swords from saruman's army

Clay- D&D and AD&D mostly. Never did get into anything else except Cyber Punk.
I've seen Fellowship twice already, and at full price both times. For a cheap bastard like me, that is one hell of an endorsement. They probably realized they would make a considerable haul just on people seeing it multiple times. And it is definitely a "must see on the big screen". I just hope that when "The Return of the King" comes out, they do a triple feature!!! Christ, I'll probably get a rash sitting in a puddle that long.
I hope I can get a DVD player before it comes out. Some of us po' folks still have watch VHS, you know the big black rectangle thingies?
 
I am starting a new D&D group next week. Very excited! I also started playing MERP (Middle Earth Role Playing) this spring. It is an old game (First rules came out in '84, 2nd Ed in '91). It's still a good system once you get used to it. On ebay the books are kinda high, but at local stores, you can find used copies for $5 or less sometimes.

I expect a new Tolkein RPG to come out on the wings of the movie. Probably a d20 system since Wizards of the Coast has the $$$ to afford the license!

I still have alot of VHS tapes. Can't afford to convert them all over to DVD and I can't afford a Tivo system so it is nice to be able to still record TV shows.

Sword content -- did you notice the prediliction for two-handed and hand-and-a-half swords in the film?

Glamdring 1.5
Aragorn's Sword 1.5
Nazgul Swords 2 (though they had different one handed swords when they attacked the dummies in the hobbits' beds in Bree)
Narsil 1.5

All of the Numenoreans swords appeared to be bastard swords and the Elvish swords were 2-handed as well (in the Second Age scenes; excepting Arwen's, of course)

I am assuming that Narsil has not yet become Anduril, as in the book, since:

1) the hilt of the sword Aragorn used looked different from Narsil

2) they didn't mention it.

Probably saving it for Return of the King...
 
These swords with the large hook blade look to be the very same as one used by one of the gladiators in the first arena fight in the movie Gladiator. This as well as I thought I saw a helmet or two that was used in Excalibur.
Anyway if anybody else saw the blade in gladiator or if you look for it when you watch it next it is in one of the two fights in the arena prior to going to Rome.
It stood out in the movie Gladiator fight becouse it looked to be the most usless weapon out in the arena, kinda short, can't stab and prob not very well balanced. Although it might slice like no other. Anyway, just wondering if anyone else caught it or maybe I should just fast forword it later to see if I'm seeing things.
 
Narsil has not become Anduril yet in FOTR. I was told by New Line that it would be seen in film three. That is a departure from the book, but will be cool to see it reforged when Aragorn becomes king. The sword Aragorn uses is just ranger sword. You did get to see Narsil being wielded by Elendil until Sauron broke it, then by Isildur as he cut Sauron's fingers off, and later in Rivendel in the scene with Boromir and Aragorn.

As far as the difference in the design of the Elvish swords, Sting and Arwen's, remember that Elves have a very LONG history and there are several factions of Elves that lived completely differntly from eachother, with different cultures and lifestyles. Read the Silmarillion for the 40,000 year history. It's fascinating. I think this is the filmakers doing their homework.

Regarding the 90 degree point on the Uruk-Hai machete, I assumed this was to penetrate plate armor.

Kit Rae
 
Some great posts you guys!! REALLY! Thanks for some really good information on a subject I don't have much knowledge base about...


"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"
 
Good call Nasnandos! I hadn't even thought about the long history of the Elves in Middle Earth leading to an evolution of blade geometry.
For anyone who is interested:
The Uruk-Hai bow is an English War Bow, or Artillery Bow. "Primitive Archer" magazine is running a multi-part article on them. I have part II. It does not say what the draw weight is, but from the strain on the face of the author of the article, it must be on up there.
 
Its really cool to find knifemakers that enjoy Tolkiens books/movie and notice the weapons used. I am on another discussion board dedicated soley to Tolkien and Middle Earth, and anytime I try to talk about the way the swords are made, material etc...most of the time people are just like "huh?"
:)
 
The LOTR sword replicas are made for "adult collectors", not users, unfortunately. We tried to make the best "looking" replica possible and function was secondary. We have found in our 14 years of making movie blade replicas that most are not used, only displayed, so we use an average quality steel, 420, to keep the cost down (gotta pay that royalty and up front lecensing guarantees). Plus we have the restriction of New Line not wanting a sharp edge on the large swords because they do NOT want them to be used.

