Next-generation ‘rustproof’ steel, a bulletproof design, and legitimate (literal) chops: The Dicerox Lagertha commands a lot of respect — and a healthy price tag.
It’s not every day that you catch a glimpse of the future. Even rarer are the times when, just for a moment, you feel like you’re on the edge of something great. But when such things take the form of a chunk of high-tech steel bearing the name of a mythical Viking queen — well, you’re in for an interesting time.
For me, this journey started with an email from Dicerox — a small, Swedish knifemaker offering just three products. Its Fenrir axe and Kalina EDC blade piqued my interest, but it was the Lagertha, a full-sized bruiser of a bushcraft knife, that grabbed my attention like a band of raiders.
According to Dicerox, the blade draws its namesake from (the probably fictitious) Lagertha, “shield-maiden and ruler of what is now Norway, and the one-time wife of the famous Viking Ragnar Lodbrok.”
Historically accurate or not, the character of Lagertha is also a mainstay on the hit History Channel show “Vikings.” If the namesake blade is half as tough as her character on TV, I knew I was in for a treat.
In short: The Dicerox Lagertha is a rugged, utilitarian design weighed down by some quality control issues and a heavy price tag. While the knife itself is a blast to use in the field and truly adept in the backcountry, it struggles to live up to the luxury standards commanded by its price point.
Overall, it’s a fun, capable blade that I’d like to see with more affordable materials. The company is experiencing growing pains out of the gate, but it’s certainly worth keeping an eye on.
I put the Lagertha through the paces so you can see if this blade’s pros outweigh its cons. Read on!
Dicerox Lagertha: Review
Out of the Box
![Dicerox Lagertha - out of the box Dicerox Lagertha - out of the box](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/02/Dicerox-Lagertha-out-of-the-box.jpg)
Upon first inspection, the rustic nature of the Lagertha is immediately apparent. At 9.25 inches (235 mm) from stem to stern, the knife weighs in at a respectable 6.24 ounces (177g). The blade itself runs some 4.7 inches in length (119.5 mm), with a spine width of 0.16 inches (4 mm).
A quick trip to the cutting board confirmed that yes, it’s a little wide to be slicing onions. But while food prep may not be its forte, the kitchen holds little danger for the blade.
This is due to the Lagertha’s medium of choice. Dicerox crafted this blade from VANAX steel, a nitrogen-based marvel of technology. When compared to popular steels like M390, VANAX offers superior hardness and wear resistance.
And because of its high nitrogen content, this alloy surpasses the rank of “stainless” and tiptoes into the neighborhood of “rustproof.”
There is a downside, however. Unlike softer steels, users will find VANAX more difficult to sharpen once it finally starts to dull. And where a material like 1095 will warp if pressed beyond its capabilities, harder steels are more likely to shatter outright.
It’s a tradeoff of newer materials versus the old tried-and-true, but for many, the rustproofing alone may seal the deal.
In the Field
![Dicerox Lagertha - testing Dicerox Lagertha - testing](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/02/Dicerox-Lagertha-testing.jpg)
![Dicerox Lagertha - testing Dicerox Lagertha - testing](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/02/Dicerox-Lagertha-testing-2.jpg)
The Problem
![Dicerox Lagertha - sheat Dicerox Lagertha - sheat](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/02/Dicerox-Lagertha-sheat.jpg)
The Maker’s Response
Mixed Conclusions
![Dicerox Lagertha (vanax) Dicerox Lagertha (vanax)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/02/Dicerox-Lagertha-vanax.jpg)