielders. In the hands of a militia made of massive brute force machines, it's the perfect design.
I also really like Thranduil's sword, not for functionality, but because it perfectly matches the person it was made for. That sword just looks like Thranduil, if that makes sense.
Based on how they've done sword ratings for other fantasy swords, I can't give it a full 10/10. It has no balance, it has no guard, and the rough handle wrap would lead to discomfort with the heavy chopping blows the blade is designed for. If it was brought into the real world (and sized/weighted for normal humans) I would put it somewhere between a 7-8 on pure functionality for normal people.
The design in lore however does fit the Uruk's perfectly as a simple, mass produced, and brutally effective weapon for the berserker shock troops Saruman wanted. He doesn't *care* if they are uncomfortable, wear out from overexertion, or cannot defend themselves from an objectively better fighter with better equipment... there are 10 more Uruks where that one came from.
Edit: I see they went back and adjusted for much the same reasons I thought of.
@@Fyrefrye yes, fully agree. Although, i think that it becomes a little redundant to grade these swords on the presence of a guard, or the balance and dimensions. Since it is supposed to be a quick to make and simple tool, they're perfect for the need. The uruks don't really care about comfort, and don't expect to live long. They need to go and kill and this does exactly that. Moreover, normal machetes don't have guards either, so these are pretty spot on since they are definitely machetes.
@@prashantsarkar821 It's still worth grading based on those features (or lack of them) if only for consistency across a rating system.
- the blades being quickly/cheaply made is a reason WHY they are the way they are within the story, but it doesn't make them better when judged on their own
- Uruks don't care about comfort or fatigue, but Uruks also don't exist and this rating system was intended to be for how these weapons would perform in OUR world
- Normal machetes don't have guards, but they're also not intended for blade-on-blade combat. They're TOOLS not WEAPONS by design and using them in combat is secondary to their design purpose. A quick google search says that they're mostly an agricultural tool that has seen use in wars primarily as weapons of "convenience"
Indeed, as many others in the comments noted, Narsil was actually a dwarf-craft sword as a gift to the Numenorean royalty. It's a testament to how beefy they were that the sword would be that huge. It then gets put back together thanks to the elves.
Edit- The spike on the back of the uruk cleavers was meant to be used gutting horses and grabbing onto a rohan rider's cloak to yank him off his horse.
Yep. People forget that Numenoreans were very tall, and Elendil (The Tall) was about 8 feet tall if I recall. Or maybe it was closer to 9
I have to add that this sword is inaccurate to the weapon designed and used in the film, the end of the blade was a right angle to the blade and not an extension of the angel of the spike, and the handle did not have the shaping seen in the sword shown here. The handle was straight and non shaped in the oroginal film design, so the reverse grip would been not different.
@@Captain_Insano_nomercyaye, I remember reading that Elendil's height was in the order of two and a half times a typical stride (38 inches?) so 2x38+19 so 7' 11" at most?
@@countOfHenneberg oh shit lol that is more than I recall, but indeed, very tall
@@benwootten2580 Yeah I was wondering about that. It feels like the one they have is a machete handle... and doesn't quite feel right.
Aragorn’s Ranger Sword and Glamdring are my favorite swords from the Lord of the Rings. Glamdring especially, it’s simple yet elegantly beautiful sword. I love it
Yeah Glamdring is my favorite for sure. It gets a bonus just for being wielded by a wizard too imo
Sting was the name Bilbo gave it. There is Elvish script on it that translates to "Maghnius (sorry if I misspelled it) is my name, I am the Spider's Bane"
Next video: Are Narnia swords actually good?
Bump this
@chaos_knight_xy Honestly yeh. Why did fantasy weapons move away from the simple practicality in both of these movie franchises? Like tbh, the books don't go into great detail about the practical design of their swords. It's just assumed, and the studio workshops follow through with that.
and then "are the techniques from drunken master actually effective?"
@@zekeolopwi6642
it's a fantasy world.
practicality is not a consideration for anything.
as long as it looks cool and has cool effects, it's good. it doesnt need to be realistic.
@@zekeolopwi6642 But all those are OK compared to the insanity of anime swords. And I am a fan of anime, but the swords are outrageously absurd.
In Tolkien, Elven blades are straight. Curved swords were for evil men.
I had forgotten that detail. The imagery behind the difference is interesting.
Do you recall where that was stated? I know orcs typically used scimitars and Elven swords like Glamdring and Sting had leaf-shaped blades (which means straight) but I don't remember Haradrim or Easterling weapons being described in any detail.
