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After all Mahtan was a smith, and apparently devoid of any (conscious) evil intent, yet he it was who taught smithying to Feanor, especially the tempering of steel. It strikes me that the /idea/ of a sword isn't that great a reach*; it's the metallurgy required to make a decent one; and this Mahtan or other Noldor (advised by Aule) could well have developed out of sheer techno-curiosity, or endeavoring to produce better wood-axes, kitchen knives, and hunting weapons.
* The Aztecs had them, if you count a series of obsidian blades embedded in a stick as a 'sword.'
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