Query about a peculiar LOTR collectible item

[Silverblade The Ench]

I bought an odd Lord of the Rings item off EBay, and wonder if anyone has a clue about it's origin?

It's a version of STING, Frodo's sword. Now, I didn't want the usual crappola ones out there, and by acccident I found this...

Rare! Lord of The Rings Sword - Sting - Frodo - Vintage on eBay, also, Lord of the Rings Tolkien, Fantasy Myth Magic, Collectables (end time 08-Sep-08 21:46:58 BST)

Very large pic of it:
http://xs231.xs.to/xs231/08362/dscf3161469.jpg

As you can see, it's not a copy of the Peter Jackson film sword.
The end 1/3rd of he blade i smuch broader, and it has dwarven runes in a straight line, not an elvish engraving.

This is the seller's blurb:

"This is Frodo's and Bilbo's Sword "Sting" from J.R.R. Tolkien's Novels The Hobbit and The Lord of The Rings Trilogy. It follows the description of the sword given in the novels.
Please note this is NOT a mass produced replica of a movie prop, as it was made prior to the Lord of the Rings Movies.
I believe this sword to be unique as I have not seen any others like it.

The sword has a wooden hilt, decorated gold, with a metal pommel at the base. The cross guard has a circular decorative design, as can be seen in the photos. The blade is leaf shaped with a double edge, a central ridge running down its belly, and a fuller close to the hilt. Running down the blade is a set of 17 runes corresponding to several of Tolkien's original illustrations and designs for The Hobbit.
I believe this sword to be at least 10 years old, as this is how long the previous owner had it for, prior to that it was purchased it from a second hand antiques dealer.

Now, I've never seen one like this, but it could be some copy I've just never saw before. Lots of very nice armour/weapons coming out of India, for example.

The blade is tempered stainless steel and edged (not sharpened though, it IS good stainless steel though, it's not crap alloy or cheap carbon steel).
It's been ground down to give a lovely curved section, which is a lot of work.
Pommel has signs of age, so seller's statement seems logical...but one never knows if one's being conned in such things

I love the sword, as it's really nice. May put it in a display case someday.

Does anyone know anything about it?

I wonder if maybe it was a replica made during early 80's, back when there were many small memorabilia/sword companies on the market?
I was looking thorugh my old Dragon mags before throwing 'em out (sigh) and noting such companies, selling clones of Conan swords etc

 

[EP]

I don't know much about the sword market, but I don't think that is an actual "replica" (and by that, I mean you can't pick it up and actual use it). If it's not sharp, then I highly doubt it has full tang.

A buddy of mine has a couple in his games room. They make for a nice display and add to the atmosphere but it doesn't look like anything really great.

...and the fact that it has dwarven letters down the blade instead of elvish should tell you more than enough too.