Edit: It's from The Battle of Pelennor Fields (Bk 5 ch 6)
Thanks to Eugene for pointing this out
“Have you seen those warriors from Herad? They have curved swords… *curved* swords.”
@@Disgruntled_GruntThat could explain why Goblins have scimitars as a default in D&D 5e. Interesting
That was Tolkien's intent and much of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings matches with it. However, in his own writings he doesn't always follow the rule either. I think it was the plan for symbolism just as you state. However, in a few cases he started on that path (dogs vs cats for example) and latter seemed to forget about it or treat it as a tradition more than rule of thumb.
Still if I had the balls to try to write a story in his universe, I think I would also follow this rule. Regardless of how fixed or not he intended it to be, it is consistent enough in the majority of his works that the few tales not following it feel off.
This is a butter knife that I use on my toast for breakfast every morning...
"TEN OUT OF TEN!!"
Biggest problem with Orcrist is the sheath. That part scared me every time it got drawn. It looks cool granted, but having all your fingers is cooler.
For me the grip also looks like it would be hard to hold on to because of the angle.
I am a relatively new but big fan of this channel. That said I am a metal sculptor, blacksmith and history nerd. I agree with almost all of this, but I think you need to have two separate reviews of Sting. Sting as a short sword and sting as a dagger. Because it literally is two different things thanks to the size of actors and the realities of life fantasy. It’s got a pretty good design as a short sword and then you say no, but that’s a hobbit short sword so a dagger. It literally is two different things from a design perspective and should be considered separately 0:01 the hobbit sword and the elf dagger and should be reviewed as such. I’m quite dyslexic and don’t normally comment on things so this is probably full of spelling areas but I’m very good when it comes to metal. Seriously I think you not considered staying correctly do a sting as a short sword and as a dagger. Seriously I agree with everything else though great work.
Damn right. Totally glossed over what Sting really is.
Two things. 1. I agree with you. 2. Coincidentally, the only error you made was literally the word error which you have as areas. Nicely done, good sir.
Narsil was made by a dwarf in the first age and was passed down from elves to Aragorn's ancestors, Glamdring, Sting, and Orcrist were made in Gondolin, the hidden city during the first age, whilst the single edged elven swords appear to be wielded by the Noldor of Eriador, and the Sindar of Rhovannion, suggesting to me that in the movie's universe that single edged blades are a Sindar thing that the Noldor in close proximity to them picked up in the same was as how they abandoned their native tongue of Quenya for Sindarin.
Also most orcs, especially Mordor orcs and Misty Mountain orcs are actually really short, sometimes even being described as dwarf or hobbit sized, and this isn't just in the books, in the movies they can clearly disguise themselves in a troop of orcs without the height difference being terribly noticeable, so I doubt most orc weapons are much bigger than Sting
hi i would just like to correct one thing. the swords were made in Gondolin (the hidden city) not nargothrond.
@@edrgil I got them mixed up you are correct
I like the Rohan swords. Not from a personal taste point-of-view, but from a cultural design standpoint where it really represents Rohan's cutlure well in a microcosm. It is reverential of horses (as would make sense since their main strength and culture revolves around cavalry), and it's short and therefore quick and easy to wield one-handed from horseback.
I personally really appreciate the thought and effort that went into even the most basic of implements and designs in LOTR movies. WETA Workshop truly out-did themselves. I'm grateful for having been alive in the era that the movies debuted.
I believe Shad noted about some historical accuracy there.. The Roman "gladius" perhaps?
Because their main strength/focus is on cavalery, one would think that they would prefer cavalry style swords like sabers.
@@haakonsteinsvaag They look pretty much exactly like spathas, which were roman cavalry swords
@@invictus7736 They are clearly influenced by norse/viking swords. Easy to see by the hilts and broad blades. But again, curved blades seems more logical to me. Nice looking swords anyway.
@@haakonsteinsvaag One would have thought they'd prefer lances as the primary weapon. The Polish did use straight swords in addition to their famous sabres though so it is plausible.
Sting is like what an elf would make as a gift for a human where it has just enough to constantly remind them that it's an elf blade without needing nearly enough effort of a full elven sword.
Is Sting the only magical sword? Does Glamdring to extra damage to orcs because of magic?
@NuncleG If I remember glamdring correctly, yes, and it can produce a light brighter than daylight
@@NuncleGGandalf says "The blade is of elvish make, which means it will glow blue when orcs or goblins are nearby" implying all elvish blades have the blue glowing enchantment. But a lot of Elvish blades, like Glamdring and Orcrist, are never recorded to glow blue when orcs are nearby. I mean Orcrist was less than ten feet away from Sting and Sting was glowing but Orcrist wasn't.
