Monday, 31-July-2023 (And before)


Anduril, Flame of the West, forged from the shards of Narsil.

The blade of the king. The blade that was reforged, the blade that, when weilded, can summon an army more deadly than any that walks this earth.

My sword.

Since I first read The Lord of the Rings…

Since I first read fantasy books, even…

I’ve wanted to fence, and to own a real sword.


I took fencing lessons, years back. Even taught at a summer camp that I worked at.

I made practice swords, and fenced with friends of mine in Middleschool and Highschool.

I competed in a fencing tournament, at one of the conventions that I went to… didn’t do half-bad, either.

I bought a “replica” sword, and was given a “combat ready” axe… but neither were truly real, and both broke more quickly than their price would have led one to expect.



This year, I had some money that I’d earmarked for a trip that never ended up happening. I also had a friend who wanted to know a good birthday gift for me. I asked for her help with researching something – a place I could get a real, combat-ready, copy of Anduril.

It arrived today after being shipped all the way across the world, from Pakistan.

I can’t express how excited I am.