Arms and Armour

by Tinw

Tinw's note: I think it is important to remember that the few references Tolkien gives to specific arms and armour are examples, rather than rules, save when he says things like "the Elves did not have swords before this time." Based on a few examples we may certainly say, for example, the Elves seem to have favored mail of linked rings, but we cannot rule out exceptions (since Tolkien himself mentions some). Also notice the differences between different divisions of Elves.

Things we are interested in knowing:

• what kinds of weapons did Elves use?
• what kinds of armour did they use?
• what sorts of magical or special properties did some weapons have?
• what are the differences between the different branches of Elves, in their arms and armour?

and perhaps, the history and origin and Elven weapons, and specific examples of famous weapons.

Also see "Concerning the Elves of Middle-earth and their Arms" by Elnarsil:

Origin of Noldor Weapons in Valinor

[Tinw note: Tolkien rewrote The Silmarillion texts many times. I've included several variants here, sorry! Each may have different useful info, although sometimes later texts contradict early ones.]

While still in his early youth he [Fëanor] wedded Nerdanel, the daughter of a great smith named Mahtan, among those of the Noldor most dear to Aulë; and of Mahtan he learned much of the making of things in metal and in stone.

~ "Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor", The Silmarillion

And when Melkor saw that these lies [rumors he had spread] were smouldering, and that pride and anger were awake among the Noldor, he spoke to them concerning weapons; and in that time the Noldor began the smithying of swords and axes and spears. Shields also they made displaying the tokens of many houses and kindreds that vied one with another; and these only they wore abroad, and of other weapons they did not speak, for each believed that he alone had received the warning. And Fëanor made a secret forge, of which not even Melkor was aware; and there he tempered fell swords for himself and for his sons, and made tall helms with plumes of red. Bitterly did Mahtan rue the day when he taught to the husband of Nerdanel all the lore of metalwork that he had learned of Aulë.

~ "Of Fëanor and the Unchaining of Melkor", The Silmarillion

It is said that among other matters Melko spoke of weapons and armour to the Gnomes, and of the power they give to him who is armed to defend his own (as he said). The Elves had before possessed only weapons of the chase, spears and bows and arrows, and since the chaining of Melko the armouries of the Gods had been shut. But the Gnomes now learned the fashioning of swords of tempered steel, and the making of mail; and they made shields in those days and emblazoned them with silver, gold, and gems.

~ "Of the Silmarils and the Darkening of Valinor", Quenta The Silmarillion , Lost Road

§97 Then at last the princes of the Noldor began to murmur against the Valar, and many became filled with pride, forgetting all that the Valar had taught to them and given to them. And in that time (having now awakened anger and pride) Melkor spoke to the Eldar concerning weapons, which they had not before possessed or known; for the armouries of the Valar after the chaining of Melkor were shut. But now the Noldor began the smithying of swords and axes and spears; and shields they made displaying the tokens of many houses and kindreds that vied one with another.

~ §97 "Annals of Aman", Morgoth's Ring

[It is told, also, that at this time Melkor would speak to the Eldar of weapons and armour, and of the power that they give to him that is armed to defend his own (as he said). The Eldar had before possessed no weapons, and since the chaining of Melkor the armouries of the gods had been shut. But the Noldor now learned the fashioning of swords of tempered steel, and the making of bows and of arrows and of spears; and they made shields in those days and emblazoned them with devices of silver and gold and gems. Thus it was that the Noldor were armed in the days of their Flight. Thus too, as oft was seen, the evil of Melkor was turned against him; for the swords of the Gnomes did him more hurt than anything under the gods upon this earth. Yet they had little joy of Melkor's teaching; for all the sorrows of the Gnomes they wrought with their own swords, as later shall be seen. Quoth Pengolod.]

~ §50 Later Quenta The Silmarillion (I), Morgoth's Ring

§52a Now the Quendi had possessed weapons in Middle-earth, but not of their own devising. They had been made by Aule and sent as gifts by the hand of Orome, when it became known to the Valar that the Quendi were beset by prowling evils that had discovered the places of their dwelling beside Cuivienen; and more were sent later for the defence of the Eldar upon the Great March to the shores of the Sea. But all these were long unused, and lay in hoard as memorials of old days half-forgotten; and since the chaining of Melkor the armouries of the Valar also had been shut.

§52b But now the lords of the Noldor took out their swords and spears and sharpened them, re-strung their bows and filled their quivers with arrows. And they made shields in those days and emblazoned them with devices of silver and gold and gems. These only they wore abroad, and of other weapons they did not speak, for each believed that he alone had received the warning. But when Feanor got wind of what was being done, he made for himself a secret forge, of which not even Melkor was aware; and there he wrought fell swords of tempered steel for himself and for his seven sons, and tall helms with plumes of red. Bitterly Mahtan rued the day when he had taught to the husband of Nerdanel, his daughter, all the lore of metal work that he learned of Aule.

~ Later Quenta The Silmarillion (II), Morgoth's Ring

[Commentary by Christopher Tolkien to explain differences between first and second rewriting:]

In the first part of this 'sub-chapter' Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor the story as it was told in LQ (pp. 184 ff.) was scarcely changed even in detail, despite the many changes of wording intro- duced in this last version - except in the matter of the weapons of the Eldar (§§52a,b). In QS, where the matter first entered (V.228, note by pengolod to §49), it was said that 'the Elves had before possessed only weapons of the chase, spears and bows and arrows', but that now, under the influence of Melkor, the Noldor 'learned the fashioning of swords of tempered steel, and the making of mail' and shields. This was rewritten in LQ §50 (p. 188), still as an observation made by Pengolod, to read that the Elves had originally possessed no weapons, and that now they learned the making of all kinds of arms, swords, spears, bows and arrows. Similarly in AAm §97 (p. 96): 'Melkor spoke to the Eldar concerning weapons, which they had not before possessed or known'; but my father afterwards noted on the typescript of AAm (p. 106, §97): 'No! They must have had weapons on the Great Journey.' Feeling a need to explain how the Quendi survived 'amid the deceits of the starlit dusk', and concluding that they must have been armed in Middle-earth, he adopted the (to my mind) somewhat mechanical narrative device introduced here (§52a).

~ Commentary on Later Quenta The Silmarillion, Morgoth's Ring

Favored Weapons of 3 Divisions of Elves

[Other names in song and tale are given to these peoples. The Vanyar are the Blessed Elves, and the Spear-elves, the Elves of the Air, the friends of the Gods, the Holy Elves and the Immortal, and the Children of Ingwe; they are the Fair Folk and the White.

