Designing Anglachel & Gurthang
Introduction
Once again it’s time for a blog post that doubles as an assignment for one of my classes at Signum. This time it’s for Tolkien’s World of Middle-earth. Instead of a mid-term exam we were given the option of submitting a creative project that “demonstrates [our] mastery of the themes, ideas, motifs, and interconnections in this Myths, Legends, and Heroes section of the course” which I decided to take advantage of.
Given my long interest in and intent to get into blacksmithing and bladesmithing I thought it would be fun to take a stab at designing a pair of swords out of Middle-earth: Anglachel & Gurthang. Initially it was my intent to do a complete design of both swords including sketches involving ornamental designs, but I did not anticipate how much time that would involve. As it stands this blog post is a compilation of my research and initial design ideas for both blades.
I have very minimal experience in blacksmithing and my interest in bladesmithing tends towards kitchen knives so I have absolutely no experience with sword design. In addition, I am sure that those much more familiar with Tolkien’s legendarium will criticize my oversight of some obscure bit of lore that would completely change the final design.
Rash I may be, but here I go…
Background
Anglachel was one of a pair of legendary swords forged by the Dark Elf, Eöl, who was known as one of the greatest Elven metalworks and craftsman. While wandering through his woody home Eöl found a meteorite out of which he forged Anglachel and one other sword. This heavenly metal resulted in a weapon that was so hard it “would cleave all earth-delved iron” (Silmarillion, 203). Tolkien does not provide a direct translation of the name but it seems to be a combination of ang "iron”, lhach "leaping flame", and êl "star” (Silmarillion, Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names) leading to translation such as “Iron of the Flaming Star” (Encyclopedia of Arda, “Anglachel”) which is a reference to its meteoric origin.
We are told that when the Girdle of Melian was erected Eöl gave Anglachel to Thingol as tribute for leave to dwell in Nan Elmoth as he did not want to dwell within the Girdle’s borders. We do not know the exact date of its forging, but knowing that the Girdle was established before the rising of the Sun we can infer that Anglachel was forged before the First Age began while Eöl was still living in Doriath.
Later Thingol gave Anglachel to Beleg Strongbow for his service and to aid him in helping Túrin. At this time Melian noted that “There is malice in this sword. The heart of the smith still dwells in it, and that heart was dark. It will not love the hand that it serves; neither will it abide with you long.” (Silmarillion, 203). This prophecy soon came true as Beleg was slain via mischance by Túrin with his own sword. While trying to cut the fetters that bound an unconscious Túrin, Beleg slipped and pricked Túrin who “roused into a sudden wakefulness of rage and fear, and seeing a form bending over him in the gloom with a naked blade in hand he leapt up with a great cry […] and grappling with him in the darkness he seized Anglachel, and slew Beleg Cúthalion thinking him a foe.” (Silmarillion, 211) This event seemingly caused the sword to morn as ever-afterwards its blade was black and its edges dull.
To restore the sword Túrin had Anglachel reforged into Gurthang “Iron of Death” which retained the black color. Wielding this weapon Túrin slew many foes and became known as Mormegil or “The Black Sword”. Túrin’s story ends in tragedy with the revelation and death of his sister/wife and in utter misery he asks Gurthang if it would take his life in payment for all his wrongs to which it replies “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” (Silmarillion, 231) following which Túrin takes his own life and Gurthang breaks into pieces and lies beside him in death.
The full story of Anglachel & Gurthang can be found within The Silmarillon and The Children of Húrin. In designing the sword I have also drawn on additional details found within Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth and The Story of Kullervo.
Design Preamble
Based on designs I have reviewed by a number of illustrators I have taken an unconventional approach in that I have chosen to make Anglachel and Gurthang two very different sword designs. The passage that describes the reforging process is lite on details. Tolkien only tells us that it was “forged anew for him by cunning smiths of Nagothrond” (Silmarillion, 213) and presumably this was because after the slaying of Beleg “its blade was black and dull and its edges blunt.” (Silmarillion, 212) While Tolkien provides much details in many areas, metallurgy is not one of them. Presumably, resharpening the sword was either not an option or not desired. Based on this I have operated under the assumption that “forged anew” meant a complete remaking of the blade as if from a new billet, while this is a bit of creative liberty on my part I believe that there are some textual details to support this.
