What do you do when youâre not talking knives?
Outside of knives my main business has to do with horology. I run the worldâs largest watch collecting group, RedBar, with chapters in over 80 cities globally. I'm also a journalist and write for industry publications.
Which ANSĂ knife / knives do you own â and how did it find its way into your hands?
My first Ansø was the venerable Monte Carlo, one of Jens' trademark knives. Next up was the Funk, which appealed to me as one of his earlier, dare I say  âfunkierâ designs, followed by the Shop Built AROS. (Somewhere in between I picked up a GM1 and GM3 from GiantMouse, his former collaboration brand with Jesper Voxnaes and Jim Wirth.)
As for how the Monte Carlo - and subsequent Ansø knives - found their way into my pockets, I was fortunate enough to meet Jens when he was collaborating with Jesper Voxnaes on their 12 Blades project and I resolved there and then to own one of his creations some day.
What made you choose this knife in particular?
As a city dweller I look for items that fit easily in my pockets and, quite frankly, donât scare the bejesus out of my fellow New Yorkers when I use them in public. In light of this, the Monte Carlo, with its modest dimensions and slim design, is perfect as a daily use item for âurbanâ EDC. Add the fact that it's a non-locking slip joint, and you have the ideal city knife. The version I have is from a limited run of twelve pieces that feature blue anodizing and a laser-engraved wave pattern reminiscent of Katsushika Hokusaiâs famous print, âGreat Wave off Kanagawaâ, which makes it just that much more special to me.
My second Ansø, the Funk, was a gift from a friend. As one of his earlier models, it's a bit more âout thereâ in terms of design, yet it remains an ergonomic delight. And while its blade may seem a bit unwieldy with its extreme recurve and generous belly, its a dream to use for pretty much any cutting task you can imagine. That said, it's a bit larger and heavier than I like for daily carry, so it mainly sees use when Iâm up at my country house where the tasks at hand are more than cutting cardboard and opening envelopes.
My third Ansø is the AROS, which is the first folder from his new Shop Built initiative, and the knife that I carry the most these days. It fits all the criteria that I prize for daily carry here on the mean streets of New York, and aesthetically it's 100% up my alley â sleek, clean, and purposeful with nary a wasted line or unnecessary filigree. Unlike my Monte Carlo, itâs a button-lock with a flip tab, so one-handed operation is a breeze, yet in spite of this it remains relatively non-threatening when used in public. And though it's the first knife of Jens in my collection that isnât a full custom, its fit and finish are absolutely beyond reproach â the term âjewel-likeâ springs to mind here. Oh, and the best part? Thanks to its ingenious construction, that features an internal chassis, the scales can be swapped out at will, which completely changes the look of the knife. Even though I ordered it with carbon fiber scales I currently have a clear Lexan scale and an orange G10 scale installed on opposite sides, which allows me to view the titanium chassis while maintaining decent visibility in the event that I misplace the knife in a dark space. (Iâm praying that Jens produces some more titanium scales, so I can complete my collection.)
What has surprised you most about owning an ANSĂ knife?
I canât say that anything has really surprised me about my Ansø knives. I expected superior fit and finish, exemplary ergonomics, and hair-popping sharpness out of the box, and thatâs exactly what I got each and every time.
That said, at risk of sounding like a broken record, I remain in awe of just how much I love my AROS. (Yes, it's really that good.)
Your go-to EDC â knives, lights, pens, watches, notebooks, tools, or that one odd item you canât be without?
In addition to a knife I pretty much always carry a small flashlight and a pen. Sometimes I add a notebook or small fidget toy to the mix, but regardless it all has to be able to fit in my pockets. Oh, and I never, ever leave the house without a proper watch on.
Do you have an EDC tip or habit you think more people should know about? From maintenance tricks to carry philosophy.
I firmly believe that the best tools are the ones that you carry, so give careful thought to what your use cases are and choose accordingly. And donât be afraid to use your shit, so to speak: a knife is made to cut, so go ahead and cut with it. If the blade gets dull, sharpen it. If the scales get scratched, good - now itâs yours.
When youâre not thinking about knives â whatâs your other obsession?
My main passion is horology in all its forms. To be honest, I canât remember a time that I wasnât fascinated by timekeeping and the art of watchmaking. Watches â mechanical, quartz, analog, digital, modern, vintage â it doesnât matter, I love âem all. Same goes for pocket watches and clocks.