@@NuncleGSting glows because it was forged in Gondolin. Glamdring was a sword originally forged for Turgon, the King of Gondolin.
Turgon used the sword most famously at the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, the Battle of Unnumbered Tears, at the head of a host of ten thousand Gondolindrim. Its said he used the sword to “hew his way” to his brother Fingon as they were driven back in slaughter by a legion of Orcs. Eventually Fingon was bound by the whips of Balrogs and Gothmog, Lord of the Balrogs slew him with his great axe. The rage of Turgon during this battle is likely why the Orcs recognise and fear Glamdring as “the beater”.
Gondolin is special as its where the Elves imbued parts of their essence into the steel as they forged it. It glows because the blades actually hate Orcs with the same fierceness as the Elves of Gondolin. The blue is basically a hateful intent present in the blades whenever they recognise Orcs are near
I'm reminded of The Thirteenth Warrior. "When you die, can I give that to me daughter?"
I love how simply fine and elegant all of these blades are yet simple compared to so many other fantasy swords. Makes me appreciate the Lord of the Rings even more so than I already did.
The beat up sword Aragorn swings around when telling the kid there's always hope. But put an edge on it
"This is a good sword."
Sting was also made by elves... so... it's a dagger. For Frodo it's a short sword. But as it was designed by the elves, it would've been designed as a dagger.
So when talking weapon design, I think the comparison point should be to what it would've been designed for, instead of what Frodo used it for.
Yeah, I wasn't a fan of their take on Sting. It was very clearly designed to be a dagger, or perhaps even a short sword like a Roman gladius for shanking someone while holding the line in a shield wall or something. It was made for an elf, so no, it's not perfect as a sword for a hobbit. But it works, it's manageable, and it's the best they can possibly use, because hobbits don't make swords--they make farm tools.
When, in the LotR Fellowship movie, Arewn gets Frodo across the stream and the Nazgul threaten her, she draws an Elven sword. According to the LotR catalog it was called (again pardon the misspelling) Hadhefang.
The High Elven sword is actually very similar to a Japanese weapon known as a Nagamaki, which also lives in a weird area between sword and polearm and has a very similar overall size and design.
I have a nagamaki, and while it is weird, I do actually prefer it to my katana
Narsil was originally forged by Telchar, a dwarven smith from Nogrod. It was reforged by the elves. They never specify that in the movies, but it does lack many of the elvish dosing cues, such as the leaf blade.
hi
Yes and more importantly it was not Elrond that delivered Anduril to Aragorn, it was the Dunedain...
@dmstretch6634 incorrect he had it when they left Rivendell in the books
Pretty sure the extended edition does actually show Elrond reforging it
My 3 favorite swords mentioned in this video are: Elrond's Sword, Sting, & Thranduil from aesthetic standpoints. But my favorite sword in the series "Lore Wise" is Aragorn's Numenorion Sword that symbolizes his status as the True Heir.
Mans gonna get flamed for Anduril mispelling and pronunciation.
Indeed. One of my oldest friends has used it for many things over the years and would be quite annoyed hahaha.
Rightfully so
Shad: [androoel]
@@Lermoth the spelling is the issue in my opinion. I know what's it's like to have folks criticize The way I say a character or item or ability name from a book.
Add to that regional accent you can get a lot of variations for a single word or name. And while the movies may have popularized a particular way of saying it, It's only actually mentioned by name a few times from what I remember in the films.
To his defense, Shad has often pointed out that he has a horrible time with pronunciations.
Hamwise's Fryingpan 12/10
"Show me your weapon."
"No, your real weapon."
"Perfection"
Whack em, mash em, smash em in the face!
The High Elven Blade has always been my favorite. I loved the way it flows.
Thanks for sharing.
I really wish you guys also reviewed more weapons in general but I would have loved more bad guy weapons specifically. The Ringwraith weapons are my personal favourite in the series.
As a child I convinced my parents to gift me the wallhanger Glamdring. It was and is my absolute favorite and some years later I even designed the sword of my pen&paper character based on Glamdring. It is just such a beautiful sword!
I need to take a look at the glamdring and Sting in the Lego Hobbit game when I next play.
I know what you mean. For a while I based my favourite Original Character's sword on Eowyn's weapon (I later changed it to a more arming sword-based design).
"Rings of Power is NOT lotr"... you good sir just earned a subscriber.
The man who created a language from his book...
... surprisingly put a lot of thought into details.
OF COURSE they're awesome!
Kind of like how the Hobbits eating a lot makes sense from a body mass and surface area perspective.
