Three of the most famous swords that Tolkien writes of are Glamdring, Anglachel/Gurthang, and Narsil/Anduril. Now due to the fact that the Lord of the Rings is the most widely read of all Tolkien's works, Anduril is the most famous of the swords, although Glamdring is the only sword in all Tolkien's tales. It is the sword of Turgon in Gondolin in The Silmarillion, Gandalf finds it and claims it in The Hobbit, and again he wields it in The Lord of the Rings. Anglachel/Gurthang was the sword first of Beleg Strongbow and then of Turin Turambar in The Silmarillion. I wonder which of these swords, in the legends of Tolkien (not according to what CASUAL Rings fans, meaning JUST movies would think) is the most famous, the most feared, and the most powerful.

Each sword was forged in the first age of the world. Anglachel was one of two swords forged from a piece of meteorite that fell from the sky by Eol, the Dark Elf of Nan Elmoth. He bore the other one, and Anglachel he gave to Thingol, king of Doriath. Thingol gave it to Beleg, as Beleg sought for Turin and Turin accidentally killed Beleg with it when he mistook him for an Orc, while Beleg tried to rescue him. While Beleg was a mighty Elf to bear the sword, Turin was the mightier. He used the sword to great fame, re-naming it Gurthang, Iron of Death. It broke with the end of Turin.

The dwarf Telchar of Nogrod forged Narsil (among other things, including Angrist, the knife Beren used to take a Silmaril from Morgoth's crown) during the mid to later first age. Narsil isn't really mentioned until the return of Elendil the Tall from the ruin of Numenor, and the war of the Last Alliance against Sauron at the end of the Second Age. After that battle it was broken until it was reforged for Aragorn as Anduril at the end of the Third Age. Both Elendil and Aragorn were mighty Kings of men, most worthy to use the sword of Kings against Sauron's forces (and in Elendil's case, against Sauron himself). During the Third Age, few were mightier or more valiant than they were.

Glamdring was forged during the first age in Gondolin, for the use of Turgon, King of Gondolin (perhaps forged by Turgon himself). Turgon used the mighty sword until the sack of Gondolin where it passed out of knowledge until the Quest of Bilbo and the Dwarves when it was recovered in the late third Age and wielded by Gandalf. Gandalf used it through the War of the Ring and he bore it with him into the West. Few have ever been more valiant or mighty than Turgon and Gandalf, great noble warriors against the shadow of Morgoth first, and then Sauron later

I would say that the greatest sword would have to be Glamdring. It is the only sword of those three to have been used in wars against both Dark Lords, Morgoth and Sauron. It was used by Turgon who was at one time the High King of the Noldor (and always King of Gondolin) and then later by Gandalf the White, bearer of the Red Ring of Fire. Although Beleg, Turin, Elendil, and Aragorn were some of the strongest and greatest of the Children of Iluvatar to ever grace Middle-earth. However, Turgon was a King of the Noldor, and unlike any of the others, he dwelt in the Blessed Realm (he was born there). Gandalf, being a Maiar, was a more powerful being than either Elves or Men. He was the wisest and most powerful of any that bore any of these swords.

So although many would think Narsil/Anduril to be the greatest, since it was the most famous of all of Tolkien's swords among his readers. Those that have read or seen ONLY The Lord of the Rings will know it best, and will know Glamdring, but it will seem of less import than Anduril, which is very important even to the story. I think Glamdring was the most renowned sword, because Turgon must have wielded it so fiercely in the Nirnaeth Arnoiedad, and at the Sack of Gondolin that when Gandalf found it, it was STILL remembered by orcs, and feared by them. Not only that, it glowed. So I think the swords are ranked in terms of import and fame THROUGH Tolkien's universe as; Glamdring, Narsil/Anduril, Anglachel/Gurthang. For all the mighty of Turin, Gurthang is the sword of least import among these great three (Although it is more important than perhaps every other sword in the history of Middle-earth) because although it slayed Glaurung, it also did Morgoth's bidding for him, claiming the lives of Beleg, Brandir, and eventually Turin himself.

The fault of Anduril was the fact that it was used against Sauron only. And wielded only by men, although they were incredibly valiant, they could not match Turin, Turgon, or Gandalf (PERHAPS, they could best Beleg, but Beleg was mighty himself, as well). In the end, the mightiest sword in all of Tolkien's tales was Glamdring, and if I could have any sword it would be that one. I mean, it glowed with a pale light, which is incredible. (But of course, the other swords are still amazing, and I consider them the three most amazing swords ever. Far greater than Excalibur).