[Tirned Tinnu]

I am *bumping* this thread, because I am a longtime admirer of Aragorn's!
This topic has long eluded me.
I used to take for granted that Aragorn was a powerful enough man and that his presence was enough to let others know not to mess with him. This still does not explain why he used no other blade!

After much thinking, I have come to a conclusion - that when Elrond placed Narsil in his protection (at the age of twenty along with the Ring of Barahir)perhaps it was fortold that he would carry no other blade. Was this the ultimate challenge? Go out into the wild, with nothing but the blade of your forefathers! It will be the token of your birthright? Aragorn seems to have wandered into the woods thereafter, feeling rather high and mighty (according to the Appendix.)
However, if Aragorn wore the Ring of Barahir into battle (another token) it is not said early on in the LOTR.

I have experience with blades. In this case,
the shard of Narsil that was left upon the swordhilt is enough to defend one's self with. The loss of balance would be noticable, but the blade would move faster in one's hand, being lighter. Rather than a sword, it might be used as a quick-blade.

I think that we should do well to note that men of wisdom and power rarely need weapons to defend themselves. Aragorn did not seek Orcs in the service of Gandalf and the Fellowship, although it is said that he killed several Wargs. Did he do it with Narsil? It was the only blade he had at the time...
I will give you time to ponder this while i look for more plausible answers on the net. I have not tried a search on it; there may be more available these days.

*edit: Found: a possible answer:
"the blade was in two pieces "a foot below the hilt"...(but LENGTHWISE? Basically, he was using an odd-shaped rapier.)"
This is plausible. What do you think?

[ September 07, 2002: Message edited by: Tirned Tinnu ]