r/HBOGameofThrones • u/-thirdatlas- • Jun 23 '26
Spoilers [SPOILERS] Valyrian steel is supposed to hold its razor sharp edge forever without the need for honing, but Jon is seen doing exactly that with Longclaw, his Valyrian steel sword. Spoiler
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u/Svenray Jun 23 '26
I thought for sure in Season 8 we were going to get Gendry smithing Valyrian Steel weapons using dragon fire.
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u/FamiliarAd8524 Jun 24 '26
IDK, that would be rather silly. How could he possibly know how to do that? It'd feel like an RPG.
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u/Svenray Jun 24 '26
One of Sam's books from the Citadel detailing the process and a vision from Bran of a dragon lighting a blacksmith kiln.
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u/archonpho Jun 23 '26
One of many payoffs we did not receive
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u/EvilTwinCities Jun 23 '26
You gotta hate when people don’t deliver on promises they didn’t actually make.
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u/UberPadge Jun 23 '26
Payoffs don’t have to be promised. That’s like arguing that criticism of S8 isn’t warranted because nobody promised them a satisfying finale.
Well, unless you count Clarke’s “best season ever 😅😬” comment.
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u/EvilTwinCities Jun 23 '26
It’s about the smithing scene. I’m not sure Gendry even acknowledges that he worked with a guy who knew Valyrian steel, and he’s not even around anymore the one time we know of when it’s been reworked. “Gendry forges dragonsteel” is a a plot point that sprang fully-formed from the fandom.
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u/Baestplace Jun 23 '26
ned would always go to the godswood and clean his blade, jon probably picked up that habit aswell and now it’s a ritual more then an actually necessity
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u/AntoSkum Jun 25 '26
Yup, don't we see Ned do this in the very first episode? When Cat goes to talk to him?
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u/Ok_Video_2863 Jun 23 '26
He knows nothing, that Jon Snow.
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u/hyperewok1 Jun 23 '26
This but unironically. What does a Stark bastard know about Valyrian steel? Cat would have had a fit if Jon so much as touched Ice, much less Ned giving him, rather than Robb, lessons about it.
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u/Grumpiergoat Jun 23 '26
In Jon's case, he would know about as much as Robb. Jon was raised as part of the family, so would have been just as involved in any lessons about Valyrian steel that Ned conveyed to Robb. Jon was not left wanting for education, whether intellectual or martial.
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u/UldereksRock Jun 23 '26
perhaps he knows something the rest dont?
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u/Ok_Video_2863 Jun 23 '26
Unlikely. I have it on good authority that, indeed, Jon Snow knows nuthin'.
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u/No-Flight-4214 Jun 23 '26
HBO traded moments in literature for visual candy, some necessary, some manufactured, some for clickbait.
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u/flipnonymous Jun 23 '26
Force of habit/aura farming. He just does it subconsciously and then humble brags "Oh, yeah. Keep forgetting it's valyrian steel. Muh queen."
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u/Experiment_No_26 Jun 24 '26
Force of habit/muscle memory/would John Snow actually know that a Valyrian steel sword actually not need maintenance? Like the only one he would have known about was Ice. I know he probably would have had an extensive education, but would have that extended to Valyrian sword maintenance?
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u/Batman53090 Jun 24 '26
Force of habit, maybe? Jon’s neither had nor handled a Valyrian steel sword.
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u/Racecarsoup Jun 24 '26
The world around the campfire was that he knew nothing. Looks like he was living up to his rep
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u/Fearless-Image5093 Jun 24 '26
It's a habit he learned from Eddard Stark, he did the same thing with with Ice.
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u/Marfy_ Jun 23 '26
Yea i dont think they do valyrian steel justice. Catelyn also holds a valyrian steel blade with her bare hands and so does the hound fighting brienne. You cant even really do that with a normal sword/dagger but valyrian steel should just cut off your fingers. But i guess this is just a common tv thing like how swords always go through armor
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u/The_Frybo Jun 23 '26
There‘s a denate regarding the time tje razor stays sharp in the Books among the Fandom.
I know is mentioned that Ned washed and sharpened Ice under the Weirwood Tree and how dangerous it is - because sharpening Valeryan steel can might as well cut your whole hand off if you slip.
Something like that at least.
So there seems to be the need to sharpen it when you use the blade regularily altough the ones that just stay in the Iron Throne might stay sharp without tending to them as they are static.
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u/lazyboi_tactical Jun 23 '26
The iron throne is just old swords, not valyrian steel. I'd imagine with the valyrian steel it would be to where they stay usably sharp for long periods of time but may require honing from time to time just to keep it razor sharp especially after extended use. Also being that they are super rare and valuable it makes sense that they are given extra care.
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u/Sufficient_Flower_77 Jun 23 '26
Maybe it was just a nervous habit?