Board Thread:Suggestions forum/@comment-34241117-20180325210030/@comment-33185350-20180326135946

I think the blades would affect the Nazgul, but the Nazgul wouldn’t flee from them. The Nazgul are the highest form of evil after Sauron, but the Barrow-blades were forged with the skill of Númenor and the book clearly explains the wound dealt by Merry’s blade:

“So passed the sword of the Barrow-downs, work of Westernesse. But glad would he have been to know its fate who wrought it slowly long ago in the North-kingdom when the Dúnedain were young, and chief among their foes was the dread realm of Angmar and its sorcerer king. No other blade, not though mightier hands had wielded it, would have dealt that foe a wound so bitter, cleaving the undead flesh, breaking the spell that knit his unseen sinews to his will.” - The Return of the King

Though I will say this is clearly a special blade, so blades capable of damaging Nazgul should be much rarer than the current wightbane blades. Perhaps a different enchantment?

Tom Bombadil is not a deus ex machina and neither are the Barrow-blades. Tom Bombadil is just a peculiar personality who dwells in the Old Forest, and happens to be friendly to the hobbits. He saves them from Old Man Willow because he has some sort of dominion over the forest. His purpose is to aid the hobbits, give them a much-needed break on their quest, and teach them about Middle-earth. He’s just a mysteriously powerful character; Tolkien decided to not explain who or what he was because some things should remain mysteries in worlds such as his.

As for the Barrow-blades, it’s the typical adventuring storyline we also see in Thee Hobbit - soon after setting out, they come across treasure (Barrow or Troll-hoard). This is their first reward after facing one of their first small challenges (Trolls or Wights) and they get weapons that will be useful later on (Sting or the Barrow-blades). These weapons are special because they are old and their special properties will be useful as the adventure continues (Sting slaying spiders and glowing when Orcs are near, Barrow-blades damaging wraiths). There’s nothing forced or unbelievable about that, they just end up acquiring weapons that will aid them in their quest.

It actually gives Middle-earth more depth to give the blades a history - how Sting was forged in Gondolin when the nearby Mountains of Terror were crawling with spiders, and the Barrow-blades were forged in Arnor when Angmar was a pressing threat. The special properties hearken back to the times when the blades were made and reveal something about the past of Middle-earth rather than seeming a forced excuse to resolve the ending.