The Noldor are the Wise, and the Golden, the Valiant, the Sword-elves, the Elves of the Earth, the Foes of Melkor, the Skilled of Hand, the Jewel-wrights, the Companions of Men, the Followers of Finwe.

The Teleri are the Foam-riders, the Singers of the Shore, the Free, and the Swift, and the Arrow-elves; they are the Elves of the Sea, the Ship-wrights, the Swanherds, the Gatherers of Pearl, the Blue Elves, the people of Olwe. The Nandor are the Host of Dan, the Wood-elves, the Wanderers, the Axe-elves, the Green Elves and the Brown.

~ "Of the Coming of the Elves", Later Quenta The Silmarillion (I), Morgoth's Ring

Favored Weapons of Noldor vs. Teleri

But the Teleri withstood him [Fëanor], and cast many of the Noldor into the sea. Then swords were drawn, and a bitter fight was fought upon the ships

[...]Thus at last the Teleri were overcome, and a great part of their mariners that dwelt in Alqualondë were wickedly slain. For the Noldor were become fierce and desperate, and the Teleri had less strength, and were armed for the most part but with slender bows.

~ "Of the Flight of the Noldor", The Silmarillion

Weapons of the Noldor in Beleriand

The Noldor, outnumbered and taken at unawares, were yet swiftly victorious; for the light of Aman was not yet dimmed in their eyes, and they were strong and swift, and deadly in anger, and their swords were long and terrible.

~ "Of the Return of the Noldor", The Silmarillion

But Fingolfin gleamed beneath [Morgoth] as a star; for his mail was overlaid with silver, and his blue shield was set with crystals; and he drew his sword Ringil, that glittered like ice.

~ "Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin", Quenta The Silmarillion ch. 11, Lost Road

In that vast shadow once of yore
Fingolfin stood: his shield he bore
with field of heaven's blue and star 3540
of crystal shining pale afar.
Fingolfin like a shooting light
beneath a cloud, a stab of white, 3575
sprang then aside, and Ringil drew
like ice that gleameth cold and blue,
his sword devised of elvish skill
to pierce the flesh with deadly chill.

~ XII, "Gest of Lúthien and Beren", Lays of Beleriand

§44 But the host of Melkor, orcs and werewolves, came through the passes of Eryd-wethrin and assailed Feanor on a sudden, ere his camp was fullwrought or put in defence. There now on the grey fields of Mithrim was fought the second battle of the Wars of Beleriand, and the first meeting of the might of Morgoth with the valour of the Noldor. Dagor-nuin-Giliath it is named, the Battle under the Stars, for the Moon had not yet risen. In that battle, albeit outnumbered and taken at unawares, the Noldor were swiftly victorious. Strong and fair were they yet, for the light of Aman was not yet dimmed in their eyes; swift they were, and deadly in wrath, and long and terrible were their swords.

~ "The Grey Annals", War of the Jewels

Then Fingon looked east and his elven-sight saw far off a dust and the glint of steel like stars in a mist, and he knew that Maedros had set forth; and he rejoiced. Then he looked towards Thangorodrim, and behold! there was a dark cloud about it and a black smoke went up; and he knew that the wrath of Morgoth was kindled and that their challenge would be accepted, and a shadow fell upon his heart. But at that moment a cry went up, passing on the wind from the south from vale to vale, and Elves and Men lifted up their voices in wonder and joy. For unsummoned and unlooked-for Turgon had opened the leaguer of Gondolin, and was come with an army, ten thousand strong, with bright mail and long swords and spears like a forest.

~ "A further account of the Battle of Unnumbered Tears", War of the Jewels

§155. Now Fingolfin, King of the Noldor, beheld (as him seemed) the utter ruin of his people, and the defeat beyond redress of all their houses, and he was filled with wrath and despair. Therefore he did on his silver arms, and took his white helm, and his sword Ringil, and his blue shield set with a star of crystal, and mounting upon Rochallor his great steed he rode forth alone and none might restrain him.

~ "The Grey Annals", War of the Jewels

§226. And behold! the light of the drawing of the swords of the Noldor was like a fire in a field of reeds; and so fell was their onset that almost the designs of Morgoth went astray.

~ "The Grey Annals", War of the Jewels

§250. Now the Orcs in token of the great triumph of Angband gathered with great labour all the bodies of their enemies that were slain, and all their harness and weapons, and they piled them, Elves and Men, in a great hill in the midst of the Anfauglith. [Haud-na-D(engin) > Haud-i-Nengin later >] Haud-ina-Nengin was the name of that mound, and it was like unto a hill. But thither alone in all the desert the grass came, and grew again long and green, and thereafter no Orc dared tread upon the earth beneath which the swords of the Noldor crumbled into rust.

~ "The Grey Annals", War of the Jewels

[Tinw edit: I notice they do rust]

Weapons of Gondolin (mostly Noldor)

 

Very earliest writings, written long before LOTR:

Now this great work was finished to their mind, and folk were the busier about the quarrying of metals and the forging of all manner of swords and axes, spears and bills, and the fashioning of coats of mail, byrnies and hauberks, greaves and vambraces, helms and shields. Now 'twas said to Tuor that already the whole folk of Gondolin shooting with bows without stay day or night might not expend their hoarded arrows in many years,

~ "The Fall of Gondolin", Book of Lost Tales 2

Upon a time the king caused his most cunning artificers to fashion a suit of armour for Tuor as a great gift, and it was made of Gnome-steel overlaid with silver; but his helm was adorned with a device of metals and jewels like to two swan-wings, one on either side, and a swan's wing was wrought on his shield; but he carried an axe rather than a sword, and this in the speech of the Gondothlim he named Dramborleg, for its buffet stunned and its edge clove all armour.

~ "The Fall of Gondolin", BOLT2

And many other kindreds were there, the folk of the Swallow and the Heavenly Arch, and from these folk came the greatest number and the best of the bowmen, and they[...]bore a fan of feathers on their helms[...] and showed an arrowhead on their shields. [...] But they of the Heavenly Arch being a folk of uncounted wealth were arrayed in a glory of colours, and their arms were set with jewels [...] but an opal of great size was set in their helms. Egalmoth was their chieftain,[...] and his sword was bent -- now none else of the Noldoli bore curved swords -- yet he trusted rather to the bow[...]

There too were the folk of the Pillar and of the Tower of Snow,[...]They fought with iron-studded clubs or with slings[...]There stood the house of the Golden Flower who bare a rayed sun upon their shield, and their chief Glorfindel [...] his arms were damascened with cunning gold. Then came there from the south of the city the people of the Fountain[...]and swords very long and bright and pale did they wield[...]

