In Norse mythology’s Ragnarok, what does Vidar use to force open Fenrir’s jaws?

In Norse mythology’s Ragnarok, Vidar uses his special shoe to force open Fenrir’s jaws.

The shoe is one of the most distinctive details in the account of Ragnarok. After Fenrir swallows Odin, Vidar steps onto the wolf’s lower jaw and grips the upper jaw, then tears the mouth apart. The shoe gives him the firm footing needed for this extraordinary act.

Mythic descriptions call it an iron or specially strengthened shoe. They also associate its construction with discarded leather scraps from shoemakers’ work. This detail helped create a traditional explanation for why scraps cut from the toes and heels of shoes should be saved.

The shoe is not Thor’s hammer, and it is not presented as a conventional weapon. Vidar’s victory comes from his supernatural strength, his equipment, and his role as Odin’s avenger. Fenrir’s death follows Odin’s death, but Vidar’s action does not occur before the final battle.