Ancient Steel Weapons

This chart compares a dagger of Hittite origin found in King Tutankhamen's tomb with Nephi's description of Laban's sword. The high-quality Middle Eastern sword found in the tomb compares with the description in 1 Nephi surprisingly well. Although not related to each other, these two swords both come from the ancient Near East before Lehi's departure from Jerusalem. Laban's sword, which lasted for thousands of years while the Nephite record keepers safeguarded it and used it ceremonially and in wars from generation to generation (see Words of Mormon 1:13), was reproduced "many" times by the Nephites as they prepared to defend themselves from the Lamanites (see 2 Nephi 5:14).