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Merlkir β€” Elven Sword Evolution

Published: 2009-07-05 21:01:10 +0000 UTC; Views: 63473; Favourites: 1091; Downloads: 6073
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Description Another "evolution" diagram-thing. Of course I could put in some more links and maybe set dates for all of them, but that would be too much work.

1. One of the first swords the Noldor made. Solid piece of metal for the blade and a wooden handle. The blade has a spine/ridge to make it stronger.
2. As the technology got better, the swords would get longer and the decorations nicer. Swirly floral ornaments for the hilt. Still has a ridge on the blade.
3. The hilt became less fancy and the blade is one piece with two ground-out fullers to make it lighter (this way it can be wider).
4. New technology - pattern welding for the blade. In a nutshell, you twist a few rods of iron with different features together and beat/weld them flat. That gives you the core of the blade - it makes the sword flexible and stress-resistant. To that core you weld two edges from hard steel that can take more punishment than iron and cut well. Then you grind a fuller - a groove in the whole blade to make it lighter. If you want to learn more about this, google pattern welding or damascene steel (even though pattern welding is not real damascene steel, the name is still used). The sword has a more straight bulky feel, the technology is still too new to go wild on the blade's shape. Floral ornaments on the hilt feel slightly heavier too.
5. Pattern welded blade with a more elven leaf-like shape. Still with a fairly wide fuller. The hilt is heavily ornamented with swirly floral shapes - trying to renew some of the older designs.
6. Probably a dwarf-made sword. The blade has a very elven shape, but the fuller is less deep and the sword feels a bit heavier. Dwarven hand is more obvious from the shape of the hilt. It still incorporates some leaf shapes though so the owner was probably an elf.
7. A "modern" elven sword. There could probably be one more link to this one from number 5, but I didn't have enough paper.
The hilt has some elements of the movie Glamdring which I didn't realize when I drew it. I thought: "Look at that, that came ou really nice! Weird how easy that was." And obviously, it hit me later. It's not that bad though.
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Comments: 67

Merlkir In reply to ??? [2023-09-11 09:07:18 +0000 UTC]

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BlacksmithinLad In reply to Merlkir [2023-09-12 01:27:09 +0000 UTC]

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BlacksmithinLad In reply to ??? [2023-09-10 04:21:24 +0000 UTC]

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theKing68 [2022-10-12 19:07:30 +0000 UTC]

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Reborn-Taltos [2022-06-09 13:24:54 +0000 UTC]

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Wintersoldier7020 [2013-10-07 17:11:56 +0000 UTC]

Very nice!

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Brothermonk [2013-10-05 22:06:35 +0000 UTC]

what paper did you use? or is this digital?

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Merlkir In reply to Brothermonk [2013-10-06 08:06:55 +0000 UTC]

Real pencil, I think. Just a piece of sketchbook paper I found around the house, iirc.

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Brothermonk In reply to Merlkir [2013-10-06 16:16:16 +0000 UTC]

huh, I wish I had antiqued paper lying aroundΒ 

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Bramblestar15 [2013-07-24 03:21:51 +0000 UTC]

Those all look so cool! 3 & 5 are my favorite of these, though they all look great.

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Cerberus116 [2013-06-22 20:59:08 +0000 UTC]

Very beautiful... nicely done.

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spikedpsycho [2013-03-16 21:24:15 +0000 UTC]

The second looks like a good Valentines present.

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PendragonMagicFairy [2012-12-31 15:10:40 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful drawn! My favourite is number five.
(sorry for my crappy English)

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AmAndArInI [2012-11-22 02:26:46 +0000 UTC]

I featured your really interesting drawing in my journal
[link]

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Merlkir In reply to AmAndArInI [2012-11-22 10:40:44 +0000 UTC]

Ah, thanks!

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Agacora [2012-10-09 03:25:14 +0000 UTC]

Does this fit into the context of, perhaps, Middle Earth, or is this for your own created world? Either way those are some awesome swords.

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Merlkir In reply to Agacora [2012-10-09 06:16:36 +0000 UTC]

It was made to fit Middle Earth.

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Agacora In reply to Merlkir [2012-10-09 12:54:45 +0000 UTC]

Nice.

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Surrealpunishment [2011-09-23 22:42:07 +0000 UTC]

Like it, my favorite is #2

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tabby786 [2011-08-31 17:09:22 +0000 UTC]

Hi, i love your work im designing a game and i need people like you to help me would you be intrested, if you are inbox me thanx

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THORADONROHIRRIM [2010-12-15 07:02:25 +0000 UTC]

good work where do you research this elf style of sword? does Tolkien actually draw some swords? i donΒ΄t find it, but how do you think could be the "GURTHANG" (ANGLACHEL remade by dwarves and then is the sword that kill Melkor by hand of Turin)? and "ANGUIREL"? the original sword of EΓΆl; I draw one anguirel based on the movies principally but i,m not entirely sure and not have your drawing skill. EΓΆl dislikes the elves (but was one of the firsts elves), and was very good friend of dwarves of Nogrod and Belegost, so have to be a combination of the special style of dark elf EΓΆl (galvorn and flaming iron of a meteorite) and some techniques of dwarves. IΒ΄m think some kind of precious stones inspired by dwarves or not?. i will upload

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Merlkir In reply to THORADONROHIRRIM [2010-12-15 09:24:26 +0000 UTC]

The only information Tolkien gave on swords is that they're straight, some of them are leaf shaped and are often engraved with runes, or made of metal with a swirling pattern.

