Arming the Crew: Thorin & Company's Weaponry

Thorin & Co. may not be the classiest crew around. They may not have manners. The distinct lack of Big People in the crew may even hint at some sort of height-based profiling. But there's one thing you can't deny: these dwarves are packing heat. From axes to swords (and almost everything in between), this band of dwarves is equipped to deal with just about anything.

Read on past the break to get an in depth look at the various implements Thorin & Co. have selected to deal out death and justice to any who stand in their way:

Axes

Detail of Gloin's axe

As surprising as it may seem, even though the dwarves are renowned for their use of axes in combat, only a few of the dwarves in Thorin's party have chosen axes as their primary weapon. Gloin carries a powerful long axe (which will later be used by his son Gimli, one of the renowned members of the Fellowship of the Ring), that can be seen on the left. Thorin Oakenshield sets out from Bag End with a slightly shorter axe.

Thorin's axe

The dwarves may prefer axes to other weapons for a number of reasons. Axes are cheaper and easier to manufacture than swords, which would appeal both to the dwarves' notorious desire to preserve their wealth and their practicality. This practicality is evident in the length of Gloin and Thorin's axes: both weapons are long enough to double as walking sticks to aid the dwarves in rough country.

Additionally, axes are particularly suited to the stature of dwarves:

Being short and very broad meant that their reach was limited, but they could bring a great deal of power into the arc of a blow; thus their fighting style was dictated by their physical attributes. For this reason, the Dwarven weapons appear to have been nearly all long-handled, in order to extend the arc and increase the impact of the blow.

 ––The Lord of the Rings: Weapons and Warfare; p. 53

Gloin's long Axe

Like many battle axes, Gloin's axe has a curved blade that increases the weapon's cutting edge. Additionally, the spiked tip of both dwarves' axes can serve as stabbing points. To decrease weight, and limit the shock delivered to a warrior's hands, the hafts of dwarven axes were probably made of oak (or another hardwood) reinforced with metal bands called langets. These langets protected the weapon's haft from being cut or broken by an enemy. Some wealthy dwarves (like Thorin) may have had axes composed completely of metal, including the hafts.

Battle axes used by Men are of variable quality, some being composed entirely of iron, and other being composed of iron with the cutting edge capped with steel. Dwarves, however, are master smiths, and their axe blades are undoubtedly composed entirely of steel, which would make their axes considerably lighter than those used by Men.

Gloin's throwing Axe

In addition to his long axe, Gloin also carries a smaller throwing axe. Unlike many throwing axes, which feature an elongated head with a smaller blade, Gloin's throwing axe is in many ways a smaller replica of his larger battle axe, with a large, curved cutting edge that ends in a spiked tip. This suggests that the weapon may serve multiple functions: a throwing axe, a smaller hand-to-hand axe, and a utility hatchet.

Both Thorin and Gloin's axes display the customary geometric motifs favored by the dwarves, including angular holes cut in the actual blades. These holes serve as more than just decorations––removing metal from key portions of the blade reduces the weight of the weapon (making it easier to both draw and wield the axe)  without compromising the blade's strength.

Both Thorin and Gloin are notable (and wealthy) dwarves of Durin's line. The fact that they are the only members of the company to carry axes may suggest that axes carry a special significance in dwarven culture beyond their practicality. Axes could function as a wealth status, or be a symbol of a warrior's prowess.

Swords

In Middle-earth, many different races use swords in combat: Elves, Men, Dwarves, Hobbits and Orcs. Each of the races employ different techniques to produce their weapons, ranging from the unmatched skill of the elves to the crude techniques used by the orcs.

Arwen's sword Hadhafang, "Throng-Cleaver"

Elvish blades are flowing and organic in shape, decorated with elegant patterns like vines and leaves, and used by warriors whose grace and skill are unmatched in Middle-earth.

Aragorn's sword Anduril, "Flame of the West" reforged from Narsil

The blades of Men tend more towards traditional styles: straight blades with a double cutting edge. These swords range in size from long swords with blades up to five feet long, to short swords used by mounted soldiers. Additionally, long daggers are often carried into battle.

Moria Orc sword

Kili's sword

On the other end of the spectrum, Orc blades tend to be rough metal sticks with a crudely crafted cutting edge. Most orc bands do not possess the ability to fully refine metal ore, resulting in imperfect metals that are often too heavy and too brittle to serve as suitable blades.

In Thorin's company, four dwarves set out from the Shire with swords as their primary weapon: Fili, Kili, Dori and Balin. Dwarf swords differ considerably from the blades used by Elves, Men and Orcs. Unlike elvish and human blades, dwarf sword blades are incredibly wide and often feature sharp geometric angles. The width of the blade and the various angles harken back to the dwarves' icon weapon: the axe. The thick blades on the dwarvish swords give the weapons more mass, and when powered by sturdy dwarf arms, this extra mass translates into more momentum on impact. Indeed, the dwarven swords could be more properly called falchions––a distinct type of heavy-bladed sword that combines the mass and power of a battle axe with the agility of a sword.