Now the last of the battalions was furnished by the folk of the Hammer of Wrath, and of these came many of the best smiths and craftsmen[...] They fought with great maces like hammers, and their shields were heavy, for their arms were very strong.

~ "The Fall of Gondolin", BOLT2

'damasked in strange wise', i.e. 'damascened', ornamentally inlaid with designs in gold and silver

~ Notes to The Nauglafring, BOLT2

Of those demons of power [Balrogs] Ecthelion slew three, for the brightness of his sword cleft the iron of them and did hurt to their fire...

~ "The Fall of Gondolin", BOLT2

[again: this is Tolkien's earliest writing, Balrogs are fewer and more powerful in mature work, but Gandalf's sword Glamdring from Gondolin also blocks a Balrog's weapon and wounds it]

Mature rewriting of part of this story, post-LOTR:

Then Tuor marvelling saw that on the wall behind the throne were hung a shield and a great hauberk, and a helm and a long sword in a sheath. The hauberk shone as it were wrought of silver untarnished, and the sunbeam gilded it with sparks of gold. But the shield was of a shape strange to Tuor's eyes, for it was long and tapering; and its field was blue, in the midst of which was wrought an emblem of a white swan's wing. Then Tuor spoke, and his voice rang as a challenge in the roof: "By this token I will take these arms unto myself, and upon myself whatsoever doom they bear."  And he lifted down the shield and found it light and wieldy beyond his guess; for it was wrought, it seemed, of wood, but overlaid by the craft of Elven-smiths with plates of metal, strong yet thin a foil, whereby it had been preserved from worm and weather.

Then Tuor arrayed himself in the hauberk, and set the helm upon his head, and he girt himself with the sword; black were sheath and belt with clasps of silver.

~ "Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin", Unfinished Tales

No arms had Voronwë [a sailor and warrior from Gondolin] save a short sword only.

~ "Of Tuor and His Coming to Gondolin" Unfinished Tales

Now they passed through the lines of the Iron Guards that stood behind the Gate; black were their mantles and their mail and long shields, and their faces were masked with vizors bearing each an eagle's beak.

~ "Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin", UT (not 100% clear whether these are Noldor or Sindar, but they are guards of Gondolin)

So they came to the Golden Gate[...] In the court beyond were arrayed three hundred archers with long bows, and their mail was gilded, and tall golden plumes rose from their helmets; and their great round shields were red as flame.

~ "Of Tuor and His Coming to Gondolin", UT

And high and noble as was Elemmakil, greater and more lordly was Ecthelion, Lord of the Fountains, at that time Warden of the Great Gate. All in silver was he clad, and upon his shining helm there was set a spike of steel pointed with a diamond; and as his esquire took his shield it shimmered as if it were bedewed with drops of rain, that were indeed a thousand studs of crystal.

~ "Of Tuor and His Coming to Gondolin", UT

More on Noldorin Bows

...begged Fingon to shoot him with his bow; and Fingon strung an arrow, and bent his bow.

~ "Of the Return of the Noldor", The Silmarillion

Then Fingon prince of Hithlum rode against him with archers on horseback, and hemmed him round with a ring of swift riders; and Glaurung could not endure their darts, being not yet come to his full armoury, and he fled back to Angband.

~ "Of the Return of the Noldor", The Silmarillion

Now 'twas said to Tuor that already the whole folk of Gondolin shooting with bows without stay day or night might not expend their hoarded arrows in many years, and that yearly their fear of the Orcs grew the less for this.

~ "The Fall of Gondolin", BOLT2

Noldorin Armor and its properties, First Age

But Turin denied the entrance of Galweg's dwelling to them, and they fell thick about him, until a company of their archers standing at a distance shot a cloud of arrows at him. Now he wore chainmail such as all the warriors of the Gnomes have ever loved and still do wear, yet it turned not all those ill shafts, and already was he sore hurt when Flinding fell pierced suddenly through the eye; and soon too had he met his death...

"Turambar and the Foaloke", earliest version of story of Túrin, BOLT2

The pursuit came swiftly after them, until turn and dodge as they would they were driven at last out of the forest; and then they were espied, and as they sought to cross the Road Orleg was shot down by many arrows. But Túrin was saved by his elven-mail...

~ Túrin Among the Outlaws, "Narn i Hîn Húrin", Unfinished Tales

When Meglin saw this he would stab Earendel with a short knife he had; but that child bit his left hand, that his teeth sank in, and he staggered, and stabbed weakly, and the mail of the small coat turned the blade aside ...

~ "Fall of Gondolin", BOLT2

that Balrog that was with the rearward foe leapt [...] lashing with his whip of flame. Then Glorfindel leapt forward upon him and his golden armour gleamed strangely in the moon [...] The ardour of Glorfindel drave that Balrog from point to point, and his mail fended him from its whip and claw. [...] Then Glorfindel's left hand sought a dirk, and this he thrust up that it pierced the Balrog's belly nigh his own face (for that demon was double his stature); and it shrieked, and fell backwards from the rock, and falling clutched Glorfindel's yellow locks beneath his cap, and those twain fell into the abyss.

~ "Fall of Gondolin", BOLT2 (note "cap", apparently a helm)

No trumpet sounds, no voice there sings,
as robed in mail of cunning rings
now blackened dark with helmets grey
and sombre cloaks they steal away.

~ "The Gest of Beren and Lúthien" 1928-1931, Lays of Beleriand

Arms of the Sindar

Therefore Thingol took thought for arms, which before his people had not needed, and these at first the Naugrim smithied for him; for they were greatly skilled in such work, though none among them surpassed the craftsmen of Nogrod, of whom Telchar the smith was greatest in renown. A warlike race of old were all the Naugrim[...] Their smithcraft indeed the Sindar soon learned of them; yet in the tempering of steel alone of all crafts the Dwarves were never outmatched even by the Noldor, and in the making of mail of linked rings, which was first contrived by the smiths of Belegost, their work had no rival.

At this time therefore the Sindar were well-armed, and they drove off an creatures of evil, and had peace again; but Thingol's armouries were stored with axes and with spears and swords, and tall helms, and long coats of bright mail; for the hauberks of the Dwarves were so fashioned that they rusted not but shone ever as if they were new-burnished. And that proved well for Thingol in the time that was to come.

~ "Of the Sindar", The Silmarillion

Aranrúth: 'King's Ire', the name of Thingol's sword. Aranrúth survived the ruin of Doriath and was possessed by the Kings of Númenor.