Do upload your drawings, I've never really tried drawing gurthang of anguirel.

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THORADONROHIRRIM In reply to Merlkir [2010-12-15 09:28:47 +0000 UTC]

done bro, im, new so check my version of anguirel i do gurthang in a few weeks, but your opninion could be useful.

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Firewhisky-Black [2010-10-16 01:32:54 +0000 UTC]

This makes me want to watch Lord of the Rings. Awesome Job!

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Sidran [2010-10-06 16:49:26 +0000 UTC]

This is awesome

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Merlkir In reply to Sidran [2010-10-06 17:34:30 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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Fanatic-of-the-few [2010-10-06 05:03:47 +0000 UTC]

Nice--Insta-Fav!

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Finnwulf [2010-08-26 21:02:55 +0000 UTC]

just amazing! *add to fav*

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Merlkir In reply to Finnwulf [2010-08-26 21:05:22 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!

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Finnwulf In reply to Merlkir [2010-08-26 21:12:13 +0000 UTC]

i think these swords are very cool, especially these fine brightwork, how did you do this? with photoshop and tablet? As you can see i did my start with these things today..

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Merlkir In reply to Finnwulf [2010-08-26 21:16:20 +0000 UTC]

Nope, this is a pencil drawing on paper.

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Finnwulf In reply to Merlkir [2010-08-27 11:32:32 +0000 UTC]

oh ok, but do you use the tablet too?

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Merlkir In reply to Finnwulf [2010-08-27 13:01:03 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, recently I've been drawing mostly on a tablet.

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Finnwulf In reply to Merlkir [2010-08-27 14:22:12 +0000 UTC]

ok,cool.

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BrzrkrBob [2009-11-28 04:21:08 +0000 UTC]

I really like all the detail. Pretty good.

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BunjiCourd [2009-10-23 16:29:27 +0000 UTC]

Do you think you could blacksmith a sword with the concepts you discussed or is this all fantasy theory?

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Merlkir In reply to BunjiCourd [2009-10-23 17:07:37 +0000 UTC]

Not quite sure what you mean, if I wanted to make a sword, I would need a larger and more detailed drawing than these. But the technology I described is 100% real/historically accurate, you can google it if you want.

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BunjiCourd In reply to Merlkir [2009-10-24 04:02:48 +0000 UTC]

That's pretty cool

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avanima [2009-09-28 17:20:34 +0000 UTC]

Very nice i really like it. Would i be able to use this with a 3d model when i finish the model more for practice sake.

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Merlkir In reply to avanima [2009-09-28 17:41:59 +0000 UTC]

If it's not to make money and if you credit me for the designs, feel free to make 3d models out of this.

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avanima In reply to Merlkir [2009-09-29 17:31:49 +0000 UTC]

Well im still working on a model to go with them so when thats done ill start on weapons depending cause im tossing around ideas for what i want her to be but i will if i end up using them.

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ShadowDragon22 [2009-07-12 11:57:44 +0000 UTC]

Those are some very nice sword designs, i like all the details. I also liked reading the descriptions you made of them ^^ Great work!

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Merlkir In reply to ShadowDragon22 [2009-07-12 12:03:51 +0000 UTC]

I'm glad!

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alskling [2009-07-08 00:20:13 +0000 UTC]

I like these kind of works, they show transformation, movement, life-force.

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Morionquetil [2009-07-06 18:01:42 +0000 UTC]

Excellent diagram of progression - I like how you've carried over the subtle Greek and Indo-Corinthian inspiration for the Noldor of the films (such as in the crested, high tapered helms, and the very xiphos-esque look of the first sword in this 'evolution.'

It's all very realistic, and easy to imagine a lesser Elf-lord slashing and cutting (not thrusting very often, hehe) through a mob of Orcs.

Good show /thumbs up

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Merlkir In reply to Morionquetil [2009-07-06 18:13:47 +0000 UTC]

Thanks, I'm glad you think so. It's interesting how the "xiphos" one evolved into a very celtic-like sword. And it looks fairly natural. Bronze age swords do look alike after all.

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Morionquetil In reply to Merlkir [2009-07-07 15:09:23 +0000 UTC]

Well there isn't too much you can do with a Bronze Age sword west of Eurasia, hehe.

I, personally, would be interested to see your take on the Elves of Doriath. But that's just me, hehe.

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goat89 [2009-07-06 00:28:26 +0000 UTC]

VERY NICE!!!

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Merlkir In reply to goat89 [2009-07-06 06:52:13 +0000 UTC]

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goat89 In reply to Merlkir [2009-07-06 07:51:46 +0000 UTC]

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