My old sword, Sting. Here, take it, take it." ~ Bilbo ~ The Fellowship of the Ring Movie Frodo recieves Sting from Bilbo United Cutlery manufactures this decorative sword under license to New Line Productions and Tolkien Enterprises. The sword comes shipped in a decorative box consistent with the licensed Lord of the Rings movie products. Blade
My old sword, Sting. Here, take it, take it." ~ Bilbo ~ The Fellowship of the Ring Movie
The blade consists of a slender, hollow-ground leaf-blade design fashioned from 420 J2 stainless steel. The blade was finished with a satin polish and some of the grinding/buffing lines are visible under the right lighting conditions. As this is an artifact of the grinding and buffing process to achieve the satin finish, it should not be considered a defect.
The thickness along the spine starts at .25" at the base, but typically .2" with a distal taper to .11" at the tip. Measured along the edge, blade is about .1" thick just before the sharpened edge. While the blade is sharp, it is not sharp enough to cut oneself during casual handling. The point is quite sharp and care should be taken when handling this sword. The blade is nicely made with the spine running straight and true with nearly identical distances from the spine to the edge (within .01"). The engraving on the blade is very clear and legible with predominantly sharp edges. There are some small anomalies in the engraving, but this is only visible under close scrutiny.
The blade is acid-etched on one side with the "Lord of the Rings" logo, United Cutlery catalog number and a Taiwan makers mark. The mark is about four inches from the base of the blade and runs parallel to the spine. The location of the makers mark is a bit distracting given its location and is notable from several feet away. Since the mark appears to be acid-etched, it could be removed by sanding, but this is not recommended for two reasons; first, removing the mark will most likely cause a notable difference in the finish of the blade, unless one was to re-finish the entire blade; second, removal of the mark would undoubtedly reduce the sword's value as a collector's item as there is no other way to verify that it is a licensed product.
Handgrip
Plaque
The sword is advertised as being accompanied by a hardwood plaque. The plaque I received is actually fashioned from fiberboard with a wood-grain finish applied to the front of it. Care should be taken when handling and mounting the plaque, as fiberboard can be prone to breaking. The front of the plaque has been finished to give the appearance of an aged wood-grain and is quite presentable. The lettering and designs on the plaque are silk-screened and show no signs of flaking off.
Advantages
This sword is well-made, well-assembled, and has a nice feel to it. The stainless steel used in the fabrication requires little maintenance, which is definitely a plus for individuals not familiar with caring for swords.
Disadvantages
The sword is designed to be a decorative piece rather than being "combat ready," as many serious sword collectors would prefer.
Overall
This sword is well-assembled with no loose parts or fittings, and has an elegant overall appearance. The only exception to the sword's appearance is the chip in the handle noted above. The sword has a nice feel to it when held, thought the handgrip may be a bit small for individuals with large hands. The fiberboard plaque was a bit of a disappointment, though it still looks nice on the wall.
You can order Sting over at Arms of Valor.
Disclaimer
This sword is not suitable for the hacking of Orcs, Trolls, Uruk-hai, Dwarves, Elves, Humans, Ents, and inanimate objects, with the possible exception of cardboard cutouts of the above. Oh, and it most certainly doesn't glow in the presence of Orcs. Trust me on this one...
Sting was provided for review and as a contest prize by Arms of Valor.
Described Dimensions/Qualities
Overall Length: 22"Blade Length: 15"Blade Thickness: .25"Blade Material: Tempered 420 J2 stainless steel with etched runes in the Elven language.Handle Material: Hardwood handgrip adorned with Elven vine design. Solid metal guard and pommel with antiqued metal finish. Rat-tail tang construction.Plaque: 9 3/16" x 11 3/8" x 3/4" Woodgrain-finish hardwood with silk-screened Elven runes.
Actual Dimensions of Sample
Overall Length: 22.13"Blade Length: 15"Blade Width (maximum): 1.63"Blade Thickness (measured along spine): .25" at base with a subtle distal taper to .11" at tip, the majority of the blade about .20" thick.Point of Balance (from end of pommel): 8.25"
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