Basic Shapes & Styles
Out of many design decision to make choosing the basic shapes and styles was the first. I have chosen to base Anglachel Merovingian Period Swords during the decline of the Roman Empire between the 4th and 7th centuries. These swords tend to have a mid-length blade falling between 28”-32” and were wielded single handedly. I choose a blade design of this length as it would have been easier to wield within the forested region of Doriath, where Eöl was residing at the time of its forging. As far as basing it off of Merovingian Period swords, there is not any textual evidence to support this but it is my tribute to the Finish legend of Kullervo found within The Kalevala. The Kullervo Cycle was a primary influencer for Tolkien’s story of Turin. While the sword is net described in great detail and most artwork of Kullervo depicts a sword more akin to the Viking Sword (which followed the Merovingian Period swords), I have chosen not to take this approach. There has been an abundance of Merovingian Period swords found in Finland and this is a style I associate more freely with Finland.
Due to the similarity between the Kullervo and Túrin narratives it might make more sense to model Gurthang after Kullervo’s sword instead of Anglachel, but I have chosen to make that sword quite a bit longer. There are several instances in which Tolkien refers to Gurthang as being “long” a characteristic which he never uses for Anglachel.
And as they waited one came through the trees, and they saw that he was a tall Man, armed, 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. That was Túrin, hastening from the sack of Nargothrond” (Húrin, 279)
Then Turambar drew the Black Sword of Beleg and stabbed upwards with all the might of his arm, and of his hate, and the deadly blade, long and greedy, went into the belly even to its hilts. (Húrin, 237)
Additionally, Anglachel was forged prior to the first age, presumably for Eöl’s own use within Doriath. Whereas Gurthang was forged near the end of the First Age and intended for war against many foes. In this case a longer sword would have been more effective and for that reason I have modeled Gurthang after a Late Middle Ages hand and a half sword.
The Color
Now I’ll take a brief aside to talk about the color. We know that Gurthang is a black sword: “though ever black its edges shone with pale fire” (Silmarillion, 213), however this has led many to assume that Anglachel was also black. The only mention that we have within the text to Anglachel’s color happens after the murder of Beleg: “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. It mourns for Beleg even as you do.” (Silmarillion, 212).
While this could be interpreted as its blade was always black I believe that its association alongside the mention of its newfound lack of sharpness and Gwindor’s statement that “It mourns for Beleg” imply that the color also changed after the slaying of Beleg. For that reason I have chosen to make Anglachel a normal high-polish blade whereas Gurthang will, of course, be black.
Anglachel Design
As mentioned, Anglachel will be a sword in line with the style of the Merovingian Period, though with a slightly extended guard. The blade has a length of 30” with an overall length of 36”. The cross section will feature a lenticular shape with a broad fuller that runs nearly the entire length of the blade. The blade will have a high-polish finish and the only marking on the blade will be its name, Anglachel, inscribed in Tengwar vertically in the center of the fuller on each side of the blade near the hilt.
It will have a black leather-wrapped iron-wood handle and its pommel and guard will be made of etched-bronze with an end-cap made of polished meteorite featuring the Widmanstätten pattern unique to meteorites.
Gurthang Design
Gurthang will have a longer blade and will be modeled similar to Oakeshott’s Sub-Type XVIIIb sword design. The blade length will be 38” and have a hand and a half waisted handle 10” long. The blade itself will have a diamond cross-section and will not feature a fuller as is standard on XVIIIb blades. The blade will also feature a slightly flailed ricasso 2” off the hilt. The handle will be made of Australian Sheoak which is a reddish-brown color and features a grain pattern that invokes flames (referencing the flaming star origin).
While a bit narrower than Anglachel, Gurthang still uses significantly more metal than Anglachel which meant the smiths of Nargothrond would have been required to weld on additional metal. As, presumably, there was none of the original meteorite remaining this would have resulted in a mixture of two different metal types lending way to the possibilities of a pattern welded design. Playing off of this and the reference that “ever black its edges shone with pale fire” (Silmarillion, 213) I have chosen to give the blade a feather patterned weld. In the primary world it will be composed of 1084 and 15n20 steels and will be etched in ferric acid followed by a coffee bath to give it a strong contrast and black hue.
The guard will be a plain narrow diamond point, also of black metal, extending 3” on either side of the blade. The final ornamental element (in this draft) of the blade will be a jewel pommel featuring the center portion of the Túrin’s house emblem (House of Hador) on either side (Pictures).
