Jens Ansø to focus efforts on his personal brand, Ansø of Denmark.
It’s an end of an era.
After nearly a decade of collaboration, GiantMouse Knives and Jens Ansø are parting way. As of 2025, Ansø will step back from GiantMouse to focus on growing his personal brand, Ansø of Denmark.
The designer has been a cornerstone of GiantMouse since its founding in 2015. Alongside fellow Danish designer Jesper Voxnaes (Vox) and American entrepreneur Jim Wirth, Ansø co-founded the brand with a mission to create exceptional knives that combine innovative design, premium quality, and fair pricing. His contributions to GiantMouse, particularly his collaborative designs with Voxnaes, have shaped the brand’s identity and earned it a loyal following in the knife-making community.
“This is a natural evolution that allows both GiantMouse and Jens to focus entirely on growing our respective brands, and we’re all excited about what’s ahead,” said Jim Wirth, CEO of GiantMouse, in a press release. “We’re grateful for everything Jens has brought to GiantMouse over the past nine years. As we move forward, Jesper and I are focused on shaping the future of GiantMouse, while Jens will be able to dedicate himself fully to Ansø of Denmark. We’re confident this step will allow both brands to expand in new ways and achieve the unique goals we each hold for our respective visions.”
Jim Wirth, left, a businessman and angel investor, suggested that Danish designers Jesper Voxnaes, middle, and Jens Anso, right, start a new company to produce knives they collaborate on, sharing in profits rather than receiving a royalty percentage.
Ansø expressed similar sentiments, reflecting on his time with the company.
“Co-founding GiantMouse with Jim and Jesper, and collaborating with Jesper on knife designs has been an amazing experience,” he said. “I’m very proud of what we’ve built together over the years. GiantMouse has become a brand that represents quality, innovation, and a strong connection with its community, and I’m honored to have been part of its journey.”
To honor Ansø’s legacy, GiantMouse will continue to credit products co-designed by Voxnaes and Ansø with the “designed by Vox/Ansø” designation in their product descriptions. This decision underscores the importance of their collaborative work and the lasting impact Ansø has had on the company’s success.
“We’re proud of what we’ve built together and can’t wait to see what the future holds for both brands,” Wirth added. “This isn’t goodbye—it’s simply the next step forward for all of us.”
With a career spanning over three decades, Ansø has built a legacy of innovative knife designs influenced by his background in industrial design, his love for craftsmanship, and his dedication to learning through trial and error. His passion for the craft and commitment to excellence continue to inspire the knife-making community worldwide.
With a hybrid lock system and a unique aesthetic, Aaron’s Blacksmith Automatic Folder cuts a distinctive profile.
Matt Aaron got the idea for his Blacksmith’s Automatic Folder when he took a friction folder class taught by ABS master smith Nick Rossi.
Matt’s original intent was how to get a more complicated knife with a similar number of parts as a friction folder. He mulled it over with Rossi and others for two or three years and, inspired by Nick and his taco-style friction folder construction approach, arrived at the Blacksmith’s Auto.
The lock is a hybridization of a lockback auto mixed with a little bit of bolster release auto and some of Matt’s own design. The brass lever operates the opening, closing and locking mechanism. The knob at the pivot is not a push button but simply the pivot.
Matt Aaron
Matt forged, folded and cut the lock spring and launch spring out of the initial single, eighth-inch flat piece of mild steel that served as the base for the Rossi taco construction style. The latest batch Aaron’s doing is commercially pure titanium.
Blacksmith’s Automatic Folder Specs Maker: Matt Aaron Blade length: 3” Blade material: 52100 carbon steel Handle: Forged mild steel w/brass lever Pocket clip: Tapered scroll in a blacksmithing ironwork style Closed length: 4” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $500
What the best way to bid adieu to the old year and ring in the new? New knife drops, of course!
The year is almost over, but knife debuts are just heating up. We found a slew of production and custom knives dropped to finish 2024 or slated for release in early 2025. Any way you cut it, these blades are more than enough to get you drooling!