~ Index of The Silmarillion

Again silently they passed the gate, and saw in the court beyond a yet greater company of guards in mail that glowed like dull fire; and the blades of their axes were red. Of the kindred of the Sindar of Nevrast for the most part were those that held this gate.

~ "Of Tuor and His Coming to Gondolin", Unfinished Tales

A king there was in days of old:
ere Men yet walked upon the mould
his power was reared in cavern's shade,
his hand was over glen and glade.
His shields were shining as the moon,
his lances keen of steel were hewn,
[....]
There beryl, pearl, and opal pale, 15
and metal wrought like fishes' mail,
buckler and corslet, axe and sword,
and gleaming spears were laid in hoard -

~ opening lines of "The Gest of Beren and Lúthien", Lays of Beleriand

§28. Therefore Thingol bethought [him] of arms, which before his folk had not needed, and these at first the Naugrim smithied for him. For they were greatly skilled in such work, though none among them surpassed the craftsmen of Nogrod, of whom Telchar the Smith was the greatest in renown. A warlike race of old were all the Naugrim, and they would fight fiercely with whomsoever aggrieved them: folk of Melkor, or Eldar, or Avari, or wild beasts, or not seldom with their own kin, Dwarves of other mansions and lordships. Their smith- craft indeed the Sindar soon learned of them; yet in the

tempering of steel alone of all crafts the Dwarves were never outmatched even by the Noldor, and in the making of mail of linked rings (which the Enfeng first contrived) their work had no rival.

At this time therefore the Sindar were well armed, and they drove off all creatures of evil, and had peace again; but Thingol's armouries were stored with axes (the chief weapons of the Naugrim, and of the Sindar), and with spears and swords, and tall helms, and long coats of bright mail: for the hauberks of the Enfeng were so fashioned that they rusted not and shone ever as were they new-burnished. This proved well for Thingol in the time that was to come.

~ "The Grey Annals", War of the Jewels

Thus war was waked in the woods once more
for the foes of Faerie, and its fame widely,
and the fear of that fellowship, now fared abroad;
when the horn was heard of the hunting Elves
that shook the shaws and the sheer valleys.
Blades were naked and bows twanging,
and shafts from the shadows shooting winged,
and the sons of darkness slain and conquered;
even in Angband the Orcs trembled.

~ Description of Doriath (thingol's realm) in "Turin Son of Hurin" 645ff, Lays of Beleriand

Eöl is a Dark Elf, allowed to live on the border of Thingol's realm... since "spears" are mentioned in Thingol's hoard, this weapon might have been used by other Sindar:

Suddenly, swift as serpent, he [Eöl] seized a javelin that he held hid beneath his cloak and cast it at Maeglin[...]

But Aredhel sprang before the dart, and it smote her in the shoulder; and Eöl was overborne by many and set in bonds, and led away, while others tended Aredhel. But Maeglin looking upon his father was silent.

It was appointed that Eöl should be brought on the next day to the King's judgement; and Aredhel and Idril moved Turgon to mercy. But in the evening Aredhel sickened, though the wound had seemed little, and she fell into the darkness, and in the night she died; for the point of the Javelin was poisoned, though none knew it until too late...

~ "Of Maeglin", The Silmarillion

The Sword Angalchel (Gurthang)

Eol was a Mornedhel, and is said to have belonged to the Second Clan (whose representatives

among the Eldar were the Noldor). He dwelt in East Beleriand not far from the borders of Doriath. He had great smith-craft, especially in the making of swords, in which work he surpassed even the Noldor of Aman; and many therefore believed that he used the morgul, the black arts taught by Morgoth. The Noldor themselves had indeed learned much from Morgoth in the days of his captivity in Valinor; but it is more likely that Eol was acquainted with the Dwarves, for in many places the Avari became closer in friendship with that people than the Amanyar or the Sindar.

~ Appendices, War of the Jewels

'I ask then for a sword of worth,' said Beleg; 'for the Orcs come now too thick and close for a bow only, and such blade as I have is no match for their armour.'

'Choose from all that I have,' said Thingol, 'save only Aranrúth, my own.'

Then Beleg chose Anglachel; and that was a sword of great worth, and it was so named because it was made of iron that fell from heaven as a blazing star; it would cleave all earth-delved iron. One other sword only in Middle-earth was like to it. That sword does not enter into this tale, though it was made of the same ore by the same smith; and that smith was Eöl the Dark Elf, who took Aredhel Turgon's sister to wife. He gave Anglachel to Thingol as fee, which he begrudged, for leave to dwell in Nan Elmoth; but its mate Anguirel he kept, until it was stolen from him by Maeglin, his son.

But as Thingol turned the hilt of Anglachel towards Beleg, Melian looked at the blade; and she said: 'There is malice in this sword. The dark heart of the smith still dwells in it. It will not love the hand it serves; neither will it abide with you long.'

~ "Of Túrin Turambar", The Silmarillion [this is after Eöl's death]

Beleg drew his sword Anglachel, and with it he cut the fetters that bound Túrin

~ "Of Túrin Turambar", The Silmarillion

Gwindor gave the sword Anglachel into his hands, and Túrin knew that it was heavy and strong and had great power; but its blade was black and dull and its edges blunt. Then Gwindor said: 'This is a strange blade, and unlike any that I have seen in Middle-earth.

~ "Of Túrin Turambar", The Silmarillion

The sword Anglachel was forged anew for him by cunning smiths of Nargothrond, and though ever black its edges shone with pale fire; and he named it Gurthang, Iron of Death.

~ "Of Túrin Turambar", The Silmarillion

Then Beleg drew his renowned sword, made of iron that fell from heaven as a blazing star, and it would cut all earth-dolven iron

~ The Quenta, Shaping of Middle-earth

Then he caused to be forged anew the sword of Beleg, and the craftsmen of Narog made thereof a black blade with shining edges of pale fire;

~ The Quenta, SME

as they waited one came through the trees, and they saw that he was a tall Man, aimed, clad in black, with a long sword drawn and they wondered, for the blade of the sword also was black, but the edges shone bright and cold.[...] But they knew not that Nargothrond had fallen, and this was Túrin son of Húrin, the Blacksword.

~ 'Of Tuor and His Coming to Gondolin", Unfinished Tales

§268. During this time Turin dwelt in Nargothrond, and became great in counsel and renown. The Noldor took Beleg's sword which Turin had kept, and re-forged it, and it was made into a black sword with edges as of fire

~ "The Grey Annals", War of the Jewels

only talking sword in Tolkien's writing:

he drew forth his sword, that now alone remained to him of all his possessions, and he said: 'Hail Gurthang! No lord or loyalty dost thou know, save the hand that wieldeth thee. From no blood wilt thou shrink. Wilt thou therefore take Turin Turambar, wilt thou slay me swiftly?'

