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Topic: Strider's Weapon

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Kyranger
Loremaster of Gondor - Rank 5
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Date: Apr 13, 2012
Strider's Weapon
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Hey guys. I've been wondering about this for some time now, so I thought I'd get your opinions.

What did Aragorn (Or Strider) use for a weapon, before the War of the Ring? Did he use the Shards of Narsil? Or did he carry another sword around all the time? Maybe he used some other type of weapon?

I know that he told Sam that the pieces of Narsil did not make a very formidable weapon.

''He drew out his sword, and they saw that the blade was indeed broken a foot below the hilt. 'Not much use is it, Sam?' said Strider. 'But the time is near when it shall be forged anew.' (Fellowship of the Ring - Chp X)

So that seems unlikely to have been used. But it would be impractical to lugg another sword around as well.

Another kind of weapon is possible, but I don't remember any reference to it.

So, let's see any of your ideas and opinions on the subject.

 




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Glorfindel
Anarion, Son of Elendil - rank 8
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Date: Apr 13, 2012
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In the film they gave him another sword. I assumed this was based on something in the text. Either way Aragorn must have had another sword, and I can't imagine the Shards of Narsil would be any use at all.

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Kyranger
Loremaster of Gondor - Rank 5
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Date: Apr 13, 2012
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It would make sense to have a usable sword, but I can't see him carrying two swords around. Do you think he might have left Narsil with somebody else? If so, why did he have it when he met the hobbits at the Prancing Pony?



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'Lonely men are we, Rangers of the wild, hunters - but hunters ever of the servants of the Enemy; for they are found in many places, not in Mordor only.'
Huan the great hound
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Date: Apr 13, 2012
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Id say its unlikely that he would leave the shards of Narsil considering how reluctent he was to leave it outside of the halls in rohan when he and Gandalf and company were so instructed. Though he must have had another sword, it couldn't be that he had no weapon of use when wandering around. Though that's just an opinion.

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Kyranger
Loremaster of Gondor - Rank 5
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Date: Apr 13, 2012
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That's an excellent point Huan, how Aragorn would have been reluctent to leave his sword with someone else. But would he have carried two swords around? Narsil was a large sword (Once wielded by Elendil the Tall) and if you added another sword, wouldn't that be a bit impractical? Aragorn did a lot of traveling through rough country, one sword alone is a cumbersome object to carry while scrambling up hills and going through overgrown woods (I know from experience). Two swords on the other hand, would slow you down considerably. However, do you think he might have carried some other weapon? (Such as a bow maybe?)



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'Lonely men are we, Rangers of the wild, hunters - but hunters ever of the servants of the Enemy; for they are found in many places, not in Mordor only.'
Huan the great hound
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Id say he would carry a bow regardless of his sword situation, he must have needed to hunt whilst in the woods and a sword, broken or no, isn't much good for cathing game. And I think stealth played a big part in all of Aragorns movements. With the right camoflouge someone can be standing overtop of you and not see you. So maybe a bow was all he weilded for a while.

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Laurelin
Haldir of Lorien - Rank 6
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Date: Apr 19, 2012
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He must have had something like a bow. On their trip through the wild Aragorn mentioned that he had skill as a hunter. So, unless he was referring to setting snare traps or fishing, I'm thinking he had something.

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Kyranger
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Date: Apr 19, 2012
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It seems likely that he would carry a bow due to the hunting situation, but what about close combat? A bow is a good weapon for distances, but not necessarily for hand to hand fighting (Even Legolas carried his white knife for close up work). Surely Aragorn had to to do some close combat? Or did he maybe carry a fighting knife as well?



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'Lonely men are we, Rangers of the wild, hunters - but hunters ever of the servants of the Enemy; for they are found in many places, not in Mordor only.'
Laurelin
Haldir of Lorien - Rank 6
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Date: Apr 20, 2012
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I just finished rereading (again) the book and since it doesn't mention, I guess we'll never know for sure. But, I'll say this, every outdoors person and hunter I know, including myself, does not run around the woods without some sort of knife. Whenever my brother heads out he always takes his machete.

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Glorfindel
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Date: Apr 23, 2012
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I think it's safe to assume he had a second sword. Anything else is illogical.

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Jaidoprism7
Guard of Armenelos - Rank 4
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Date: Sep 6, 2012
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KyRanger,

I just revisited this post and when I gave your original post a second glance something occurred to me:

It's documented that Strider carried the Sword Narsil with him. "It was broken a foot below the hilt". That's all good and fine.