Fili's sword or falchion

Kili's sword can be seen at right, with its large fuller (blood groove) and notched blade that is thicker near the hilt and point and thinner in the middle. Despite the ominous name, blood grooves are actually a structural feature, which serve to lighten the blade without decreasing its strength.

Kili's sword (and all of the dwarven swords) would have been crafted by the master smiths of the Ered Luin, and hence be a functional and elegant weapon rivaled only by the elven smiths of Rivendell and Lorien. Dwarven swords were likely made using a technique known as "drawn and folded", where the the rough rectangle of steel is folded over on itself many times, creating a blade composed of thin laminated steel layers.


Fili carries twin swords that bear a striking (and terrifying) resemblance to butcher's knives. Of particular interest are the double fuller running the length of the falchion. The two ridges would greatly enhance the strength of the blade. Additionally, the blade is equipped with a small hook or spike above the main tip of the blade. Such a hook would be useful for snagging or catching an enemy's clothing or armor.

Dori's falchion/sword

Balin's sword has still no been seen, but it can be assumed that it is similar in build to both Fili and Kili's weapons, featuring the same thick blade, prominent angles and large fullers.


Dori's blade also features a thick blade and geometric angles. Interestingly, the tip of this sword is greatly enlarged, which would enhance its use as an axe-like or bludgeoning weapon. A second angle is found in the blade right above the hilt, acting as a small guard to stop enemy blades from sliding down Dori's sword and striking his hand. Note the distinct lack of fullers on Dori's sword. Unlike Fili and Kili, Dori is not a member of Durin's direct line, and his simpler blade may reflect his position in the hierarchy of the Exiles of Erebor.


Midway through the quest, Thorin himself takes up a mighty sword: Orcrist, the Gobline-Cleaver.

Thorin's sword, Orcrist, the Goblin-Cleaver

Forged by High Elven smiths during the long, dark wars in Beleriand, Orcrist first saw battle in the defense of the Hidden City Gondolin. Unlike the other dwarves' swords, Orcrist is an elegant elvish blade. However, unlike many of the elves' blades, Orcrist features a much thicker blade with a curved cutting edge and a straight back edge. The blade meets the hilt in a viciously curved tang that looks like it could serve as an effective weapon in its own right. Dark Jackal wrote an excellent discussion of Orcrist here, and posted another discussion of who Orcrist's original owner was here.

Miscellaneous Weapons

Nori's mace

Dwalin's war hammer

The rest of Thorin's company are decked out with a variety of implements of death: war hammers, staves, picks and halberds . . . even a large spoon.

Dwalin––perhaps the most fierce-looking of the thirteen dwarves––carries a war hammer large enough to give even a Cave Troll pause. The long haft gives Dwalin a longer reach and a larger swinging arc . . . increasing the bone-crushing power of the hammer. A war hammer has a distinct advantage as a weapon of war: the large, blunt head of the hammer can transmit a blow through armor, regardless of the armor's strength or thickness. Thus, a war hammer can cause concussions and damage internal organs regardless of the amount of armor an opponent is wearing. Additionally war hammers are effective anti-cavalry weapons, their long handles making them ideal for tripping or breaking a horse's legs.

Nori wields a mace with an exceptionally long handle . . . a weapon that once again functions as a useful walking stick. As with Dwalin's hammer, the long haft increases Nori's reach and the power of his swing. As an added option, the bottom of the haft is equipped with a spiked tip, which could double as a blunt spear at need.

Oin also carries a blunt pole-arm weapon . . . a simple staff, by all appearances a simple staff, but one that seems to be crafted completely from metal, befitting both Oin's status as a wealthy dwarf, and giving the staff additional momentum.

Oin's staff

Bifur's bill

Bifur's weapon is a long spear of sorts, though typical of dwarvish weapons the blade is almost disproportionately thick. In fact, the strange weapon most resembles a halberd or bill. The bill would have been effective at close quarters and at keeping mounted enemies at a safe distance. A little above the middle of the weapon is a small crossguard––as with Dori's sword, this cross guard would have provided much needed protection to Bifur's hands. The bill's blade has a slight angle at it's base, possible used to catch and pull at a mounted opponent's clothing or armor. Regardless of the weapon's true uses, Bifur seems to need a bit more practice with it . . . he certainly wasn't able to keep an axe from getting embedded in his thick skull.