§347. And from the blade rang a cold voice in answer: Yea, I will drink thy blood gladly, that so I may forget the blood of Beleg my master, and the blood of Brandir slain unjustly. I will slay thee swiftly.'

~ "The Grey Annals", War of the Jewels

Gil-Galad's Arms & Armor

Gil-galad was an Elven-king.
[...]
His sword was long, his lance was keen,
his shining helm afar was seen;
the countless stars of heaven's field
were mirrored in his silver shield.

~ "The Fall of Gil-galad", A Knife in the Dark, FOTR

The Spear of Gil-galad and the Sword of Elendil, Aiglos and Narsil, none could withstand.

~ Elrond at "The Council of Elrond", FOTR

Gil-galad 'star of radiance': he was the last king Of the Eldar in Middle-earth, and the last male descendant of Finwe (47) except Elrond the Half-elven. The epesse was given to him because his helm and mail, and his shield overlaid with silver and set with a device of white stars, shone from afar like a star in sunlight or moonlight and could be seen by Elvish eyes at a great distance if he stood upon a height.

~ The Shibboleth of Fëänor, the Names of Finwë's descendants, Peoples of Middle-earth

Eärendil's Arms and Armor

In panoply of ancient kings,
in chainéd rings he armoured him;
his shining shield was scored with runes
to ward all wounds and harm from him;
his bow was made of dragon-horn,
his arrows shorn of ebony,
of silver was his habergeon,
his scabbard of chalcedony;
his sword of steel was valiant,
of adamant his helmet tall,
an eagle-plume upon his crest,
upon his breast an emerald.

~ Bilbo's poem about Eärendil [evidently this is BEFORE Eärendil went to the Undying Lands, so, arms and armor from the Noldor/Sindar refugees at the Mouths of Sirion.]

~ "Many Meetings", FOTR

Arms of the Green-Elves (early cousins of the Wood-elves, First Age)

§39 But the victory of the Elves was dearbought. For the Elves of Ossiriand were light-armed, and no match for the Orcs, who were shod with iron and iron-shielded and bore great spears with broad blades.

~ "The Grey Annals", War of the Jewels

Now not even Beren knew the tale of those myriad folk that followed his horn in the woods of Hisilome, and or ever the moon was high above the hills the host assembled in the glade of his abiding was very great, yet were they lightly armed and the most bore only knives and bows.

 

~ "The Nauglafring", BOLT2

Arms of the Wood-elves/Silvan Elves (the main race of Elves of both Mirkwood and Lothlórien)

Out leaped Wood-elves with their bows and spears and called the dwarves to halt.

~ "Barrels out of Bond", The Hobbit

The elves were the first to charge. 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. As soon as the host of their enemies was dense in the valley, they sent against it a shower of arrows, and each flickered as it fled as if with stinging fire.

~ "The Clouds Burst", The Hobbit

[Not Elf-armor, but evidently Legolas was comfortable with it. Apparently ring-mail: ]

Now men came bearing raiment of war from the king's hoard and they arrayed Aragorn and Legolas in shining mail. Helms too they chose, and round shields: their bosses were overlaid with gold and set with gems, green and red and white. Gandalf took no armour; and Gimli needed no coat of rings.

~ "The King of the Golden Hall", TTT

Oropher had the wisdom to foresee that peace would not return unless Sauron was overcome. He therefore assembled a great army of his now numerous people, and joining with the lesser army of Malgalad of Lórien he led the host of the Silvan Elves to battle. The Silvan Elves were hardy and valiant, but ill-equipped with armour or weapons in comparison with the Eldar of the West; also they were independent, and not disposed to place themselves under the supreme command of Gil-galad. Their losses were thus more grievous than they need have been, even in that terrible war.

Appendix B,"The History of Galadriel and Celeborn", Unfinished Tales

"Do not be afraid! But do not think that only by singing amid the trees, nor even by the slender arrows of elven-bows, is this land of Lothlórien maintained and defended against its Enemy."

 

~ "The Mirror of Galadriel", FOTR

To Legolas she gave a bow such as the Galadhrim used, longer and stouter than the bows of Mirkwood, and strung with a string of elf-hair. With it went a quiver of arrows.

 

~ "Farewell to Lórien", FOTR

 

Orc and other Enemy Weapons

There in the shadows on a large flat stone sat a tremendous goblin with a huge head, and armed goblins were standing round him carrying the axes and the bent swords that they use.

~ "Over Hill and Under Hill", The Hobbit

There were four goblin-soldiers of greater stature, swart, slant-eyed, with thick legs and large hands. They were armed with short broad-bladed swords, not with the curved scimitars usual with Orcs: and they had bows of yew, in length and shape like the bows of Men.

~ "The Departure of Boromir", TTT

He [the Witch-king] halted and held up a long pale sword.

~ "The Siege of Gondor", ROTK

the drawing of the scimitars of the Southrons was like a glitter of stars.

~ "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields", ROTK

Armed they were with curved swords and bows of horn, and she was possessed with fear as she looked upon them, although she knew not that they were Orcs, for never had she seen those evil ones before.

~ "Turambar and the Foakole", BOLT2 (very early pre-LOTR text)

This desperate counsel had the wit 1995
of Felagund for them devised:
as Orcs his comrades he disguised.
The poisoned spears, the bows of horn,
the crooked swords their foes had borne
they took; and loathing each him clad 2000
in Angband's raiment foul and sad.

~ "The Gest of Beren and Lúthien", Lays of Beleriand

Dwarves providing weapons and arms for Elves (note also that Elves will have learned some of the Dwarvish craft described below)

For ancient king and elvish lord
There many a gloaming golden hoard
They shaped and wrought, and light they caught
To hide in gems on hilt of sword.

~ "An Unexpected Party", The Hobbit

The Helm of Hador was given into Thingol's hands. That helm was made of grey steel adorned with gold, and on it were graven runes of victory. A power was in it that guarded any who wore it from wound or death, for the sword that hewed it was broken, and the dart that smote it sprang aside. It was wrought by Telchar, the smith of Nogrod, whose works were renowned. It had a visor (after the manner of those that the Dwarves used in their forges for the shielding of their eyes), and the face of one that wore it struck fear into the hearts of all beholders, but was itself guarded from dart and fire. Upon its crest was set in defiance a gilded image of the head of Glaurung the dragon; for it had been made soon after he first issued from the gates Morgoth. Often Hador, and Galdor after him, had borne it in war; and the hearts of the host of Hithlum were uplifted when they saw it towering high amid the battle, and they cried: "Of more worth is the Dragon of Dor-lómin than the gold-worm of Angband!"

