ORIGIN
Bilbo’s Sting The Hobbit was a long Elvish dagger made during the First Age in Gondolin and was known for its uniqueness that raised fear in the spiders of Mirkwood. An ancient blade forged by Elvish weapon-smiths, Sting had a special blade that glowed blue each time goblins or Orcs were detected within an undetermined radius. This alerted wielders who would clearly see the blue luminosity. It however lost during the Fall of Gondolin in the same battle were Turgon fell and Glamdring was also taken.
Bilbo Baggins later found it in a Troll hoard alongside Orcrist and Glamdring and carried it in the Hobbit. Gollum greatly feared the Sting just like anything made by the Elves. This aided Bilbo when confronted by Gollum in a cave at the base of Misty Mountains. Later it helped Frodo and Samwise Gamgee subdue Gollum in The Lord of the Rings. Orcs were also naturally afraid of this weapon and therefore hated anyone who carried it.
DESCRIPTION
Although it was only a dagger by the standard of men or Elves, it was a handy short sword or weapon for a hobbit. It was a true representation of Gondolin blades. Sting could easily cut through webs of Ungoliant’s offspring, the spiders of Mirkwood and the Evil Shelob as well. Bilbo named the dagger ”Sting” after having stung many spiders with it seeing the fear that the blade invoked in them. Still it was rather small because Bilbo at first chose to wear it inside his breeches, travel and run without any inconvenience whatsoever. Sting being the work of Elvish smiths in the Elder Days, shone but not with a cold light. Instead, it was explicitly described as glowing blue with blue flames at its edges.
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Sting’s ability to detect goblins and orcs nearby was magical. It was like Glamdring and the Orcrist only that unlike other Elves blades particularly forged in Gondolin, it glowed blue when orcs or the goblins were present, as it did when the Fellowship encountered orcs in the mines of Moria. It was also sharp and therefore the only weapon that could cut the spider webs.
USERS
Bilbo Baggins used Sting in The Hobbit and later gave it to his nephew Frodo Baggins before the Fellowship of the Ring set off from Rivendell. This was before Frodo embarked on his quest to Mordor from Rivendell. Later on Sam took it from his seemingly dead master to prevent it from falling into enemy hands when Frodo was betrayed at the pass of Cirith Ungol. He used it to great effect against Shelob on the borders of Mordor.
FEATS
Sting being exceptionally sharp, Bilbo was able to thrust it effortlessly deep into a wooden beam at Rivendell. Frodo also used it to wound a troll in Moria, after Boromir’s sword was notched in his attempt. Sam used Sting to destroy the menacing spider webs in the southern Gondolin mountains and also stab Shelob making it the first blade to ever do so. Later, he however returned it to Frodo Baggins who after the defeat of Sauron at the end of the Third Age entrusted it back to him including all his other possessions before departing for the Undying Lands. Bilbo’s Sting The Hobbit then became an heirloom of the Gamgee family.