Model: EDC fixed blade Blade length: 3” Blade steel: 440C stainless Rockwell hardness: 59 HRC Blade grind: The “Davis Grind” by the maker Handle material: Black Micarta® w/black and white Micarta spacers Handle pins: 1/16” 440C Overall length: 7” Sheath: Pouch type of tooled leather and rattlesnake inlay Maker’s price for a similar knife and sheath: $400 Knife to know: Matt Davis is an ABS journeyman smith Maker: Matt Davis, daviswacoknives.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Adam Gray Micro Bushcrafter
Model: Micro Bushcrafter Blade length: 2.5” Blade steel: CPM 154 stainless Blade grind: Convex saber, what Adam Gray calls sabervex Handle material: Wenge w/yellow G-10 liners Overall length: 5.5” Sheath: By Badgerclaw Outfitters Maker’s price for a similar knife and sheath: $305 Maker: Adam Gray, aaforge.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Bear & Son Cutlery D2 Rancher Sideliner
Model name: D2 Rancher Sideliner Knife type: Flipper folder Blade length: 3 3/8” Blade material: D2 tool steel Blade grind: Flat Handle material: India Stag Bone (also in G-10, cocobolo or titanium) Lock: Linerlock Pocket clip: Deep carry Weight: 3 ozs. Closed length: 4.25” Knife to know: Torx screw construction Country of origin: USA MSRP: $95.99-$125.49 Company: Bear & Son Cutlery, bearandsoncutlery.com
RMJ Tactical BUB (Back Up Blade)
Model name: BUB (Back Up Blade) Knife type: EDC push dagger Blade length: 2.5” Blade steel: Nitro-V stainless Rockwell hardness: 58-60 HRC Blade @thickest: .135” Blade finish: Tungsten Cerakote® Handle: G-10 (in three color options) w/Grade 5 titanium fasteners Weight: 3.1 ozs. Overall length: 4 13/16” Sheath: Kydex w/1.5” belt clip Knife to know: The scales remove to expose a skeletal handle Country of origin: USA MSRP: $185 Company: RMJ Tactical, Dept. BL1, rmjtactical.com
James Ingram Linerlock Folder
Knife type: Linerlock folder Blade length: 3” Blade steel: Feather damascus Blade grind: Flat Blade pattern: Harpoon Handle: Mammoth ivory w/titanium liners Frame: Engraved stainless steel Bolster: Stainless Closed length: 4 5/16” Maker’s price for a similar knife: In the $1,500 range Maker: James Ingram
Bobby House Swell-End ack
Pattern: Swell-end jack Knife type: Slipjoint Blade length: 2 5/8” Blade material: Ladder pattern damascus Blade grind: Hollow Blade pattern: Spear point w/long-pull nail nick Backspring material: CPM 154 stainless steel Handle material: Cracked mammoth ivory w/polished acorn shield Bolster: 416 stainless steel Liners: 410 stainless, jewel relieved and soda blasted Approximate closed length: 3 5/8” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,650 Maker: Bobby House
Knife name: Bromen Knife type: Flipper folder Blade length: 3.13” Blade material: Mosaic damascus of 1080 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels Blade grind: Flat Handle material: Emerald paper Micarta® Pocket clip: Yes Closed length: 4.39” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $3,500 Knife to know: The knife is also available in a more subdued mosaic damascus blade and a butterscotch paper Micarta® handle by Lucas Gumbiner Maker’s contact information: Will Stelter/Lucas Gumbiner, willstelterbladesmith.com (SharpByCoop image)
Bob Merz Lockback Folder
Knife type: Lockback folder Blade length: 2.5” Blade steel: CPM 154 stainless Blade grind: Flat Handle material: Mother-of-pearl Bolsters: 416 stainless w/24k-gold-inlaid scroll engraving by Wes Griffin Closed length: 3.5” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $2,300 Maker: Bob Merz, bobmerzknives.com (Jocelyn Fraiser image)
Brian Milinski Folder
Knife type: Folder Blade length: 2.75” Blade material: Damascus of Swedish and German stainless steels Handle material: Mammoth tusk w/anodized and jeweled titanium liners Bolster: Stainless steel scroll engraved by Tyler Poor Thumbstud: Damascus w/mammoth inlay Maker’s price for a similar knife: Contact maker for pricing Knife to know: Brian Milinski is an ABS apprentice smith Maker: Brian Milinski, mrknives.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)
On election eve, BLADE Show West fetes its cutlery constituents.