Well, these are the swords of the movies. Tolkien didn't go into much details with the weapons.
Heck, the first one they show, the ranger sword, was invented for the movie. Aragorn was carrying Narsil and not that ranger sword.
*for his books. Tolkien spent the better part of two decades worldbuilding before he decided to publish anything lol
...you DO realize the author had been dead for multiple decades when these were designed, right?
Except when it came to creature descriptions. "Roughly man shaped. Large but not Gigantic "
The high Elven sword is easily the most creative and novel, and yet it's still a really solid design. It's the most "fantasy" blade, but still a perfectly good sword. That gives it a special place in my heart.
I guess the Filipinos, and Eastern Europe used a lot of fantasy blades, it has MANY historical precedents. It's a pretty Ukrainian Shaska, or Filipino Pinuti basically. Your right to love it.
He said the "high elven sword" which in the video is the one with the very long handle, completely different from the swords you mention unlike Elrond and Thranduil's sword.
We could still find similar concepts overall, like the Filipino Panabas since you mention Filipino weapons, the nagamaki, or the Da dao, but it's still overall a more unique design than most long swords that keep a very fitting long sword shape and believable decorations.
@@sevenseas2673 The nagamaki is pretty spot on, when looking at them, there seems to be some that have equal length grip and blade. I still have an internal debate wether they are swords or polearms though. :)
It's more of a Glave, then sword. Will it kill? Oh yes.
Meh. It's a pretty sword but it is entirely wrong for what the elves were using it for. It's essentially a dueling weapon made for large, wide sweeping motions. They had the elves do one fancy coordinated movement in a mass formation at the beginning of FOTR in the flashback to the war of the last alliance and then it's usefulness was at an end. Once that first move is over they have a two handed sword with no shield in a tightly packed formation, good only for vertical movements, really unsuitable for stabbing. It's not at all the correct type of weapon for what they were using it for. There's a reason the Macedonians and Romans never used something like that in formation. It's far inferior to a regular pike, spear or gladius. I guess that's why it's just fantasy. These guys are rating aesthetics and fantasy and have no real understanding or knowledge of war.
Narsil was forged by Telchar the dwarf smith who made the dragon helm of Dorlomin and the knife Angrist that cleaved the Silmaril from Morgoth’s crown. It was reforged by elves I guess when it was made to Anduril…. But the others were forged in Gondolin. Glamdring actually belonged to the elven king Turgon.
Just nitpick but its Andùril not Andruil, and the rohan sword is named Herugrim
Yeah I caught this as well. Anduril
Yeah at first I was mostly just listening like, did they pronounce that wrong, and then they wrote it out on screen. Well, as you say, nitpick, but quite annoying once you notice it.
Isnt it technically Narsil though? At least according to the movies, Narsil was shorter, more close to ranger sword in length
@@dondas88 It was before it was broken, when reforged it was Anduril, Aragorn named it himself in the books while they're preparing in Rivendell. The movies switch it to Elrond and it happens much later.
@@dondas88 It was Narsil yes, until it was reforged for Aragorn, when Aragorn then gets it after the council of Elrond he renamed it Anduril (in the books) and then he gets the scabbard with its adornments and enchantments from Galadriel (again, books)
In the movies it is renamed for him by Elrond and the elven Smiths.
Some really cool details about the Uruk-hai "swords", is how the context of the movie plays into their realism.
If you remember, they were actually cast straight from the furnace into casting molds, rather than being forged -hence why the choppy grainy texture. Basically no surface treatment aside from sharpening the cutting edges. This was done because Saruman had to raise an army in a very short period of time, and fit them all with appropriate weaponry -and forging would simply be way too slow and tedious to accomplish it in the limited time that was given to him by Sauron.
Since they're cast rather than forged, they had to add additional material to provide the necessary strength to the blade compared to the skinnier yet equally strong forged counterparts. Normally this would be bad due to the increased weight and imbalance would tire out the wielder in prolonged fighting, but since the Uruk-hai are abnormally strong, this actually played more into their brutish nature, letting them wield them more like a blend between a sword and a war axe. Less balanced, but very powerful, and their strength and endurance would let them keep fighting without fatiguing as quickly as humans would, despite the technically inferior sword making methods.
If the Uruk-hai weren't a uniquely strong hybrid species, this casting method and weapon design would not have worked for their intended purpose, as you can see all other orcs and goblins have more traditional sword shapes and sizes as a result of them simply lacking the endurance to wield such great cast swords in prolonged battle.
