Weapon Light Generation

[Rath the Brown]

From the SRD...(emphasis mine)

Light Generation: Fully 30% of magic weapons shed light equivalent to a light spell (bright light in a 20-foot radius, shadowy light in a 40-foot radius). These glowing weapons are quite obviously magical. Such a weapon can’t be concealed when drawn, nor can its light be shut off. Some of the specific weapons detailed below always or never glow, as defined in their descriptions.

The highlighted portion leads me to believe that the weapon glows all the time, whether someone is holding one or not. These glowing weapons are quite obviously magical. If you see a glowing sword lying on the dungeon floor, you know it's magical.

Such a weapon can’t be concealed when drawn, nor can its light be shut off. This statement also confirms that the weapon glows continuously, because the light can not be turned off. The "can't be concealed when drawn" leads me to believe that the only way to conceal the weapon is to cover it, such as having a sword in its sheath or in a sack. You are not going to want to have anything hampering your weapon when you are using it, so you will not have any kind of covering on it when you have drawn it for battle.

 

[sdt]

Thanks for your response Rath, it was the Such a weapon can’t be concealed when drawn that made me think they glow only when drawn.

 

[Pagan priest]

Paint it!

 

[Rath the Brown]

Thanks for your response Rath,...

You're welcome.