I tried my best to make the construction as sturdy as possible within these limits, but there is only so much abuse that a 420J2 stanless steel blade will take before it shatters.

I have asked this on several other LOTR sites, so I'll ask it here. As fans, what LOTR movie swords would you like to see made next? We are developing Narsil - the sword of Elendil (before Sauron breaks it), The Ringwraith sword, Elrond/Arwen's sword (same sword), and Strider's "ranger" sword. Sting, Glamdring,and the Witchking sword are out now.

Kit Rae
Art Director
United Cutlery Corp.
 
I would love to see Boromir's sword as well as some of the weapons of the Elves at the Last Alliance (those 2-handed cleavers).

Are the other Nazgul swords going to be the large hand-and-a-half swords or the one handed swords? In the movie, the swords they use on the the Hobbits' beds in Bree are different than the ones at Weathertop.

Thanks for taking the time to post here and ask our opinions!
 
Nasdandos, How about Gimli's axe(s)?

The wallhangers really came out beautiful, I don't know which one I like best. Too bad about the restrictions on function.

I have a question. In the books Aragorn carries Narsil around with him, but I assume he carries another sword around to use?

Spidersbane, can you please post the link to the Tolkien discussion?
 
Nope, no other sword is mentioned. In the book Aragorn has only Narsil's shards before Rivendell and has Narsil reforged at Rivendell before they leave.
 
10-4. There are things in the movie that were changed from the book and I don't understand why. I see changing things because of time restraints (like Tom Bombadil), but the broken sword stuff I don't get. When reading the books I imagined Aragorn fighting with the broken sword, but after seeing the movie I thought I must have misread it. Also whipping out the sword was Aragorn's way of dramatically revealing his true identity. Oh well, maybe by the end of the third movie there will be an explanation.

Nasdandos, what about making Narsil come "broken"? The swords aren't functional anyway.
 
They are probably saving up for some kind of big now he's going to claim the kingship and here is his kingly sword bit, at least that's how I'd do it. Makes it inconveinent when your hero doesn't have a sword though so they gave him this other one. Incidentally I'm guessing that this means they will tank the whole conversation with Hama outside Theodens gates as well.
 
CD Fleischer, there were four Nazgul blades seen in the film. There was the Witchking sword, the one United has out now, carried by the leader of the nine. There was the dagger carried by him as well, used to Stab Frodo and then melts when Aragorn examines it. There was a sword with a ring guard seen in the battle on Weathertop, and then there was the Ringwraith sword carried by the other eight Nazgul. If you look closely you can see each wielded this same sword except the Witchking. Our Ringwraith sword comes out in the fall.

Regarding Narsil, I hope it gets reforged before the final battle in film three because that sword was synonymous with Aragorn in the books. It would be a shame if it was only used in some type of king's crowning ceremony. There has been a rumour that Arwen brings the reforged sword to Aragorn, with his banner, in the second film. We will have to wait and see.

OMRie, I'm not supposed to talk about it yet, but I am working on the version you asked about. I don't think you will be dissapointed when you see how we are doing it.

Kit Rae
Art Director
United Cutlery Corp.
 
Axes are good, too.

Any hope for Boromir's sword? I thought perhaps not since he won't be in the next film. I think it was my favourite in the movie.

Thanks for all the info, Nas!!1
 
Nasnandos-first of all, welcome aboard. I am always happy to see manufacturers' reps here on the forums.
United Cutlery is generally about as well regarded as is 420J2 steel. This is, I believe, because of materials used in construction (the aforementioned 420J2)mostly. There is a strong preference for usere over hangers on this forum. The LOTR swords would have followed the same pattern, I think, except for your explanation of why things were done the way they were. Certainly, no one can fault you for following the terms of the license agreement. Your willingness to let us in on what is going on and to ask the end users what they think and want is smart marketing. IMHO, your presence here is a credit to you and your company.
 
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