Which somewhat deviates from original material, because the confusing part about Uruk-Hai was that they used _human_ weapons. Perhaps Saruman was even aiming at false flag operations. And weapons were likely from old war's stockpiles. But Jackson needed imagery of war machine stocking up its fires, not of subtle political play.
There's also an element of machete to the Uruk-Hai blade, which plays into the "hulking, unstoppable '80s movie slasher" vibe associated with such implements.
@@EllAntares true and this is what i find lovely about the movies, yes it breaks some lore but their explanation and the way the story was handled still carried sound logic and care for the original source material. It wasn't done out of disregard or incompetence, simply a different use of imagery to enhance the viewer experience and understanding while keeping changes to an absolute minimum out of respect. Thats how movies and media based off books should be handled. Its no place for the director, the corporations, the investors, the actors etc, to add their own ideas. If they dont like something from the original they shouldn't be in the movie period. Go make your own source material elsewhere and let the people who actually care about the story continue working
Based on how they've done sword ratings for other fantasy swords, I can't give it a full 10/10. It has no balance, it has no guard, and the rough handle wrap would lead to discomfort with the heavy chopping blows the blade is designed for. If it was brought into the real world (and sized/weighted for normal humans) I would put it somewhere between a 7-8 on pure functionality for normal people.
The design in lore however does fit the Uruk's perfectly as a simple, mass produced, and brutally effective weapon for the berserker shock troops Saruman wanted. He doesn't *care* if they are uncomfortable, wear out from overexertion, or cannot defend themselves from an objectively better fighter with better equipment... there are 10 more Uruks where that one came from.
Edit: I see they went back and adjusted for much the same reasons I thought of.
I made the Elven warrior sword for Dagorhir and when I draw it, it is feared on the field. It is light, fast and absolutely beautiful.
I feel like the Morgul blade, Nazgûl sword, and witch king’s sword all deserve some love.
I like how the metal of the Morgul blade looks tainted but I'm not a huge fan of the downward curving crossguard.
The Uruk-Hai swords I look at more as machetes than swords.
The most blursed weapon of the entire franchise.
I view them like the big chunky and plain Chinese Dao. All in on chop.
@@michaelmurdock4607Falchion,or crude heavy saber, definitely a hacking and chopping weapon. The sword of butchers.
@@c.antoniojohnson7114 Yep and it's in line with the context and thinking of Isengard as a whole: a hastily assembled army that has immediate need of weapons; no time for beauty and embellishments, they need weapons and they need them yesterday, hence the simple, strictly utilitarian feel of them, perfect for mass-producing. And not only that, but the sword/machete/cleaver is made with the potential adversaries in mind: like Shad said, the point end is perfect for armor piercing and one extra thing: hook onto and dismount a rider. And we all know who the uruk-hai were bred to fight...
Plus the cleaver-like aspect is handy post-battle.
I had a fully functional close copy of the Ranger’s made by Rob Miller on the Isle of Skye about 20 years ago. It’s probably my favourite sword I own. It’s made of spring steel and nicely sharp.
I LOVE early and high medieval designs, and I LOVE short handles on that type of sword. gorgeous designs, just the right amount of fancy design.
I think the blunt edge near the hilt in Elrond's sword acutally makes sense since it's got no guard. That way, the hand is protected in case it slips to the edge.
I remember reading in a book about the weapons of LotR that that's exactly what they're there for. Also it was one of the first single bladed Elven swords, made in Gondolin for Idril, in the late First Age. The older First Age swords such as Glamdring and Sting had leaf blades. Orcrist could be a transitional form. Cool that all of these weapons come from Gondolin, and show the evolution of Elven swords.
That was Arwens sword... not Elronds
@@marcusdamelio7590 You actually see Elrond using it during the prologue battle scene (with the line of elven archers pulling out the high elven swords). It looks like Elrond passed it down to Arwen later. That, or she borrowed it for the ride to meet Aragorn.
Anduril isn't exactly an elven sword. It was re-forged by elves, but they were trying to stay close to the design of the original Narsil, which was made by Dwarves.
When I am bored at night, so much it gives me a fright.
I’m blessed with shadiversity to discuss swords of MIGHT
You did the rhyming thing. Rhyming words with other words is Tight.
Small correction about Anduril. Yes, it was reforged by elves, but the original sword Narsil, was forged by a dwarf, Telchor of Nogrod
Hello, I randmoly was recommended this video and saw my name in the intro. My name is Shad. I've never met another Shad before.
Rings of power is not garbage. It's toxic waste.
It's the Twilight series of fantasy like Disney Star Wars.
Garbage at least has some value. It can be used as compost or burned for heat.