Conclusion
When I started this project I expected to get much further along in my designs in far less time. This designs are very much a first draft as I would like to do some engravings on the Anglachel’s guard as well as on the handle of Gurthang. In addition both swords are in need of matching ornamental sheaths. I fully intend to come back to this someday, perhaps to the point of even creating an actual blade - but that will have to wait several years till I gain experience in bladesmithing.
Works Cited
“Anglachel.” The Encyclopedia of Arda, www.glyphweb.com/arda/a/anglachel.html.
“Sword, Weapons and Armor Research.” The Oakeshott Institute, oakeshott.org/.
Tolkien, J. R. R. Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien. Houghton Mifflin, 1992.
---. The Children of Húrin. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Kindle Edition.
---. The Silmarillion. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Kindle Edition.
---. The Story of Kullervo. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016.
---. Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-Earth. Mariner Books, 2014.
References
Here I have included snippets of all the relevant discussions of Anglachel within the primary works with especially relevant sections highlighted. For the sake of brevity these have been condensed and clipped to only the most relevant sections and in some cases the surrounding paragraphs provide pertinent background details.
The Silmarillion
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.’ ‘Nonetheless I will wield it while I may,’ said Beleg. ‘Another gift I will give to you, Cúthalion,’ said Melian, (Silmarillion, 203)
Then in Dimbar the Orcs were driven back, and Anglachel rejoiced to be unsheathed; (Silmarillion, 205)
Then with hatred long-stored Mîm stepped up to Beleg, and drew forth the sword Anglachel that lay beneath the body of one that had fallen beside him; but Beleg stumbling up seized back the sword and thrust it at the Dwarf, (Silmarillion 208)
Beleg drew his sword Anglachel, and with it he cut the fetters that bound Túrin; but fate was that day more strong, for the blade slipped as he cut the shackles, and Túrin’s foot was pricked. Then he was aroused into a sudden wakefulness of rage and fear, and seeing one bending over him with naked blade he leapt up with a great cry, believing that Orcs were come again to torment him; and grappling with him in the darkness he seized Anglachel, and slew Beleg Cúthalion thinking him a foe. (Silmarillion, 211)
And 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. It mourns for Beleg even as you do. But be comforted; for I return to Nargothrond of the house of Finarfin, and you shall come with me, and be healed and renewed.’ (Silmarillion, 212)
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. So great was his prowess and skill in warfare on the confines of the Guarded Plain that he himself became known as Mormegil, the Black Sword; (Silmarillion, 213)
But he had no liking for their manner of warfare, of ambush and stealth and secret arrow, and he yearned for brave strokes and battle in the open; (Silmarillion, 214)
rumour spoke only of the Black Sword of Nargothrond. (Silmarillion, 214)
the edges of Gurthang shone as with flame; (Silmarillion, 218)
Without fear Túrin looked into them as he raised up the sword; (Silmarillion, 218)
But Túrin drawing back his sword stabbed at the dragon’s eyes; (Silmarillion, 218)
Then Túrin strode to Brodda’s table, and seizing him he drew his sword, and demanded that he be told whither Morwen had gone; (Silmarillion, 220)
Then Dorlas by his black sword, the fame whereof had come even into the deeps of Brethil, and by his quest of the King’s daughter, knew that this Wildman was indeed the Mormegil of Nargothrond, whom rumour said was the son of Húrin of Dorlómin. (Silmarillion, 221)
But he laid his black sword by, and wielded rather the bow and the spear. (Silmarillion, 222)
Then he drew Gurthang, and with all the might of his arm, and of his hate, he thrust it into the soft belly of the Worm, even up to the hilts. (Silmarillion, 227-228)
Turambar therefore crossed the water once more, desiring to recover his sword and to look upon his foe; and he found him stretched at his length, and rolled upon one side, and the hilts of Gurthang stood in his belly. Then Turambar seized the hilts and set his foot upon the belly, (Silmarillion, 228)
Then he wrenched out the sword, but a spout of black blood followed it, and fell on his hand, and the venom burned it. (Silmarillion, 228)
For when the dragon died, his swoon left him, and he fell into a deep sleep of weariness. But the cold of the night troubled him, and the hilts of Gurthang drove into his side, and he awoke. (Silmarillion, 229)
