Okay, there's a fair amount here, and some of it was written over a year ago now, so ignore references to Easter and such. (I'll try to take them all out)
I'll review the items in the order (I think) I got them in:
The Flame of the West:November 2003:My first sword purchase in the UK, and I couldn't have asked for anything better. I would say something about it, but it difficult to find the words to describe it really. "Hwoopph" would be a good one, that's the ripple of energy that hits you whenever you see it. "Thfpang" is the sound you hear when you have to put it away again. At the moment I'm at Uni so it's having to remain hidden under my bed most of the time. I'm not the best person to ask about it, as I've not been collecting for long ( buying Anduril actually doubled the size of my "collection" ) so I really don't have much to compare it to.
The only annoying thing is that they've made a mistake with the runes down the blade. The first word is supposed to be Anar (Sun) but the sword actually has Dndr, they got the rune wrong here and yet right in other places. It's never anything some one is going to notice just looking at the sword but it bugs me just knowing that it's wrong. Definitely a great sword though.
Hwhoopp .. ahhh.
Made By The Elves You Know:January 2004Sting is such a great little knife. It's one of my favorites to be sure, and I keep it nearby always. The inscription is beautiful, it feels really solid in your hand, and I'm told it really does glow blue when Orcs are near. It is exactly what it's name literally means - a sharp, pointy thing. It's really difficult to describe just how good it feels to hold, it's like The Ring itself, you feel reluctant to put it down, and you find youself at times just holding it, and turning it in your hand and looking at it. Sublime.
The Foe-Hammer:January 2004I've finally got my Glamdring. It's been sitting, waiting, in my room for at least 2 weeks, while I've been at Uni, but now I'm home and by god it's an awesome sword! I was really worried that after Anduril nothing would live up to expectation, but Glamdring is brilliant and looks amazing next to Anduril and Sting. :-D I'm not sure what I'll get next, I'll have to save up for quite some time but the LOTR collection is growing and it never disappoints, especially at the wonderful prices at Blades-UK. I just don't know where you've been all my life.
A Noble Defense:May 2004I love the LOTR swords, and one of the reasons is that they're all so different. After getting Anduril, I didn't think anything else could match up, but they've all been brilliant in their own ways, and Hadhafang is no different. It has an elven beauty, and shines as a otherworldly sword. As with all the LOTR swords I've got so far, it's well made, and stunningly crafted. The inscription glides along the blade, adding greater depth of character to this superb piece. I'm not sure I could ever actually use it in battle; the weighting's a bit blade heavy to say the least, but it's a wonderful collection piece none-the-less. Most noble indeed.
Fierce Sword:August 2004"Your fingers would remember their old strength better, if they grasped a sword-hilt." I don't know if it's just because of that line, but you definitely feel better with Herugrim in your hand. It feels like a kingly sword, and as always is beautifully made. The tought that goes into these pieces is obvious, the horses are perfect, and one could not ask for a better sword with which to fight evil. Weariness seems to evaporate, and one feels envigorated just holding it. Once again, a LOTR sword does not disappoint, but exceeds expectation. I'm loosing a lot of money to Blades-UK, and I can't see the trend stopping any time soon.
And one for the Dark Lord, on his Dark Throne.October 2004Words cannot fully express the euphoria I'm experiencing having this ring in my possession. It is a strange fate that I should suffer so much joy and awe over so smaller a thing, such a little thing. The one thing which has kept me from getting this for so long is the inscription. Every other ring I've seen it on, it just took over and smothered it; this one is perfect. I think they may actually have gone to Valinor, and convinced some elves to inscribe them, the detailing is perfection manifest. (I haven't checked for spelling errors yet though.) If I did have a complaint it would be that it doesn't make me invisible when I wear it, (you cannot conceive how long it took for me to actually put it on), but I guess I can live with that. Any LOTR fans out there that don't yet own a Master Ring, I would advise you to get one now, or regret waiting when you finally do get it.
This is the Master Ring, the One Ring to rule them all.
The Lord of Gifts:November 2004Well what can I say? It's big, and it's scary, and it's brilliant. What more could a fan ask for, but the Helm of the Dark Lord himself? It is just simply stunning. I'm too scared to put it on, in case I stab a whole in the ceiling, and damage the Helm (I'm far more worried about the Helm than the ceiling though) The detail is magnificent, and this is definitely a piece I'll be keeping forever. There's no way this is ever going to be out of my possession, and now I just can't wait for the Gauntlet and the Mace. Roll on 2005!
363/3000January 2005All you need is glove, or so they say. Indeed, possibly two, but I say, as long as it's got a ring endowed with pure evil and a will and strength to dominate the world, one will suffice. The Gauntlet of Sauron is, without any doubt in my mind, beautiful. The detailing is superb, even down to the engraving on the ring. The only thing I'm not massively keen on is the glass dome, which distorts the Gauntlet a bit much and makes it loose a bit of its aura, but this is easily remedied by removing said dome. I can see myself punching many people in the face with this beauty over the next week, I'm even tempted to wear it to my exam tomorrow. (I'm going to fail anyway, so I might as well enjoy it while I can.) Also, I can stab people with it, for it is pointy in many ways, especially the fingers. At first it's a bit stiff, and difficult to move about, but after about ten minutes of randomly picking things up and hurling them at passers by, it loosens up a bit, and you start to feel the need to smite people properly. Luckily for me, my PFK was returned at the same time (thank you VERY much Sim, it is greatly appreciated, what you did for me.) and so, without further ado, I'm off on a kill crazy rampage of death and decapitation, (especially in the maths department).
P.S. Also, it smells a bit, but I think that's just all the inherent evil in it.
That's it for now, but I' sure there'll be more on the way soon.
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