Radioactive waste
True, some garbage can be recycled. And some garbage does not stink. And some garbage (like say an empty cardboard box) may not be a hazard to your health. And some garbage may not even look ugly, just be useless...
Rings of power is way better than Peter Jackson crap!
When you initially started hating on the urukhai sword, I was going to be mad if you didn't mention how awesome that point is for piercing armor. Really glad you guys mentioned that instead of just hating on it. Lol
And they forgot about the Uruk Hai berserker sword
The fact that you even considered giving the uruk-hai a 10 is hilarious
Also some swords you missed: Haldir had a unique sword that was slightly different from Hadhafang (Elrond's). Faramir had a unique sword too, fairly typical cruciform-hilt but with some subtle intricacies. Gondorian soldiers had their bronze-hilted arming swords with upturned crossguards and pommels that looked like Minas Tirith, while Fountain Guards used similar swords with different pommels showing the White Tree. Denethor had a unique longsword that was hardly ever seen. Eomer also had a unique sword very similar to Eowyn's, but with the horse heads rearing on either side of the blade instead of symmetrically embracing the edge. There were also generic Rohirric swords around, and the Hobbits all had some less noteworthy swords, as well as Merry and Pipping getting miniature Rohirric and Gondorian swords in RotK. The Easterlings had some neat scimitars as well. And perhaps most easily forgotten, Isildur had a sword that looked like a baby brother to Narsil, almost identical in shape but smaller, less engraved, and with a hilt of bronze instead of steel.
I was always under the impression that Hadhafang was Arwen's sword, but I guess that's both right because he wields it at the last stand and she raises it against the wraiths at the ford.
@@EmeraldVideosNL the inscription on it gives it even more bearers. It's attributed to Idril Celebrindal of Gondilin originally, which means it passed from her, to Earendil, to Elrond, to Arwen. Totally made up and not original to the source material, but not contradictory either.
You guys forgot the Witch King's sword...
Love this. I have Anduril, Glamdring, Sting, Orcrist and The Sword of the Ranger hanging on my wall in a display. Absolutely love them all
I agree. Glamdring is the best. That subtle leaf blade is just *chef's kiss*.
Always thought it was rather plain looking compared to orcrist/sting! I wanted runes on the blade and a more ornate scabbard!!!!
Perfect timing. When Glamdring was introduced, The Breaking Of The Fellowship started playing on my pandora playing in the next room. Perfect 👌
Couple of corrections. Sting, Glamdring, and Orcrist are from a specific elven culture, those of Gondolin. That would have allowed for a different style of blade. Orcrist being a Falchion is clearly allowing an exception to the rule. Also Sting was said to be more of a letter opener than a sword, Bilbo had to name it. I know you weren't considering the magic of the story, but even if Sting was the only blade that glowed in the presence of Orcs (which it wasn't according to the books it wasn't) that would be a more useful thing to have on a small blade than a big sword.
I'm surprised you've not been crucified in the comments over the spelling of Anduril, I saw that right off.
I think Elrond's sword could be called an elven sabre but that doesn't excuse it's design. I meant the recosso....
Uruk-hai swords: crude lumps of steel for crude powerful fighters in plate armour and so have to either cleave an arm off or spike into armour. very much Orc style fighting, functional, not pretty.
The high elven blades...... i'd call them polearms personally but i'm not an expert so i'll leave it out.
I have the goblin cleaver! My brother gave it to me for Christmas one year. I have it hanging behind me in my office. It's beautiful.
What an awesome gift. You're really lucky.
I have Sting, “Strider’s sword,” Glamdring, and Anduril all made by Peter Lyon himself in limited editions in the early 2000s.
God damn that's nice.
Damn, I wish I had the luck to get those.
@@TheGary108 Sadly, it took a lot more than luck!
Around 2011 or 12 Orcrist was also offered in limited edition, but at that stage I was feeling pretty tapped out financially and didn’t feel comfortable dropping another $10k+ (I can’t recall the exact figure.)
Telchar, a legendary First Age Dwarven smith, forged Narsil which was reworked by Elves into Anduril.
Orcrist is my single favorite aesthetic design for a sword ever.
Im at the 7:19 mark, and I want to point out that giving Anduril a leaf blade would take away from the visual story telling of LotR. Elf made blades like Sting and Glamdring are leaf shaped. Narsil was not made by elves, but by dwarves and then later reforged by the elves into Anduril. Giving Anduril a leaf shaped blade would have taken from its history.
Gonna try not to completely nerd out but sting would definitely be the most functional weapon for Frodo because he should most likely run which would be easier to slip away with. I do agree without the blue magic in the blade I wouldn’t want the swirl either.
