[davem]

Originally Posted by Oblo

The Barrow Blade was obviously the best sword for the job (thanks for the text reference) and totally ruined the W-K in one little stab, but I don't believe that means no other blade could have harmed him. I would especially hesitate to exclude the ancient blades of the Eldar--like Glamdring--when wielded by powers much mightier than the W-K.

I think the question is 'How much harm would another weapon have done him?'. What the Barrow blade did was to break the spell that knotted his sinews together, making him vulnerable. I think when tolkien states No other blade, not though mightier hands had wielded it, would have dealt that foe a wound so bitter, cleaving the undead flesh, breaking the spell that knit his unseen sinews to his will. the implication is that other blades may have harmed him, but only that blade could have broken the spell & opened him up to a mortal blow. Of course, that's my reading. It does seem that its not merely a question of the power of the blade or the hand that wields it, but of the particular type of weapon used. This is common enough in myth - only a silver bullet can kill a werewolf, etc.

As to your question

:

Certainly? Why is that certain?

I think if there was another sorcerer, equal to, or greater than, Angmar on the opposing side Tolkien would have mentioned him. The man who makes the silver bullet is not more powerful than the werewolf, he just knows what will dispatch it.