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

I am a pretty ordinary guy. I have been married to my beautiful wife for 27 years with two great kids. I have a daughter who is about to graduate college this semester, and a son that is in middle school. My daughter enjoys academics and my son is all about sports and the outdoors. I am not a knife collector. I buy what I like and use. I do buy, sell, and trade often though because I like to try new things. Most I know I won’t keep long-term but enjoy the hobby and trying new things. Trying new things helps you to find out what you really like and what works for your needs.

Which ANSØ knife do you own – and how did it find its way into your hands?

I have owned a few ANSØ designs but currently am fixated on AROS and ARN. I am a huge fan of small folders and both of these hit the sweet spot for me. The AROS was my first ANSØ design and I have owned a few to date. The ARN was an afterthought at BLADE in Atlanta this year as I was at the table fixated on a Lexan AROS. I had been wanting that particular AROS since it was first announced and after picking one up Jens showed me the new ARN. I hadn’t really considered purchasing one if I’m being honest but was blown away by the design, the size, and the modularity of it. I had to have it. To my regret I completely forgot to check out the TOKO while at the table but my wallet is grateful as I would have probably purchased it in addition to AROS and ARN.

What made you choose this knife in particular?

The two ANSØ designs I carry the most often are ARN I picked up at BLADE and an AROS I purchased from Jens that was his personal carry. Long story there but I’ll make it brief. The very first ANSØ I purchased was an Ultem AROS. I got it from a friend who had purchased it out of Jens' pocket at NYCK show. Jens had sold out of the AROS on his table but sold my friend the one in his pocket. He passed it along knowing I would love it based on my taste in knives. I regrettably sold it a few months later and instantly regretted it. I told Jens that story at BLADE when I was purchasing the Lexan AROS and the ARN. Jens reached out soon after and offered to sell me the exact same knife he had replaced the one from the NYCK show with when he returned to Denmark. I understand it was his personal carry for most of that year. The Ultem is such a cool and unique material. I love it. It’s different from the usual materials and looks great. I also love the texture. The ARN I chose at BLADE just spoke to me – Cuprum Ti with jade inlays and Damasteel. It’s gorgeous and an ideal gentleman’s carry. Even better it was an artist’s proof stamped PROTO on the chassy and the Damasteel is mismarked as RWL-34.

What has surprised you most about owning an ANSØ knife?

One of the things that I love about ANSØ knives is the thought behind the designs and Jens' philosophy behind every day carry. I have really connected to the brand through Jens videos stating the idea behind his choice of steel and overall design is to be user friendly. The RWL-34 is easy to sharpen but really holds an edge well. The modularity of the AROS and ARN lines in particular makes them so fun to explore options available for inlays, scale, materials, and colors to find the perfect pairing for you without having to purchase another complete knife.

What else do you carry every day?

I try not to carry more than I actually use throughout the day. Aside from a watch, phone, keys, lip balm, and wallet I usually carry a folder, a small flashlight, and a small pen. On occasion I throw in a handkerchief and a small notepad but those are more depending on the tasks for the day. I have never gotten into carrying fidget toys or a zippo (non-smoker) or other trendy things guys load their pockets up with. More power to them, but I prefer to not be weighted down with items I don’t actually use.

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

I think everyone needs to know how to sharpen their own EDC blades. Maintenance is important but all too often folks seem hesitant to do it themselves. I clean and sharpen when needed but not to the point of overdoing it. If it needs it, it needs it. If not, leave it alone and carry on.

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

When I’m not talking about knives I enjoy traveling with the family, attending live music events, watching sports, and fishing. My latest obsession is hunting. I have hunted deer, ducks, dove, quail, chukar, and I have an upcoming pheasant hunt that I am really looking forward to.