I love the fact that you guys added in the Rohan swords. Aesthetically, they look so much like the migration era swords and I absolutely love them. IMO, the surviving migration era swords are absolutely stunning, and I love the fact that they made an appearance in LOTR
Any sword day is a great day.
A red day ere the sun rises.
Near the end I was saying where was the Rohan sword!? You can't exclude that, and I was so happy that y'all remembered them. Personally love the swords.
I would hope one day you go more in depth and plan things out. Swords like the Gondor soldier, Faramir’s or Isildur’s are fantastic. There is a book that is a visual reference for weapons and armour. I highly recommend it.
Oh yes and would somebody do a break down of that beautiful spear Aeglos...
I loved Faramir’s sword
What I like about the LotR swords is that they used realistically tapered points. Most movies use chisel points because they are less likely to be damaged on set, and they're easier to cast in rubber for props.
Note on Anduril; while it was remade by Elrond and Aragorn, it, as originally called Narsil, was forged by the dwarf Telchar. So it is technically a dwarven blade.
Love the channel guys! Keep up the good work!
My Notes on the video:
1. Ring of Power sucks, thanks for agreeing
2. Orcrist is actually more based on the Kopis/Falcata of antiquity rather than the Falchion. You should totally do a video on this weapon type.
3. Don't diss the Rohan swords, spathas are awesome.
4. No biggie, but you missed the nazgul sword which is (arguably) awesome.
Overall, loved the style and format of the video and you guys kept it entertaining. Thanks for all you guys do for the community!
I believe that the replica stings are based on the size of the sword in Elijah Wood's hand, not in frodo's hand. Meaning they are scaled up so that when you're holding it you don't look goofy. You look like scaled down Elijah holding the sword from the movie as opposed to aragorn holding the sword. That way you don't feel bad about your purchase.
I have one personally and its a beautiful bit of kit and well balanced
I actually own a replica of Orcrist, and in person the curve of the handle is far more pronounced. The kicker is that you still can barely notice it when you hold it. The pommel does an absolutely perfect job of redirecting your hand in such a way as to completely remove the feeling of the curve.
The Lord of the Rings swords are absolutely amazing. Their designs are very cool and beautiful
I would be interested to know your opinion on the company that makes the best functional Lord of the Rings swords
Weta?
Yesssss!! Thank you for covering the high elven sword with the long handle. They don't get anywhere near the attention they deserve.
One of the coolest sword designs ever made.
Good video, but you didnt mention my favorite sword...the Witch King's sword...or the Nazgul swords
Yup, I was going to comment in that, too. Those looked pretty cool, and they were functional
"A sword day! A red day! ERE THE SUN RISES!"
DEATH!
DEEEEEEEAAAAAATH!
DEEEEEEAAAAAATTTTHHHHH!
The Ranger swrod replica I have, which is also from UC, has some details on it that wasn't mentioned. On mine, the guard and the pommel both have a brushed/satin finish which really helps set it apart from the rest of the sword. And the leather on the grip is a nice shade of green. If I had the money, I'd love to commission a smith to make a 100% accurate but functional replica using the furniture from my UC wall hanger and have it fit the scabbard too.
I talked with Daniel Falconer -- one of the concept artists for LOTR -- and he said Elrond's sword was a purposeful combination of a katana and a cavalry saber.
It somehow manages to have less hand protection than either.
Well then, is it a one handed or two handed sword? Sabers are one handed (other hand holds the reins) and katana are two handed. Oh and I agree with @crowe6961 the lack of any hand protection is a big Minus for functionality.
I think it's theorized that Narsil was actually forged by the dwarves? The sword that the kings of Numenor had was elven, and besides Narsil/Anduril almost all cool named blades are elven, but I'm almost certain Narsil is allegedly made by the dwarves of Belegost in the 1st age? Maybe Nogrod?
It was made by Telchar the greatest smith only seconded by the noldor elves and he also forged the dragon helm of dor lomin if I recall correctly
@obi-wankenobi3477 No way?!? Fr? Now that you bring up the dragon helm, I want a Children of Hurin film just to see Anglachel.
@@zekeolopwi6642 Be careful what you wish for, as you might get it. And you don't want it in [CURRENT YEAR].
@judesheckelberg5135 Fair, but I would settle for a high quality fan film. Also, why is the star wars fan community so good at making fan films 💀
@@zekeolopwi6642 AI learning will very shortly give us the films we actually want without the need for woke writers/actors.
