Facts & FAQs

Bilbo's Sword & Armour

Bilbo gave Frodo a sword and chain mail shirt. Where did Bilbo get these from?

Bilbo aquired both of these items on his adventures that were described in The Hobbit.

The sword named Sting came from the hoard of some trolls that Bilbo, Gandalf and a group of dwarves encountered. Sting was really more of a long knife than a sword but it made a good Hobbit-sized sword. It was made thousands of years earlier in the hidden elven city of Gondolin and was made to be more effective against orcs. It glowed blue whenever orcs were near.
There were two other swords found with Sting. They were of similar make but they were full sized swords. Gandalf took the sword named Glamdring and the leader of the dwarves, Thorin, took the other one named Orcrist. Glamdring was the same sword than Gandalf used to break the flaming sword of the Balrog in Khazad-Dûm.

Bilbo's chain shirt was found much later in his adventures. It came from the horde of the dragon Smaug. It was said to have been made for a young elven prince and was a good fit for a hobbit.
The shirt was made of Mithril which meant that it was both strong and light. It saved Frodo's life when he was speared by an orc chieftain in Moria. In the Film he was speared by a cave troll instead.