Albion's Type M 'Grendel' Breidox -- myArmoury.com

J. Padgett · Posted: Sat 27 Aug, 2005 2:46 pm Post subject: Albion's Type M 'Grendel' Breidox

http://www.albion-swords.com/axes/grendel.htm

Does anyone have personal experience with one of these bad boys? How long of a haft would you put on something this monstrous? I'm thinking of ordering one to keep my Gotland company as soon as I can scrounge a spare sixty bucks. I'd love to hear impressions from people who have seen, or swung one.

Kenneth Enroth · Posted: Sat 27 Aug, 2005 3:18 pm Post subject:

Has something that size ever been dug up or is it fantasy?

Oversized axe head on a broomstick. Laughing Out Loud

J. Padgett · Posted: Sat 27 Aug, 2005 3:45 pm Post subject:

Holy crap! Eek!

The site says "This "type M" axe can be seen in Oakeshott's The Archeology of Weapons, pages 153-154," but I don't have the book so I have no idea if they are the same size.

Kenneth Enroth · Posted: Sat 27 Aug, 2005 3:50 pm Post subject:

There is a small drawing on page 154 but no measurements or any mention of unusual size.

Alex Oster · Posted: Sat 27 Aug, 2005 5:27 pm Post subject:

Is that one you own in the pic?

Jean Thibodeau · Posted: Sat 27 Aug, 2005 8:02 pm Post subject:

Can't remember which book, but I remember ONE of this size being found: So these are credible historically as well as incredibly big.

I have the next size down that is also called a type M Viking instead of Grendel: The edge of this one is 12" inches wide and it's really heavy ! I can only guess at the weight of the Grendel with an 18" wide cutting edge ( Well I think Albion has it at around 6 pounds. )

The haft does seem a big anemic compared to the axe head, I would want it as stout as possible and still small enough around to hold in the hand? I am curious about how the haft is mounted and the size of eye of the axe: It looks off centre to me ?

With an axe head this huge everything else just looks out of proportion small.

One use I could imagine for this size would be " intimidation ": A Viking rading party sends a guy with one of these in the middle of the night and leaves it wedged into the door of a rich monastary with a note attached asking for
" Danegeld " ( Protection money ). Just a joke but it might be the axe equivalent to the oversized twohanded bearing swords.

George Hill · Posted: Sat 27 Aug, 2005 9:34 pm Post subject:

How's it feel on the end of a haft?

Kenneth Enroth · Posted: Sun 28 Aug, 2005 12:57 am Post subject:

Kenneth Enroth · Posted: Sun 28 Aug, 2005 1:01 am Post subject:

Kenneth Enroth · Posted: Sun 28 Aug, 2005 1:08 am Post subject:

Steve Grisetti · Posted: Sun 28 Aug, 2005 3:38 am Post subject:

Vince Labolito · Posted: Sun 28 Aug, 2005 5:45 am Post subject:

I believe that young man's name is Gregory Liebau. He used to post a great deal over at SFI, and I think I've seen him post here as well. He's from California.

Patrick Kelly · Posted: Sun 28 Aug, 2005 6:27 am Post subject:

Yes, that's Gregory. That's a haft he put on that axe himself, it isn't a stock Albion job.

J. Padgett · Posted: Sun 28 Aug, 2005 8:04 am Post subject:

Reading the dimensions is one thing, but seeing the axe in that picture is quite another. It might cross the line between intimidating, and ridiculous. Big Grin

I don't suppose Gregory ever posted his impressions of the axe? My searches here, and over at SFI came up with nothing.

Patrick Kelly · Posted: Sun 28 Aug, 2005 8:18 am Post subject:

J. Padgett · Posted: Sun 28 Aug, 2005 9:06 am Post subject:

Thanks for the links, Patrick! I did indeed find some posts by Greg, and others about the Grendel over at Axe Forum. It sounds a bit unwieldy to be honest. One of the posters said he broke five hafts with the beast. The regular type M might be more my speed.