object
Gramr
Sigurðr's sword, forged by Reginn, with which he killed Fáfnir; dying, he hurled it at his murderer Gotthormr and cut him in two.
Gramr is the sword of Sigurðr. Snorri says Reginn forged it, and that it was so sharp that Sigurðr, holding it in a stream, cut through a tuft of wool carried down onto its edge. Then he split Reginn's anvil to the base with it Skáldskaparmál 40. In Fáfnismál Reginn claims credit for "the weapon ... that once I forged", and Sigurðr answers that a brave heart counts for more than a sharp blade Fáfnismál 27-28. The poem names the sword when Sigurðr wipes Fáfnir's blood from it with grass Fáfnismál 25.
The sword appears three more times:
- In Snorri's account, Sigurðr lays Gramr between himself and Brynhildr on the night he wins her in Gunnarr's shape Skáldskaparmál 41. The poems describe a sword between them without naming it Sigurðarkviða hin skamma 4. The Fragment describes a blade forged with fire and wet with venom Brot af Sigurðarkviðu 20.
- At his death Sigurðr hurls Gram at Gotthormr, who is cut in two at the waist Sigurðarkviða hin skamma 22-23 Skáldskaparmál 41.
- Sigrdrífumál has the valkyrie ask what bit through her mail. Sigurðr answers "Sigurth's sword" Sigrdrífumál 1.
The famous origin story is not in the Eddas. In the later Völsunga saga, Odin thrusts a sword into a tree trunk at a wedding feast and only Sigmundr can draw it. Odin breaks it in Sigmundr's last battle, and Reginn forges Gramr from the pieces. The Eddas say only that Odin once gave Sigmundr a sword Hyndluljóð 2.
In the sources
Quoted from the hosted translations; each line is checked against the text when the site is built. Select a reference to read it in context.
Glad art thou, Sigurth, of battle gained, As Gram with grass thou cleansest
Then Reginn fashioned the sword Gramr, which was so sharp that Sigurdr, bringing it down into running water, cut asunder a flock of wool
At Gotthorm flew the glittering steel Of Gram full hard from the hand of the king.
Where the sources disagree or fall silent
- Whether Gram was the sword Odin gave Sigmundr: Hyndluljóð mentions the gift and Völsunga saga makes the two one sword, but the Eddas never connect them.
- Whether the unnamed sword laid between Sigurðr and Brynhildr was Gram: Snorri says so; the poems do not name it.
In modern culture
Not from the medieval sources.
In Wagner's Ring the sword is called Nothung ('needful'). Siegmund pulls it from the tree, it breaks against Wotan's spear, and Siegfried reforges it himself after Mime fails. In the Norse sources the smith is always Reginn.
