What do you do when you’re not talking knives?

I'm a 3D computer graphics artist in the video game industry. In my free time I've been enjoying the outdoors, whether it's in my backyard garden or exploring the Pacific Northwest, where I live.

Which ANSØ knife do you own – and how did it find its way into your hands? And what made you choose this knife in particular?

I have the TOKO Mudtrack Exoframe in the Amber finish. I was already keenly interested in the regular TOKO after watching YouTube videos covering it with high praise. I'd also watched all of Jens' videos about its creation, and I came away deeply impressed with his extreme attention to detail and thoughtfulness behind every aspect of its design, no matter how small or discreet. So when the Mudtrack Exoframe was unveiled, the striking appearance of this lighter, skeletonized version sealed the deal for me.

What has surprised you most about owning an ANSØ knife?

The light weight, especially considering its all-metal construction, was the most surprising thing about the knife. Seeing the weight as a number on screen and experiencing it in the hand are two very different things. Another surprise—looking into the Mudtrack holes, I didn't expect to see how thick the titanium handle is down the middle. 

What else do you carry every day?

As much as I admire the art of knives, dare I say they've never been part of my EDC. Maybe it would be different if I lived in the countryside, but as a city dweller my entire life, I seldom have had use for one when stepping out of the house. I know many knife enthusiasts carry them simply for the enjoyment of carrying for its own sake, but I'd just rather not. My EDC needs are boringly simple—smartphone, slim wallet, watch (fitness or mechanical), and a belt key hook.

Do you have an EDC tip or habit you think more people should know about?

A belt key hook is perhaps an underrated item for EDC. I think one of the reasons why I'm an EDC minimalist is that I don't like to cram my pockets with stuff. Case in point—key fobs. They're not that large but are relatively thick, and I never cared for the way they feel in the pocket, especially along with other keys. So it was quite the revelation when I decided one day to clip them onto a key hook and carry them outside the pocket. A game changer may be too strong a term, but it was certainly liberating! Funnily enough, I bought my key hook just for its looks, later to discover how handy it actually is. It's a raw brass hook made by Taylor Stitch (limited production and currently discontinued).

When you’re not thinking about knives – what’s your other obsession?

My other interests include photography, piano, watches, boots, gardening, antiquing, video games, and hiking, which I tend to cycle through rather than pursue at the same time. My current obsession has been gardening. Homegrown vegetables are wonderful, but I mostly grow plants for their beauty. It's impossible to pick favorites, but some plants that I would never want to be without are my Japanese maples, quaking aspens, alliums, dahlias, voodoo lilies (a much smaller cousin to the giant corpse flower seen in botanical gardens), and poppies. I love getting into the weeds (pun intended!) and learning as much as I can about providing the best growing conditions to make my plants thrive. I'm not always successful, but the learning process is rewarding.