But in truth this helm had not been made for Men, but for Azaghâl Lord of Belegost, he who was slain by Glaurung in the Year of Lamentation.  It was given by Azaghâl to Maedhros, as guerdon for the saving of his life and treasure, when Azaghâl was waylaid by Orcs upon the Dwarf-road in East Beleriand. Maedhros [oldest son of Fëanor] afterwards sent it as a gift to Fingon [of the Noldor], with whom he often exchanged tokens of friendship, remembering how Fingon had driven Glaurung back to Angband. But in all Hithlum no head and shoulders were found stout enough to bear the dwarf-helm with ease, save those of Hador and his son Galdor [Men of the First Age].

[...]

Now Thingol had in Menegroth deep armouries filled with great wealth of weapons: metal wrought like fishes' mail an shining like water in the moon; swords and axes, shields an helms, wrought by Telchar himself or by his master Gamil Zirak the old, or by elven-wrights more skilful still. For some things he had received in gift that came out of Valinor and were wrought by Fëanor in his mastery, than whom no craftsman was greater in all the days of the world. Yet Thingol handled the Helm of Hador as though his hoard were scanty.

~ Narn I Hîn Húrin, "The Departure of Túrin", Unfinished Tales

§4. In the darkness of Arda already the Naugrim wrought great works, for they had, even from the first days of their Fathers, marvellous skill with metals and with stone, though their works had little beauty until they had met the Noldor and learned somewhat of their arts. And they gave their friendship more readily to the Noldor than to any others of Elves or Men, because of their love and reverence for Aule; and the gems of the Gnomes they praised above all other wealth. But in that ancient . ': time the Dwarves still wrought iron and copper rather than silver and gold; and the making of weapons and gear of war was their chief smith-craft. They it was that first devised mail of linked rings, and in the making of byrnies and of hauberks none among Elves or Men have proved their equals. Thus they aided the Eldar greatly in their war with the Orcs of Morgoth; though the Noldor believed that some of that folk would not have been loath to smithy also for Morgoth, had he been in need of their work or open to their trade. For buying and selling and ex- change were their delight, and the winning of wealth thereby; and this they gathered rather to hoard than to use, save in further trading.

~ "Of the Naugrim", Grey Annals, War of the Jewels

Notably, it is said in GA that Maidros had the help of the Dwarves 'in armed force' as well as in weapons of war; this was not said in AB 2 and was expressly denied in QS, where the Dwarves were represented as cynically engaged in the profitable enterprise of 'making mail and sword and spear for many armies' (see QS §3 and commentary).

~ Commentary on Grey Annals, WJ

§206. Then Lúthien roused Beren and stripping off the wolf-hame he took the dwarf-knife of Curufin and cut from Morgoth's crown a Silmaril. But desiring suddenly to go beyond doom and rescue all the jewels he was betrayed by the knife which snapped, and a splinter smote Morgoth and disturbed his sleep.

~ The Grey Annals, War of the Jewels

Then Beren did Curufin release;
but took his horse and coat of mail,
and took his knife there gleaming pale,
hanging sheathless, wrought of steel.
No flesh could leeches ever heal 3055
that point had pierced; for long ago
the dwarves had made it, singing slow
enchantments, where their hammers fell
in Nogrod ringing like a bell.
Iron as tender wood it cleft, 3060
and sundered mail like woollen weft.

~ "The Gest of Beren and Lúthien" 3051ff, Lays of Beleriand

Then Luthien rising forbade the slaying of Curufin; but Beren despoiled him of his gear and weapons, and took his knife Angrist. That knife was made by Telchar of Nogrod and hung sheathless by his side; iron it would cleave as if it were green wood.

~ "Of Beren and Lúthien", The Silmarillion

He drew forth the knife Angrist; and from the iron claws that held it he cut a Silmaril.

~ "Of Beren and Lúthien", The Silmarillion

Númenorean weapons [influenced by Elven smithcraft, see below]

Some metals they found in Númenor, and as their cunning in mining and in smelting and smithying swiftly grew things of iron and copper became common. Among the wrights of the Edain were weaponsmiths, and they had with the teaching of the Noldor acquired great skill in the forging of swords, of axe-blades, and of spearheads and knives. Swords the Guild of Weapon-smiths still made, for the preservation of the craft, though most of their labour was spent on the fashioning of tools for the uses of peace. The King and most of the great chieftains possessed swords as heirlooms of their fathers; and at times they would still give a sword as a gift to their heirs. A new sword was made for the King's Heir to be given to him on the day on which this title was conferred. But no man wore a sword in Númenor, and for long years few indeed were the weapons of warlike intent that were made in the land. Axes and spears and bows they had, and shooting with bows on foot and on horseback was a chief sport and pastime of the Númenóreans. In later days, in the wars upon Middle-earth, it was the bows of the Númenóreans that were most greatly feared. "The Men of the Sea," it was said, "send before them a great cloud, as a rain turned to serpents, or a black hail tipped with steel;" and in those days the great cohorts of the King's Archers used bows made of hollow steel, with black-feathered arrows a full ell long from point to notch.

~ "Description of the Island of Númenor", Unfinished Tales

For each of the hobbits he chose a dagger, long, leaf-shaped, and keen, of marvellous workmanship, damasked with serpent-forms in red and gold. They gleamed as he drew them from their black sheaths, wrought of some strange metal, light and strong, and set with many fiery stones. Whether by some virtue in these sheaths or because of the spell that lay on the mound, the blades seemed untouched by time, unrusted, sharp, glittering in the sun.

'Old knives are long enough as swords for hobbit-people,' he said. 'Sharp blades are good to have, if Shire-folk go walking, east, south, or far away into dark and danger.' Then he told them that these blades were forged many long years ago by Men of Westernesse...

~ "Fog on the Barrow-Downs", FOTR

'See!' cried Aragorn. 'Here we find tokens!' He picked out from the pile of grim weapons two knives, leaf-bladed, damasked in gold and red; and searching further he found also the sheaths, black, set with small red gems. 'No orc-tools these!' he said. 'They were borne by the hobbits. Doubtless the Orcs despoiled them, but feared to keep the knives, knowing them for what they are: work of Westernesse, wound about with spells for the bane of Mordor.'