The actual shards must have remained in Imladris with Elrond's people while he carried the heirloom of his house around with him. Unless there were no shards to speak of in the first place! Perhaps they were crushed and scattered upon shattering beneath King Elendil....?

Are there mentions of "Shards" after the battle?

Later, Huan the Great Hound mentioned: "Id say it was unlikely that he would leave the shards of Narsil considering how reluctent he was to leave it outside of the halls in rohan when he and Gandalf and company were so instructed." At this point in the story, wasn't Narsil reforged into Anduril? Flame of the West?
Not to pick apart Huan's words, but I missed that small detail upon my first read-through weeks ago.

I agree that Aragorn used a bow proficiently but he must have had something at that point. Didn't he (Aragorn) brandish his sword (whether it was Narsil or no?) upon Weathertop to deter the Ring Wraiths? I think I'm getting movie and the book all mixed up. I'll dig deeper into this.
Until then...did this spark the memory of anyone out there? Because now it's starting to play on my mind people!!!

Cheers!



-- Edited by Jaidoprism7 on Thursday 6th of September 2012 06:15:07 AM

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Jaidoprism7
Guard of Armenelos - Rank 4
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Date: Sep 14, 2012
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Okay I read through all parts concerning Strider's weapon before Narsil was reforged and all Aragorn did when faced with trouble was run apparently. He said he was an efficient Hunter but later goes on to say that its difficult to lay traps. He was talking rabbits and Neeker-breekers people! Many of you agree that he had carried a bow, then I say why not a slingshot?! Perfect.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Tolkien is sooo wonderfully vague!

Whatever...

P.s. ooops! He did wield dual firebrands!


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lomoduin
Rohirrim of Edoras - Rank 4
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Date: Mar 24, 2013
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Even a broken sword in the hands of a Ranger would have been a terrible weapon to stare down.

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Jaidoprism7
Guard of Armenelos - Rank 4
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Date: Mar 24, 2013
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Indeed...

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Bear
Lord Elrond of Rivendell - Rank 9
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Date: Mar 24, 2013
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Yep! In Aragorn's hands a broken sword could still carve out a few winkies. If I met Aragorn at the Prancing Pony I'd buy a few rounds ... and remember to say a polite "Goodnight" to Strider!



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ArwenLegolas
Tom Bombadil
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Date: Apr 6, 2013
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I am more of a visual Person So I thought maybe a few  pictures of some of those weapons would be appreciated.


images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQsaIrA4ms2YYRc8JyXOgHfPApwIKqxszwuvWknFJVsvOazOy-L                              images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQjKSQabuiFGceJlyfbdXVk_IYysxbPGJftmi8HrN0Fm5h56bfhiw

 

 

 

Noble Collection - Andúril.jpg



-- Edited by ArwenLegolas on Saturday 6th of April 2013 03:34:27 PM

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Bilbo Baggins
Thorin Oakenshield - Rank 6
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Date: Apr 8, 2013
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Very nice design on those swords. They'll get quite rare in future as United Cutlery have gone out of business I think.

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ArwenLegolas
Tom Bombadil
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Date: Apr 10, 2013
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Ooh, I wonder how much the Fighting Knives of Legolas are worth now. They are hanging above my Fire place in the living room.
If you click on the link these you can see which ones I have

http://www.lotrfanshop.com/lotrshop/weapons/fightingknivesoflegolas.asp




-- Edited by ArwenLegolas on Wednesday 10th of April 2013 04:16:39 AM

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Hey dol! merry dol! ring a dong dillo!
Ring a dong! hop along! fal lal the willow!
Tom Bom, Jolly Tom, Tom Bombadillo!
Laurelin
Haldir of Lorien - Rank 6
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Date: Apr 11, 2013
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That is so cool, Arwen!! I'd love to get them for my brother. I think though his wife might oppose the idea. I'll have to think of a way of getting around her opposition.



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Teralectus
Slaves of udun
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Date: Sep 16, 2013
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lomoduin wrote:

Even a broken sword in the hands of a Ranger would have been a terrible weapon to stare down.

 Exactly. The blade was not broken straight across; it was still jagged and the edges could still be kept sharp. Furthermore, even broken, it couldn't have been much shorter that Sting, making it a viable weapon, especially in the hands of a ranger, let alone Aragorn. He very most likely carried a bow, but his weapon for fighting was most likely Narsil.



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