There 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 Túrin Turambar, wilt thou slay me swiftly?’ 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.’ Then Túrin set the hilts upon the ground, and cast himself upon the point of Gurthang, and the black blade took his life. (Silmarillion, 231)
Then they lifted up Túrin, and found that Gurthang had broken asunder. But Elves and Men gathered there great store of wood, and they made a mighty burning, and the Dragon was consumed to ashes. Túrin they laid in a high mound where he had fallen, and the shards of Gurthang were laid beside him. (Silmarillion, 231)
The Children of Húrin
‘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 fame, and it was so named because it was made of iron that fell from heaven as a blazing star; it would cleave all earth-dolven 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 the other sword, Anguirel, its mate, 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 heart of the smith still dwells in it, and that heart was dark. It will not love the hand that it serves; neither will it abide with you long.’ ‘Nonetheless I will wield it while I may,’ said Beleg; and thanking the king he took the sword and departed. (Húrin, 96)
Moreover Beleg the Archer was great among the people of Doriath; he was strong, and enduring, and far-sighted in mind as well as eye, and at need he was valiant in battle, relying not only upon the swift arrows of his long bow, but also upon his great sword Anglachel. (Húrin, 141)
Thangorodrim. Beleg drew his sword Anglachel, and with it he cut the fetters that bound Túrin; but fate was that day more strong, for the blade of Eöl the Dark Elf slipped in his hand, and pricked Túrin’s foot. Then Túrin was roused into a sudden wakefulness of rage and fear, and seeing a form bending over him in the gloom with a naked blade in hand he leapt up with a great cry, believing that Orcs were come again to torment him; and grappling with him in the darkness he seized Anglachel, and slew Beleg Cúthalion thinking him a foe. (Húrin, 154)
But the dread sword Anglachel Gwindor took, saying that it were better that it should take vengeance on the servants of Morgoth than lie useless in the earth; (Húrin, 156)
There he made a song for Beleg, and he named it Laer Cú Beleg, the Song of the Great Bow, singing it aloud heedless of peril. And 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. It mourns for Beleg even as you do. But be comforted; for I return to Nargothrond of the House of Finarfin, where I was born and dwelt before my grief. You shall come with me, and be healed and renewed.’ (Húrin, 157)
The sword Anglachel was forged anew for him by the cunning smiths of Nargothrond, and though ever black its edges shone with pale fire. Then Túrin himself became known in Nargothrond as Mormegil, the Black Sword, for the rumour of his deeds with that weapon; but he named the sword Gurthang, Iron of Death. (Húrin, 160)
Then Túrin sprang about, and strode against him, and fire was in his eyes, and the edges of Gurthang shone as with flame. But Glaurung withheld his blast, and opened wide his serpent-eyes and gazed upon Túrin. Without fear Túrin looked in those eyes as he raised up his sword; (Húrin, 178)
But Túrin drawing back his sword stabbed at his eyes; (Húrin, 180)
Then Túrin leapt at him, and drew his black sword, and seized Brodda by the hair and laid back his head. (Húrin, 187)
and then out came Túrin leaping, waving as if to men behind, and the edges of Gurthang flickered like flame in his hand. Too well was that blade known to the Orcs, and even before he sprang among them many scattered and fled. (Húrin, 193)
But see: here lies the Mormegil himself, the great captain of Nargothrond. By his sword we should have known him, as did the Orcs.’ For the fame of the Black Sword of the South had gone far and wide, even into the deeps of the wood. (Húrin, 195)
Therefore Turambar laid his black sword by, and took it no more to battle, and wielded rather the bow and the spear. (Húrin, 197)
And Dorlas said to Turambar: ‘You have renounced the name, but the Blacksword you are still; and does not rumour say truly that he was the son of Húrin of Dor-lómin, lord of the House of Hador?’ (Húrin, 197)
Therefore Turambar arose, and took up again his sword Gurthang, and he went to battle; (Húrin, 222)
And when a new host came against them, they trapped it, and being surprised both by the numbers of the woodmen and by the terror of the Black Sword that had returned, the Orcs were routed and slain in great number. (Húrin, 223)
‘Great is the Black Sword of Brethil, for all our enemies are overcome.’ (Húrin, 223)
And Turambar swept Gurthang from its sheath and stabbed with it up above his head, and it seemed to those that looked on that a flame leapt from Turambar’s hand many feet into the air. Then they gave a great cry: ‘The Black Thorn of Brethil!’ (Húrin, 226)
Then Turambar drew the Black Sword of Beleg and stabbed upwards with all the might of his arm, and of his hate, and the deadly blade, long and greedy, went into the belly even to its hilts. (Húrin, 237)