~ "The Departure of Boromir", TTT

...there lay his weapon, but the blade was smoking like a dry branch that has been thrust in a fire; and as he watched it, it writhed and withered and was consumed.

So passed the sword of the Barrow-downs, work of Westernesse. But glad would he have been to know its fate who wrought it slowly long ago in the North-kingdom when the Dúnedain were young, and chief among their foes was the dread realm of Angmar and its sorcerer king. No other blade, not though mightier hands had wielded it, would have dealt that foe a wound so bitter, cleaving the undead flesh, breaking the spell that knit his unseen sinews to his will.

~ "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields", ROTK

He [Pippin] drew his sword and looked at it, and the intertwining shapes of red and gold; and the flowing characters of Númenor glinted like fire upon the blade.

~ "The Black Gate Opens", ROTK

SPECIFIC WEAPONS

Orcrist, Glamdring, and Sting

Specific Properties of Elf-blades illustrated

There were lots of clothes, too, hanging on the walls-too small for trolls, I am afraid they belonged to victims-and among them were several swords of various makes, shapes, and sizes. Two caught their eyes particularly, because of their beautiful scabbards and jewelled hilts. Gandalf and Thorin each took one of these; and Bilbo took a knife in a leather sheath. It would have made only a tiny pocket-knife for a troll, but it was as good as a short sword for the hobbit.

"These look like good blades," said the wizard, half drawing them and looking at them curiously. "They were not made by any troll, nor by any smith among men in these parts and days; but when we can read the runes on them, we shall know more about them."

~ "Roast Mutton", The Hobbit

Gandalf, too, was now riding on his tall grey horse, all clad in white with a great mantle of blue and silver over all, and the long sword Glamdring at his side.

~ "Homeward Bound", ROTK

Elrond knew all about runes of every kind. That day he looked at the swords they had brought from the trolls' lair, and he said: "These are not troll-make. They are old swords, very old swords of the High Elves of the West, my kin. They were made in Gondolin for the Goblin-wars. They must have come from a dragon's hoard or goblin plunder, for dragons and goblins destroyed that city many ages ago. This, Thorin, the runes name Orcrist, the Goblin-cleaver in the ancient tongue of Gondolin; it was a famous blade. This, Gandalf, was Glamdring, Foe-hammer that the king of Gondolin once wore. Keep them well!"

"Whence did the trolls get them, I wonder?" said Thorin looking at his sword with new interest.

"I could not say," said Elrond, "but one may guess that your trolls had plundered other plunderers, or come on the remnants of old robberies in some hold in the mountains of the North. I have heard that there are still forgotten treasures of old to be found in the deserted caverns of the mines of Moria, since the dwarf and goblin war."

~ "A Short Rest", The Hobbit

A description of Gondolin was to follow [...] Now Turgon himself would appear, "tallest of all the Children of the World, save Thingol," with a white and gold sword in a ruel-bone (ivory) sheath, and welcome Tuor.

~ Notes, "Of the Coming of Tuor to Gondolin", Unfinished Tales

He [a goblin] held out the sword which Thorin had worn, the sword which came from the Trolls' lair.

The Great Goblin gave a truly awful howl of rage when he looked at it, and all his soldiers gnashed their teeth, clashed their shields, and stamped. They knew the sword at once. It had killed hundreds of goblins in its time, when the fair elves of Gondolin hunted them in the hills or did battle before their walls. They had called it Orcrist, Goblin-cleaver, but the goblins called it simply Biter. They hated it and hated worse any one that carried it.

~ "Over Hill and Under Hill", The Hobbit

Just at that moment all the lights in the cavern went out ...] Suddenly a sword flashed in its own light. Bilbo saw it go right through the Great Goblin as he stood dumbfounded in the middle of his rage.

~ "Over Hill and Under Hill", The Hobbit

Gandalf] took out his sword again, and again it flashed in the dark by itself. It burned with a rage that made it gleam if goblins were about; now it was bright as blue flame for delight in the killing of the great lord of the cave. It made no trouble whatever of cutting through the goblin-chains and setting all the prisoners free as quickly as possible. This sword's name was Glamdring the Foe-hammer, if you remember. The goblins just called it Beater, and hated it worse than Biter if possible.

~ "Over Hill and Under Hill", The Hobbit

his [Bilbo's] hand came on the hilt of his little sword - the little dagger that he got from the trolls, and that he had quite forgotten; nor do the goblins seem to have noticed it, as he wore it inside his breeches.

Now he drew it out. It shone pale and dim before his eyes. "So it is an elvish blade, too," he thought; "and goblins are not very near, and yet not far enough."

But somehow he was comforted. It was rather splendid to be wearing a blade made in Gondolin for the goblin-wars of which so many songs had sung; and also he had noticed that such weapons made a great impression on goblins that came upon them suddenly.

~ "Over Hill and Under Hill" The Hobbit

There were passages leading off to the side every now and then, as he knew by the glimmer of his sword, or could feel with his hand on the wall.

~ "Over Hill and Under Hill" The Hobbit

They buried Thorin deep beneath the Mountain, and Bard laid the Arkenstone upon his breast.

"There let it lie till the Mountain falls!" he said. "May it bring good fortune to all his folk that dwell here after!" Upon his tomb the Elvenking then laid Orcrist, the elvish sword that had been taken from Thorin in captivity. It is said in songs that it gleamed ever in the dark if foes approached, and the fortress of the dwarves could not be taken by surprise.

~ "The Return Journey", The Hobbit

Maybe he would have attacked Bilbo at once, if the ring had been on him when they met; but it was not, and the hobbit held in his hand an Elvish knife, which served him as a sword.

~ Prologue, FOTR

He took from the box a small sword in an old shabby leathern scabbard. Then he drew it, and its polished and well-tended blade glittered suddenly, cold and bright. 'This is Sting,' he said, and thrust it with little effort deep into a wooden beam.

~ "The Ring Goes South", FOTR

No gleam came from the blades of Sting or of Glamdring; and that was some comfort, for being the work of Elvish smiths in the Elder Days these swords shone with a cold light, if any Orcs were near at hand.

~ "A Journey in the Dark", FOTR [boldface mine]

Feet were coming down the corridor. There was a ring and clatter as the Company drew their swords. Glamdring shone with a pale light, and Sting glinted at the edges.

~ "The Bridge of Khazad-dûm", FOTR

(Orcs passing by)

`What is it?' said Frodo.

`[i]Yrch![/i]' said the Elf in a hissing whisper, and cast on to the flet the rope-ladder rolled up.