With a presidential election looming and parts of the USA still in a state of shock after the natural disasters of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, it was a BLADE Show West unlike any other. However, knife people are a hearty lot and many turned out to enjoy the knives and cutlery camaraderie this past October at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“The environment was good as usual, with lots of excitement,” wrote Jonathan McNees of McNees Knives.
Bladesmith Will Stelter displays his two-handed sword with a wildly undulating blade of mosaic damascus, and Francesca Ritchie holds the scabbard she made of deer hide overlaid with rayskin and hand-dyed American alligator. Francesca carved and underlaid the inside of the scabbard to form fit the curvature of the blade, the imprint of the latter you can see on the outside of the scabbard.
Eddie Johnson of CobraTec echoed Jonathan’s assessment. “As always, the environment was enthusiastic and filled with excitement to see and hold new merchandise,” he commented. “There is nothing like holding that knife you have seen pictures and videos of.”
There were custom and factory knife awards galore, the show’s popular “Let The Pros Critique Your Knife” seminar, the West Coast Flipping Championships conducted by Squid Industries, and much more.
As for those all-important knife and knife accessory sales, it was like most shows: some exhibitors did well, some didn’t and some did OK.
Families were a big part of the show.
“It was a great show,” Pro-Tech headman Dave Wattenberg exclaimed. “We did sell most everything that we brought, strong sales to both retail customers and dealers who attended. It’s very important to have both and this show did work well for retail and dealer dynamics.”
The Pro-Tech models that sold well were a mix.
“New models always do well—the Chaves collaboration did very well,” Dave noted. “Some oldie but goodie models—Godfathers, etc.—also did very well. Our TR-3 Integrity manual folder was a hot ticket for sure.
“We built an amazing group of show specials; they also did very well. It’s important to make some special pieces for the show, not just offer the same thing customers can buy anytime.”
Bladesmith Seth Lopez examines a show patron’s knife while custom knifemaker Shane Magnussen (left) and (from right) maker Jared Oeser and bladesmith Will Stelter look on in the popular show seminar, “Let The Pros Critique Your Knife.”
John Cammenga of another factory cutlery company, White River Knife & Tool, also was pleased with sales.
“We had a very good show,” he remarked. “We had great sales and a dealer took everything we didn’t sell. It’s nice to go home sold out!”
Ernest Emerson of Emerson Knives, Inc., was another who said it was a great show.
“We sold out, with the first day rivaling the BLADE Show in Atlanta,” he opined. Jonathan McNees said his company had a “really good show. We didn’t quite sell out but we brought a lot of knives, so I didn’t expect to. Our folders sold best, but again, that’s to be expected with our customer base.”
While CobraTec sold well, sales were off about 30 percent from their show average over the previous two years.
Gavin Hawk (center, behind the table) makes another sale at the Hawk Knife Designs booth.
“Everyone was concerned over the current economy and its uncertainty with the election approaching,” Eddie Johnson wrote. Nonetheless, he said several CobraTec knives were “good movers, from the Enforcer OTF to the Raptor to the OTF Utility Knife to our Koonsman fixed blade.”
Custom maker Tobin Hill agreed with Johnson’s economy/election observation.
“Talking with other exhibitors, the general consensus was tighter pocketbooks due to economy worries and pre-election jitters,” he wrote. Tobin brought eight knives and sold three—two of his Hill Locks with the rear bolster release and a lockback whittler.
