LotR -- Book 3 - Chapter 07 - Helm's Deep

[davem]

Flaming swords

I just found this from Websters 1913 dictionary:

\Brand\, n. [OE. brand, brond, AS. brand brond brand,
sword, from byrnan, beornan, to burn; akin to D., Dan., Sw.,
& G. brand brand, Icel. brandr a brand, blade of a sword.
[root]32. See {Burn}, v. t., and cf. {Brandish}.]
threw it
on a matted roof. --Palfrey.

2. A sword, so called from its glittering or flashing
brightness. [Poetic] --Tennyson.

Paradise, so late their happy seat, Waved over by
that flaming brand. --Milton.

So there is clearly an ancient connection between swords & fire. In Frodo's song of Gandalf in Lorien he refers to Gandalf's 'burning brand'. I can't help speculating on Tolkien's inspiration for the glowing Elvish swords that run through the Legendarium. Anduril is the Flame of the West, & the name is probably significant. We have to remember that Anduril's 'fire' is clearly seen in battle at close quarters, from a distance & is easily recognised by all observers. I don't think we can simply dismiss the possibility that it did produce some form of light...