Posted: April 01, 2000 at 19:51:58: by Aelmer
: The thread about Glamdring and Orcrist got me wondering something. How could Thorin have wielded Orcrist? If it was a main battle sword designed for lords of the Noldor, wouldn't it have been too bulky for Thorin to have carried comfortably, much less used? Hobbits were supposed to be "a little shorter than Dwarves," yet a dagger sufficed for a short sword for Bilbo. I'd love some insight from some of you weaponry experts out there.I don't claim to be weaponry expert. There are daggers, and then there are daggers. Some medieval and ancient daggers had blades up to 15 or more inches long. Thorin wielding Orcrist doesn't present a problem in my opinion. I see Orcrist having a blade no longer than three feet. As such, Thorin could have wielded it in the manner of hand and one-half swor or a two handed sword. We know dwarves used mattocks and axes in combat. I think there are references to two-handed use. However, it is pretty much a moot point since I don't remember Thorin ever having the opportunity to weild Orcrist in combat.
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