LOTR Before The Movies

I hope that this other guy is as good as Jackson.

Guillermo interacts with the fanbase more than any other director I've seen - he seems to be a real fan himself. And for that reason I have high hopes.

This article about Arms and Armour in Middle-Earth may be of interest: www.lordotrings.com/books/armor.asp

Thank you, Jonathan! I found it illuminating as well.

This isn't Lord of the Rings, but what about Gurthang? Has anyone seen a good replica before or after the movies? Even concept art that they liked? Gurthang it tough to conceptualize because on one hand it's evil in its own way, but at the same time it was made by an (albeit Dark) Elf and reforged in Nargothrond. Not only that, but it was chosen by Beleg and its mate Anguirel was the sword of King Thingol, so it must have been an attractive sword in some fashion... I've been trying to picture it. I hope it's not too off topic.

I envisioned it to be very roughly similar to glamdring, as in elvish design, except black.

I like the movie ones a lot, in fact when the day comes that I will get a custom Tolkien fantasy sword it will probably look similar to the ones from the movies, but some of them weren't really what I envisioned from the books.

I vote for Brenno's version of Anduril:

www.fableblades.com/Anduril.html

What continues to defy the original reason I posted of this is that it was not offered as comparison to the movie swords. It was posted quite simply as one person's quest that eventually landed in his hands as quite unique and of individual taste. What it was not was what others may find suits their taste. There are endless squabbles as to the best design still on the SFI boards. Lundemo was pestered quite incessantly, while producing a never ending variation of Anduril (as the movie sword as a base).

What is true is that Joel, Patrick and Kevin produced a sword that many can appreciate without the comparisons rife in the thread here.

In truth, chopping up other's efforts has driven the bulk of the custom and other private makers off the sword boards. Particularly of folk such as Rick Barrett, Howard Clark, Daryl Meier and even Jake Powning to an extent. This has been especially true of the completed Japanese type swords and forum experts dissecting them. Patrick Hastings and Keith Larman as well would rather just appreciate their own efforts instead of having to explain every post they make.

That's sad (to some).

Hotspur; have any here commissioned a LOTR sword they would like to showcase in a separate thread?

Hi Jonathan,

I removed my previous response to you as possibly just blowing you off. So, to answer your question, yes. There have been any number of Tolkien swords over the years that preceded the movie. The Del Tin swords, just a fer instance and again, probably best relived and described in a separate thread. That is my hope in other's understanding why I had initiated this thread separately from other LOTR swords.

I'll leave this with you though, as a young enthusiast to ponder and perhaps initiate a thread regarding this maker.
www.shirepost.com/Grayswandir.html

Tom's work certainly deserves its own mention and perhaps others will catch the ball and run with it aside from this thread. Or not.

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Dave I didn't see you sneaking in. yes, quite old school as it were. Joel was last spotted at myArmoury and some of his musings regarding a quite large Arms&Armor two hander.

Joel used to go a viking in his local woods and used to delight in severing errant saplings of some girth. His favorite sword at that time was what is now the ATrim 1313. While somewhat modified over the years, still that very basic XIIa that was amongst Gus' first batches. He did finally manage to break one of Gu's unwrapped grips. I don't recall if it was bubinga or the walnut but iirc, it would have been during the bubinga days (my XIIIa is bubinga under the doeskin). The sapling that got him was at least 2 1/2" in diameter. On that slanted cut, represented some three to four inches of wood cut. One thing we know for sure from Gus's blades is that they rarely fail (although there are instances). Gus sent him a grip and chided him a bit. this would have been on the old 2001-2002 board and has been lost to prosperity.

Sooo, there is some more old school and a fireside yarn to weave.

Cheers

Hotspur; wait a minute, Dave is the youngin I remember

Joel is in the 6"6" range and not slight at that height.

That guy makes very nice swords, Chenessfan. I believe that I understand, Hotspur.