Bofur's mining pick

Bofur's weapon of choice exemplifies that old dwarven practicality: his war hammer doubles as an every-day mining pick! This heavy-duty hammer or pick-axe has the added advantage of an asymmetrical design: one side of the hammer has a blunt head ideal for delivering crushing impacts through layers of armor; the other side of the head is a flat axe-blade, perfect for striking at unprotected limbs. Bofur's choice of the mining pick likely stems from his status . . . he and Bifur and Bombur are not of Durin's line, and represent the common dwarves that have worked and sweated in long-lost mines since the coming of Smaug and the fall of Erebor. The pick not only gives Bofur a means of defending himself, but is also the key to his livelihood.

Bombur's ladle

 Second-to-last comes Bombur's lade. While this weapon may not appear too fearsome, it can deliver a stunning blow to an unsuspecting enemy's head (or backside). What's more, Bombur has been known to whip up a mean pot of stew with his spoon . . . it is largely thanks to his weapon of choice that Thorin's company starts and ends each day with a full belly. Bilbo especially, I suspect, appreciates this fact.

Kili's bow and arrows

Last but not least we see Kili's bow. It does my heard good to be albe to dispel the strange idea that dwarves are incapable of using a ranged weapon. Because dwarves spend most of their time underground, it is likely that Kili's bow is not made from wood, but rather is a composite bow crafted either from horn or some type of flexible metal. The recurved arms of the bow increase the power and range of the weapon without significantly increasing it's size. The arrow shafts are probably created from some type of hardwood, likely gained through trade with the elves who live to the west of the Ered Lindon, or with the Hobbits of the Shire to the east. The fletching on the arrows may be leather, or it could be feathers collected from the ravens that often make nests above dwarvish mansions.While Kili's bow may not have the range of an elvish longbow, it is perfectly suited for a dwarf (whose eyes probably can't see as far as an elf can shoot anyways).

Well, that about sums up the list of weapons used by the dwarves. I think it's pretty clear that these guys are well-equipped to deal with any orcs, goblins or trolls that get in their way (or at least put up a good fight). Gandalf and Bilbo have their own weapons, of course, but those will be discussed at a later date. Join us soon for a look at the types of armor the dwarves choose for their journey!

Addendum

Balin's sword

The meticulous and ever vigilant DarkJackal has sent me a few additional links regarding the dwarves' weaponry.

First off . . . we actually DO know what Balin's sword looks like (and it's a good thing too, because it turns out Balin's sword is my favorite of the whole bunch). At right you can see an image of the sword strapped to the dwarf's waist. Now, there is one thing that jumped out at me when I first saw the sword in detail: while the overall design of Balin's sword is similar to the other swords reviewed at the beginning of this article, the level of detail is on a whole other level. Notice the intricate engravings running the entire length of the blade and covering the star-shaped expansion at the sword's tip. We don't see anything like that on Fili and Kili's blades . . . at least not anything that extensive or that intricate. This suggests something very interesting to me: we know that before Smaug laid waste to the Lonely Mountain the dwarves were master smiths. Their skills were never matched by later dwarves, as Gloin attested to Frodo in FOTR:

'But in metalwork we cannot rival our fathers, many of whose. Secrets are lost. We make good armour and keen swords, but we cannot again make mail or blade to match those that were made before the dragon came.'

––Fellowship of the Ring; Part II; Chapter 1: Many Meetings

I have a hunch that Balin's sword is an heirloom from Old Erebor, whereas Kili and Fili's swords are more recently made. The meticulous engraving and the elegant star-shaped tip of the sword speak of a past glory that the Exiles of Erebor have yet to regain.

Dwalin and his two axes

Another little tid-bit I missed out on is the fact that there is another dwarf running around with axes (TWO, in fact): Dwalin. Yes, apparently a gigantic hammer just isn't enough for this chap. The axes are interesting because unlike Gloin's axe, they have a straight cutting edge, which would lesson the total length of the business end of the axe. However, since there are two axes instead of just one, it probably doesn't matter all that much. Since Dwalin has two of the axes, we can assume that they are one-handed (unlike Thorin and Gloin's axes) and that the dwarf could wield both of them simultaneously if it suited him. The fact that Dwalin, a might and renowned warrior among the dwarves, carries axes like Thorin (the heir of Durin) and Gloin (a close relative of Thorin) may add further weight to the theory that axes are seen as a symbol of power or prestige in dwarven culture.

And last but not least, while working on another post I noticed that Fili was toting around an extra weapon that I had missed the first time around. If you look in the picture (above right) you can see Fili's vambrace or arm-guard, and––tucked into the vambrace––a knife. Yep, that's the handle of a knife pocking up out of his sleeve. Most likely it's a utility knife, made primarily for cutting and carving a variety of materials, but it can probably double as a combat knife in a pinch. Sweet!