There are three weapons in particular that stand out in The Hobbit and these are the swords Glamdring, Orcrist and Sting. All three were recovered by the party from the horde of the trolls early in the book. Their identity and lineage are revealed by Elrond in Rivendell where they become the property of Grandalf, Thorin and Bilbo.
Glamdrings story extends back into the distant past where it was used by the King of Gondolin during battles and at the last battle of the city where it was lost. Glamdring is elvish meaning ‘foe hammer’ and is used to kill the Great Goblin of the cave when the Dwarves and Bilbo are captured in the Misty Mountains. It glows blue with pleasure at killing the Great Goblin and breaking goblin chains and is called ‘Beater’ by the Goblins.
Orcrist has a lesser lineage than Glamdring but remains a powerful and potent weapon made in the elder days by Elronds kin. The name Orcrist means ‘the goblin cleaver’ and has a nice onomatopoeia sound. The goblins call this sword ‘biter’ and just like Glamdring and Sting it glows blue when enemies come close. Gandalf saves Orcrist from the goblins when he rescues the dwarves and Bilbo but it is eventually taken from Thorin by the King of the Wood Elves when he is captured in Mirkwood. The King returns the sword to the dwarves after Thorins death and it is placed on his breast where it remains glowing in the dark if enemies approach so the dwarves can never be caught unawares.
In the trolls horde Bilbo finds a long knife that would do for him as a sword. Its name is given to it by Bilbo after he uses it to kill a giant spider in Mirkwood. Bilbo finds courage and pride in bearing a sword from the elder days which was made by the elves in the bitter goblin wars and is pleased with the effect that these weapons have on the goblins that see them. Sting returns with Bilbo to the Shire where he lends it to the museum at Mickle Delving.