Who Attended BLADE Show West
Like show sales, attendees ran the gamut, from young and old, novice to sophisticated buyers and more.
The top three finishers in the West Coast Flipping Championships celebrate, front row from left: Madi “oximityy” Thomas (3rd), Banks “banksqro” Tracy (1st), and Max “balisongnerd” Wenham (2nd).
“The crowd seemed like a bigger percentage of experienced buyers versus the BLADE Show in Atlanta and BLADE Show Texas,” McNees observed. “We really enjoyed the local crowd. They were extremely friendly and receptive. We got lots of appreciation for coming out.”
The fact that it was the third straight year at the Salt Palace Convention Center seemed to help, too.
“It was good to see repeat customers, so I’m glad we’ve been at the same venue for a few years,” Cammenga wrote.
“There was a nice mix in demographics,” Johnson pointed out. “As always, it is great to see the entire family out enjoying the show. I had several sales to the younger generation with the supervision and guidance of their parents.”
Banks “banksqro” Tracy shows his championship form.
“There was a very healthy mix of already established Pro-Tech enthusiasts as well as first time buyers,” Pro-Tech’s Wattenberg wrote. “It did feel like a smaller crowd than last year, but we did have customers to work with the entire time, so no complaints. I especially love the family atmosphere; there were so many nice people.”
“The crowd seemed an even mix of young and old, several families with kids,” Hill reported. “There were not many ‘sophisticated’ buyers or dealers.”
According to one industry professional, the fewer buyers and dealers than usual from the Eastern USA may have been due to the poor economy and also the aforementioned Hurricanes Helene and Milton that hit shortly before the show.
BLADE Show West Exhibitors
Shows are about contacts, not only among show attendees and exhibitors but among the exhibitors themselves, including factory knife companies and custom makers to broach possible collaborations and other knife deals.
Fixed blades and choppers were among the knives of the day.
“We made good contacts with other makers, including some prominent ones we had not previously met,” McNees wrote. “The size of the show was good for that.” Added Johnson, “The BLADE Show always gives us an opportunity to meet various designers and talk about collaborations.” Wattenberg agreed. “We had a few excellent conversations with makers,” he noted.
West Coast Flipping Championship
The 5th Annual West Coast Flipping Championships conducted by Squid Industries was another rousing packed-house event, with Squid providing cash prizes of $1,000 for first place, $500 for second and $250 for third.
Banks Tracy, aka banksqro, took home the title using a Squid Silver Krake Raken Tanto V3 balisong. Runnerup was Max Wenham, aka balisongnerd, who also used a Squid Silver Krake Raken Tanto V3 balisong. Madi Thomas, aka oximityy, took third with her Squid DT Red Krake Raken Tanto V3 balisong. The top three finishers also won prizes from the events’ gold sponsors.
Two Cutlery Hall of Famers enjoy each other’s company: BLADE® editor Steve Shackleford (left) and heat-treating legend Paul Bos (right).
BLADE SHOW WEST ’25
If you were there, you know; if you weren’t, you need to be. Make it so and plan now to attend next year’s BLADE Show West, Oct. 10-11, once again at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City.
Betty Dowell was the juggernaut that made Ted Dowell’s knifemaking business move.
Elizabeth “Betty” Ann Dowell, the driving force behind BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Ted Dowell, teacher, mother, grandmother and friend of the knife community for over half a century, passed away July 2. She was 93.
Most fittingly, she lived long enough to watch on Zoom as Ted was inducted into the Cutlery Hall of Fame June 5 at BLADE Show 2024.
Betty and Ted were married in 1953 and moved to Madras, Oregon, in 1954, where Betty was a part-time substitute teacher and homemaker raising three children: Scott, Lynn and Jeff. The family moved to Bend, Oregon, in 1964, where Betty became an accomplished substitute teacher in the Bend Public School System.
