7d421d2e   
   XPost: rec.arts.books.tolkien   
   From: Teacher@flschool.fl   
      
   "tenworld"  wrote in message   
   news:0c85056b-2d9c-4b21-b1b8-73573766ea08@s3g2000vbx.googlegroups.com...   
      
   On Sep 18, 8:19 am, Steve Morrison  wrote:   
   > sean_q wrote:   
   > > It isn't easy to break an iron sword...   
   ...   
   > Túrin's sword also broke beneath him, and it was made of   
   > meteoric iron! Possibly Dúnedain are just so tough that   
   > swords break beneath them? ;<)->   
      
   There isnt anything about meteoric iron that cant be duplicated with   
   modern metallurgy, but the implication is that magic is involved.   
   Same with Narsil, it didnt break because it was not strong, it broke   
   because of the magic associated with Sauron's blow.   
      
   Bronze would not be stronger than steel at the same thickness.  A good   
   steel (see Damascus steel eg) with the right metallugy (carbon, metal   
   impurities) would be a superior weapon.   
      
      
      
      
      
   Tying this thread to the one asking why Isildur didn't suffer   
   black-breath-like illness after slicing into Sauron...   
   Perhaps the magic innate in Narsil created a buffer protecting Isildur, yet   
   the strain was enough to break apart the enchantment holding Narsil   
   together.   
      
   just a thought,   
   FLT   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)