Our member Turin, as a side question under our LOTR Quiz in the Ivy Bush Tavern, asked:
I think you will find all Frodo stabbed was the Nazgul Lord's (the Witch-King of Angmar's) cloak, for as Aragorn said, in 'Flight to the Ford' of FotR, While Frodo's sword remained intact until it was lost at the Ford of Bruinen.

Did anyone catch that in 'A Knife in the Dark' of FotR, "...it seemed to him that it [Frodo's sword] flickered red, as if it were a firebrand"? I hadn't noticed that before. I think Narsil/Anduril flickered red too, but I don't know about Merry's sword, and then again Frodo's may have, only because he was wearing the ring at the time. Oh, and Narsil wasn't a Sword of Westernesse, because it was forged by Telchar of Nogrod in the FA. The highlighted colors are mine.

(Frodo's replacement sword, "Sting" was not a blade of Westernesse. those were made by the D’nedain N’men’rians for use against Angmar; Sting was even older, having been made by the Elves of Beleriand prior to the founding of Angmar and turned it blue in the presence of Orcs.)

Alright, so you think that Frodo simply missed? I suppose that makes the most sense.

Anyway, here's another question: What does everyone think about Turin's sword Gurthang? (I say Turin's sword simply because he wielded the longest) I mean, it is a talking sword.....

Sting was not a blade of Westernesse, hence couldn't hurt the Witch-King. Guess the Elven craftsmen of Gondolin didn't add an extra enchantment to make it useful against spirits, for indeed Morgoth's minions were all enemies in the flesh.

The Men of Arnor, of course, were in a different situation.


"Farewell, friend! I was a thousand times more evil than thou" - Stormbringer to Elric of Melnibon’

I think it could have. I think the barrow-blades had an extra potency against the Wraiths.

In my opinion one could slay the Witch-king with Sting, but first one has to master his or her fear simply to face him. The instilling of unreasoning fear is a very potent weapon, but both Eowyn and Merry were able to act in this crucial moment, for reasons obvious enough in the tale.

Frodo didn't have Sting at that point but his blade had missed the Wraith in any case.

Tolkien notes that the Bearer (Frodo) had resisted and '... had dared to strike at him with an enchanted blade made by his own enemies long ago for his destruction. Narrowly it had missed him.'

JRRT goes on to write that the Wraith must have thought Frodo was mightier in some way than the Barrow-wight (as he somehow had such a blade), and that Frodo was also in league with the High Elves of the Havens, due to him calling out a name of terror to the Nazgul.

This text comes from Marquette MSS 4/2/36 The Hunt for the Ring.