To answer your question about the leaf blades vs other elven swords, thr swords found in the troll cave (Sting, Glamdring, Orcrist) that have the leaf blades are artifacts of the fall of Gondolin, a first-age elven civilization. As many have stated elsewhere, Narsil was forged by Dwarves. The other elven civilizations that made it to the end of the 2nd age (and the war of the last alliance against Sauron) were shown to use different weaponry to show a bit of difference over the ages, but a lore reason could be because of varying degrees of skill and resources between the two ages.
I think you guys could use the tier list site for future wideos like this. It would help see where you guys put the swords as well as making it easier to move thing's around.
The high elf warrior sword has been my favorite forever. It’s basically an elf nagimaki. That design is one of my favorites.
Weeb
Akin to the Japanese Naginata pole arm.
@@Arzman6011 it’s more similar to the nagamaki I think. The naginata is a long polearm ranging from 6-8 feet long where the nagamaki varies between an extremely short-handled polearm to an extremely long-handled sword. It was a way of turning a normal-length sword blade into a longer, larger, more versatile weapon.
@@Logovanni I stand corrected, it does appear to be the long handled sword (Nagamaki).
The one thing I don't like about Orcrist is the spike at the end of the handle, seems like a self injury risk.
I was personally hoping the Nazgûl’s swords would be brought up!
I always thought that the elven swords from the movies looked like oversized hunting knives. Ties them back to nature in my mind.
Depends on which elves you're talking about, but Legolas' blades for sure. I don't recall off the top of my head if he was ever described in the book as actually carrying a sword on the daily, even. Extra big hunting knives for extra dangerous game like orcs seems like a very wood elf solution.
@Shadiversity that sword at the end that you reviewed, you forgot to put the link! Which one is it again? It has a beautiful blade. I'd love that, just slightly more pointy.
Good editing work btw, zooming in on the bits you were talking about.
Been working on my LOTR sword collection for 20 years.. got all the good guys swords they are so beautiful... first one i got and still one of my favourites is the ranger sword, its so elegant and clean but so functional with its scabbard it has a knife and sharpening stone which is just so cool and you got to remember these swords are fantasy but they put alot of thought into functionality too and these were from the mind of a real sword maker perter lyon i think.
The addition of the knife and sharpening stone was at the suggestion of Viggo Mortensen, who thought that it would be foolish to use a sword for cutting food! He also took 'his' sword around with him at all times off set, to make it a part of his character life. There is a great video of Adam Savage working with Peter Lyon on a visit to Aotearoa, making a dagger in the Weta forge, surrounded by many of the great LOTR swords.
Theoden's sword is gorgeous. Wielded with a round shield or from horseback, it is excellent.
I think that elven swords got their weird sword/polearm design based on the archery aspect of elves, they would face enemies with bows and if the enemies could approach, some of the archers would drop bows and engage with a siege like charge counter tatic while those who remained with bows would continue to provide cover fire.
Dwarven sword may take in account that dwarves would have slightly shorter arms though very strong, so putting a little more weight on the tip would enhance the power of the swing.
Orcrist is easily one of my favorite sword designs from any film
I fully concur it is a stunning blade.
Why? it’s a machete. Blades like that is made to chop wood (or gang members), it’s not a weapon of war.
@@fredrikhelland8194 Tell that to the Falchion
@@Snarlacc A proper falchion is not a cleaver. Movie Orcrist also doesn’t really look like a falchion anyway, but a gilded machete.
@@fredrikhelland8194 What is it then? A Falchion is basically a machete with a sword hilt made for cutting or cleaving.
You guys should do a tier list... always fun for the comments section.
Orchrist is also called the goblin cleaver...
And the urukhai scimitar was designed specifically for them to be attacking rohan so they put the large spike at the front to hook any mounted enemies so its pretty functional... boromir sword is one of my faves too 😅
The dwarven sword is designed as a Gladius… meant to be used with a shield. Doesn’t need a cross guard because it limits range of motion in a tight shield wall.
The edit and graphics are great. Keeps the camera on the discussion while highlighting what your talking about.
Great video, fellas! Though I think using a tier list from tier maker would've been better for the visual aspect.
The handel sweeps back so you can get a better chopping moation while still keeping a comfortable feel and balance. Knowing were the tip of your blade is at all times is very important.
Elronds sword was made so he could block from the front or the back. Thats why it is made the way it is. They are blade stops for blocking attacks. The lowest one on the blade also comes to a slight point curve so you can lead the enemies blade away from you.
With lack of hand gard you needed somthing to protect your fingers.
This sword was ment for quick slashing and stabs. It was made by elrond himself being a master smith. So it was tuned to his fighting style