There now Glaurung lay, with jaws agape; but all his fires were burned out, and his evil eyes were closed. He was stretched out in his length, and had rolled upon one side, and the hilts of Gurthang stood in his belly. Then the heart of Turambar rose high within him, and though the Dragon still breathed he would recover his sword, which if he prized it before was now worth to him all the treasure of Nargothrond. True proved the words spoken at its forging that nothing, great or small, should live that once it had bitten. Therefore going up to his foe he set foot upon his belly, and seizing the hilts of Gurthang he put forth his strength to withdraw it. (Húrin, 238)
Now even as Níniel fled away, Túrin stirred, and it seemed to him that out of his deep darkness he heard her call to him far away; but as Glaurung died, the black swoon left him, and he breathed deep again, and sighed, and passed into a slumber of great weariness. But before dawn it grew bitter cold, and he turned in his sleep, and the hilts of Gurthang drove into his side, and suddenly he awoke. Night was going, and there was a breath of morning in the air; and he sprang to his feet, remembering his victory, and the burning venom on his hand. He raised it up, and looked at it, and marvelled. For it was bound about with a strip of white cloth, yet moist, and it was at ease; and he said to himself: ‘Why should one tend me so, and yet leave me here to lie cold amid the wrack and the dragon-stench? What strange things have chanced?’ Then he called aloud, but there was no answer. All was black and drear about him, and there was a reek of death. He stooped and lifted his sword, and it was whole, and the light of its edges was undimmed. ‘Foul was the venom of Glaurung,’ he said, ‘but you are stronger than I, Gurthang. All blood will you drink. Yours is the victory. But come! I must go seek for aid. My body is weary, and there is a chill in my bones.’ Then he turned his back upon Glaurung and left him to rot; but as he passed from that place each step seemed more heavy, and he thought: ‘At Nen Tirith, maybe, I will find one of the scouts awaiting me. But would I were soon in my own house, and might feel the gentle hands of Níniel, and the good skill of Brandir!’ And so at last, walking wearily, leaning on Gurthang, through the grey light of early day he came to Nen Girith, and even as men were setting forth to seek his dead body, he stood before the people. (Húrin, 248)
Then Túrin grasped Gurthang and a fell light was in his eyes. (Húrin, 252)
Then he lifted up Gurthang and hewed Brandir, and smote him to death. (Húrin, 253)
Then he drew forth his sword, and said: ‘Hail Gurthang, iron of death, you alone now remain! But what lord or loyalty do you know, save the hand that wields you? From no blood will you shrink. Will you take Túrin Turambar? Will you slay me swiftly?’ And from the blade rang a cold voice in answer: ‘Yes, I will drink your blood, that I may forget the blood of Beleg my master, and the blood of Brandir slain unjustly. I will slay you swiftly.’ Then Túrin set the hilts upon the ground, and cast himself upon the point of Gurthang, and the black blade took his life. (Húrin, 256)
Then they lifted up Túrin, and saw that his sword was broken asunder. So passed all that he possessed. With toil of many hands they gathered wood and piled it high and made a great burning and destroyed the body of the Dragon, until he was but black ash and his bones beaten to dust, and the place of that burning was ever bare and barren thereafter. But Túrin they laid in a high mound where he had fallen, and the shards of Gurthang were set beside him. And when all was done, and the minstrels of Elves and Men had made lament, telling of the valour of Turambar and the beauty of Níniel, a great grey stone was brought and set upon the mound; and thereon the Elves carved in the Runes of Doriath: (Húrin, 257)
This prophecy was fulfilled when Tuor, first cousin to Túrin, came to Gondolin and wedded Idril, daughter of Turgon; for their son was Eärendil: the ‘new star’, ‘hope of Elves and Men’, who escaped from Gondolin. In the prose saga of The Fall of Gondolin that was to be, begun probably in 1951, my father recounted the journey of Tuor and his Elvish companion, Voronwë, who guided him; and on the way, alone in the wilderness, they heard a cry in the woods: And as they waited one came through the trees, and they saw that he was a tall Man, armed, 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. That was Túrin, hastening from the sack of Nargothrond (†); but Tuor and Voronwë did not speak to him as he passed, and ‘they knew not that Nargothrond had fallen, and this was Túrin son of Húrin, the Blacksword. Thus only for a moment, and never again, did the paths of those kinsmen, Túrin and Tuor, draw together.’ (Húrin, 279)
