Who delivered the final blow?

[Farael]

Originally Posted by The 1,000 Reader

I just think Sauron was already dead. I mean, if he was shot in the head through and through by an archer, he wouldn't be walking around fighting.

Can't really recall that ever happening... did I miss something or was that just an example?

Besides, if Sauron wasn't already dead, why would Isildur use the hilt-shard of Narsil? There is no mention of his own blade breaking, and if it did, surely he would have used his own sword. If Sauron was still alive, wouldn't it make sence for him(Isildur) to stab Sauron and kill him first? This is just my reasoning.

You forget that Swords themselves could be more or less powerful, not only their wielder. Narsil was a great sword and perhaps Isidur used Narsil (even if broken) because he believed it would help him better than his own sword. Besides, as I have already argued three times, he did not need to be dead to be incapacitated!! Perhaps he was knocked out, all woozy and dizzy which allowed Isidur to chop his finger off but he could have had recovered. What finished him off (i.e. Final blow) was the chopping of his ring finger.