'Orcs! ' said Frodo. `What are they doing? ' But the Elf had gone.

[...] He drew out Sting: it flashed and glittered like a blue flame and then slowly faded again and grew dull.

~ "Lothlórien", FOTR

He took the Phial in his left hand, and with his right hand drew his sword. Sting flashed out, and the sharp elven-blade sparkled in the silver light, but at its edges a blue fire flicked.

~ "Shelob's Lair", TTT

'How many can I kill before they get me? They'll see the flame of the sword, as soon as I draw it, and they'll get me sooner or later.'

~ "The Choices of Master Samwise", TTT (he has Sting here)

An orc came clattering down[...] It stopped short aghast. For what it saw was not a small frightened hobbit trying to hold a steady sword: it saw a great silent shape, cloaked in a grey shadow, looming against the wavering light behind; in one hand it held a sword, the very light of which was a bitter pain...

~ "The Tower of Cirith Ungol", ROTK

Sting Sharper than Boromir's blade

Boromir leaped forward and hewed at the arm with all his might; but his sword rang, glanced aside, and fell from his shaken hand. The blade was notched.

Suddenly, and to his own surprise, Frodo felt a hot wrath blaze up in his heart. `The Shire! ' he cried, and springing beside Boromir, he stooped, and stabbed with Sting at the hideous foot. There was a bellow, and the foot jerked back, nearly wrenching Sting from Frodo's arm. Black drops dripped from the blade and smoked on the floor. [...]

`One for the Shire! ' cried Aragorn. `The hobbit's bite is deep! You have a good blade, Frodo son of Drogo!'

Orcs recognize Sting's handiwork as Elvish

'Who cut the cords she'd put round him, Shagrat? Same one as cut the web. Didn't you see that? And who stuck a pin into Her Ladyship? Same one, I reckon.

[...] `By all the signs, Captain Shagrat, I'd say there's a large warrior loose, Elf most likely, with an elf-sword anyway, and an axe as well maybe.'

[...] 'Ah well, you always did take a gloomy view.' said Shagrat. 'You can read the signs how you like, but there may be other ways to explain them.

[...] `It's my guess you won't find much in that little fellow,' said Gorbag. 'He may have had nothing to do with the real mischief. The big fellow with the sharp sword doesn't seem to have thought him worth much anyhow - just left him lying...'

~ "The Bridge of Khazad-dûm", FOTR

The Sword of Elendil:

made by Dwarves, so original shape may not be like Elf-blades, but notice the details and magic added to it by Elven-smiths; sheath is Elven.

The Sword of Elendil was forged anew by Elvish smiths, and on its blade was traced a device of seven stars set between the crescent Moon and the rayed Sun, and about them was written many runes; for Aragorn son of Arathorn was going to war upon the marches of Mordor. Very bright was that sword when it was made whole again; the light of the sun shone redly in it, and the light of the moon shone cold, and its edge was hard and keen. And Aragorn gave it a new name and called it Andúril, Flame of the West.

~ "The Ring Goes South", FOTR

Narsil: The sword of Elendil, made by Telchar of Nogrod, a Dwarven smith.

~ The Silmarillion, Index

Boromir had a long sword, in fashion like Andúril but of less lineage.

~ "The Ring Goes South", FOTR

`Here is the gift of Celeborn and Galadriel to the leader of your Company,' she said to Aragorn, and she gave him a sheath that had been made to fit his sword. It was overlaid with a tracery of flowers and leaves wrought of silver and gold, and on it were set in elven runes formed of many gems the name Andúril and the lineage of the sword.

`The blade that is drawn from this sheath shall not be stained or broken even in defeat,' she said.

~ "Farewell to Lórien", FOTR

Aragorn threw back his cloak. The elven-sheath glittered as he grasped it, and the bright blade of Andúril shone like a sudden flame as he swept it out.

~ "The Riders of Rohan", TTT

'In this elvish sheath dwells the Blade that was Broken and has been made again. Telchar first wrought it in the deeps of time.'

~ "The King of the Golden Hall", TTT

Near the bottom stood Aragorn. In his hand still Andúril gleamed, and the terror of the sword for a while held back the enemy.

~ "Helm's Deep", TTT

But before all went Aragorn with the Flame of the West, Andúril like a new fire kindled.

~ "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields", ROTK

Magic spell to sharpen a blade, and famous blades

Then sought his sword, and songs of magic
o'er its eager edge with Elfin voice
there Beleg murmured, while bluely glimmered
the lamp of Flinding neath the laced thorns.
There wondrous wove he words of sharpness,
and the names of knives and Gnomish blades
he uttered o'er it: even Ogbar's spear
and the glaive of Gaurin whose gleaming stroke
did rive the rocks of Rodrim's hall;
the sword of Saithnar, and the silver blades
of the enchanted children of chains forged
in their deep dungeon; the dirk of Nargil,
the knife of the North in Nogrod smithied;
the sweeping sickle of the slashing tempest,
the lambent lightning's leaping falchion
even Celeg Aithorn that shall cleave the world.
1195
Then whistling whirled he the whetted sword-blade
and three times three it threshed the gloom,
till flame was kindled flickering strangely
like licking firelight in the lamp's glimmer
blue and baleful at the blade's edges.
[...], and leaping Beleg
with his sword severed the searing bonds
on wrist and arm like ropes of hemp
so strong that whetting; in stupor lying
entangled still lay Turin moveless.

~ "The Lay of the Children of Húrin", Lays of Beleriand

The sword of Daurin (a Maia?) very early early text of The Silmarillion

(not really the same miruvor that appears later, it just implies perhaps that Aule could steep a blade in some sort of magical liquid.)

Now the slender blade that Daurin wielded came from the forge of Aule and was steeped in miruvor, or

never had he done harm to that secret [?being], but now he cleaves one of her great legs, and his blade is stained with

her black gore, a poison to all [?things] whose life is light.

 

~ "Theft of Melko and the Darkening of Valinor", Book of Lost Tales 1

 

Constellation: The Swordsman [probably Orion]

Then by some shift of airs all the mist was drawn away like a veil, and there leaned up, as he climbed over the rim of the world, the Swordsman of the Sky, Menelvagor with his shining belt. The Elves all burst into song.

~ "Three Is Company", FOTR

§35 Now Varda took the light that issued from Telperion and was stored in Valinor and she made stars newer and brighter. And many other of the ancient stars she gathered together and set as signs in the heavens of Arda. The greatest of these was Menelmakar, the Swordsman of the Sky.

~ "Annals of Aman", Morgoth's Ring