Ted, meanwhile, accepted a professorship at Central Oregon Community College, where he was dean of the mathematics department. He sold his first knife in 1967 and helped found the Knifemakers’ Guild in 1970, along with Cutlery Hall-of-Famer Bob Loveless writing the organization’s bylaws in the process. Ted also later served as Guild president.
Betty and Ted at the 2009 Knifemakers’ Guild Show in Louisville, Kentucky, the last of their 40 consecutive Guild Show appearances as an exhibiting team. Ted passed away in 2012.
Ted went full time making knives in 1974 and started TMD Knives in 1975. That same year the Dowells suffered the tragic loss of their son Scott, 19, in a car accident. Betty took the lead role in getting her family through such a trying time, as well as maintaining the knifemaking business.
As Jeff noted when he inducted his father at the Hall-of-Fame ceremony this past June, “My mom was galvanized and determined to have a family to take care of and a household to run, and she ran every bit of the business. [Dad made the knives] but everything else she did. She attended to every detail of the business. She had two kids to take care of and she had a grieving husband and a knifemaker and a business to support, and she did so for another 40 years.”
In fact, until the Dowells closed their knifemaking operation in 2010, Betty was the rock of TMD Knives, handling all of the purchasing, inventory management, accounting, correspondence, promotions, and travel logistics for the company. Her attention to detail and level of documentation of the business was as comprehensive and complete as possible.
Betty’s work accomplishments at TMD Knives and the Dowells’ ground-breaking efforts in getting the Guild established early on earned her the Guild’s coveted Nate Posner Award in 2015 for support “above and beyond” of the Guild and the custom knifemaking industry.
From passion to icon: celebrating 30 years of Dietmar Pohl’s knife mastery.
Dietmar Pohl is a name well-known in knife circles. More so than his groundbreaking designs, the founder of Pohl Force knives might also be known for his professionalism. On Nov. 18, the designer celebrated 30 years in the industry.
With over 100 knife designs, three books translated into multiple languages, and a reputation for innovation, Pohl has established himself as a leading figure in the world of blades.
While Pohl might be best known for his knives, such as the Magnum Colection Knife and the Böker Speedlock switchblade, he has held many roles in the industry.
Pohl started his career as marketing director, design and production manager in Solingen, Germany. Combining contemporary design with cutting-edge materials, he quickly made his mark by creating knives that balanced performance and aesthetics.
However, his interest in edged tools started well before then. His imagination was captured at 11 years old when his older brother—10 years his senior—returned from the Bundeswehr paratroopers and showed him his paratrooper knife.
While Pohl has no military or law enforcement background, he’s built his expertise through hands-on training and close collaboration with professionals in elite units like Germany’s GSG9, SEK, and U.S. Marine Force Recon.
Practical experiences, such as SWAT training in Virginia and knife combat sessions with Marine Force Recon at Camp Pendleton, have deepened his understanding of tactical requirements.
Pohl’s influence extends beyond design. His books are respected resources for enthusiasts, and his work is frequently featured in trade publications. Among his standout achievements is the MK9 Heartstopper, created for Sylvester Stallone’s final Rambo movie, Last Blood. Dubbed The Knife Guy by the film crew, this project solidified his global reputation.
Jordon Berthelot marries two electric materials in one knife.
Jordon Berthelot achieves a hypnotic union of blade and handle materials in his integral hunter.
The blade is his HHH lightning damascus and the handle is cottonwood from Robswildwood.
“I used a wide variety of different bits and burrs with Foredom and Dremel tools to freehand carve the blade and handle,” he wrote.
“As my teacher Spencer Aplin always says, the most difficult part is deciding what to carve and how to give it the flow I want, which is so true,” Berthelot said. “I decided to incorporate the blade carving into the handle so it gave the whole piece a complete look, and also added some great purchase of the handle in multiple different grips.”
Berthelot Integral Hunter Specs Blade length: 4.5” Blade material: HHH lightning damascus forged from W1 tool steel/nickel rods w/4800 powder Handle material: Cottonwood from Robswildwood Overall length: 9” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $3,500
