Handling
Osse, good point, someone may not even have touched the ring. One could easily slip a new chain through and take out the old chain without touching the ring. However even touching the chain the ring is on I would still consider that as "handling" the ring, not directly but indirectly.
Sam could have gotten an elven chain from Bilbo, possibly. The only reason I dont think it's Elrond or Gandalf is because I would think they would have gone through extreme troubles to noy have anyone (including themselves) handle the ring. I would say this because anyone even "handling" the ring's chain could very well be easily tempted. I just personally believe they were very cautious about situations like these.
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