The text survives in fragmentary form in AM 564a 4to ("Pseudo-Vatnshyrna") and in paper copies made by Árni Magnússon of the "Vatnshyrna" manuscript, which was destroyed in the Copenhagen Fire of 1728. Like "Bergbúa þáttr", it is unusual amongst "þættir" for not being preserved as part of the kings' sagas manuscripts "Flateyjarbók" and "Morkinskinna".