By all accounts, the Viking warrior didn't fear much besides an empty mead horn and death in bed, rather than in battle.

But there was one thing sure to make a Norseman soil his drawers -- the Kraken. The old ones told tales of a monstrous beast that rose up from the inky depths of the Greenland Sea to molest the largest of whales and ships. Once within the tentacled grasp of this creature, there was no escaping its hull-piercing beak and a grave at the bottom of a shallow sea.

Named in honor of one of the few things that haunted a Berserker's boozy dreams , we present our rendition of the bearded Norse war ax. Four pounds in mass and 27 inches in length, the Kraken is a stout fighting ax that bites with both bit and butt. The bit has a 7.75-inch edge coming off a standard "sabre grind" bevel, while the butt sports a 2.5-inch spike with a "scandi grind", less sharp but much more durable, suitable for situations requiring more piercing power and leveraged stress.

To protect you from the Kraken's bite when not in use, the ax comes with a two-part black Kydex sheath bound by a length of shock-cord. Just pull the rear spike sheath back like you're pulling back a sling-shot and you have--yes!--released the Kraken.

The Kraken is made with 80CRV2 steel with aluminum slab handles wrapped in black leather. Comes with black Kydex sheath.

• Total Length: 27 in (.69m)
• Head Width: 9.25 in (.23m)
• Edge Length: 7.75 in (.2m)
• Steel Thickness: .205 in (5.2mm)
• Weight: 4lb (1.81kg)
• Release Date: December 2014