Barrow-blades

From the One Wiki to Rule Them All, the Lord of the Rings Encyclopedia.

The Barrow-blades were daggers or short swords forged in Arnor in the early Third Age. They were found by the Hobbits in the barrow of a barrow-wight and given to them by Tom Bombadil. Frodo's sword broke in the confrontation with the Nazgûl on the banks of the River near Rivendell and was replaced by Sting. Sam, Merry and Pippin kept their swords. However Merry and Pippin's original barrow-blades would be taken and discarded when the two hobbits were captured by Uruk-Hai at Amon Hen. Pippin would then be presented with a Gondorian barrow-blade when traveling to Minas Tirith with Gandalf, and Merry would be given a Rohirrim barrow-blade by King Theoden before leaving to aid Gondor against Sauron's armies.

Merry's barrow-blade played a major role in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. It was enchanted with the power to harm the Witch-king of Angmar himself by a weaponsmith of Arthedain long before. When he stabbed the Witch-king in the knee with it, it broke the spell protecting his undead flesh and pierced his knee. He fell to the ground, and this gave Eowyn the chance to kill him.

The Barrow-blades were described as red in colour, with "flowing chararacters of Numenor" inscribed on them. They would not rust, so long as they are kept in their sheaths and are "wrought with spells for the doom of Mordor".