At GiantMouse, we are always interested in the different relationships people have with their blades. For this installment of Knifestyles, Co-Founders Jim Wirth and Jesper Voxnaes share what sparked their passion for pocket knives, and reflect on a decade of pursuing EDC perfection.
Last month marked 10 years of GiantMouse, a journey fueled by bold ideas, precision craftsmanship, and an unwavering love of blades. As we celebrate this mammoth milestone, allow us a moment to look back at where it all began...
It started over drinks at the Biblio Bar in Brooklyn in 2015. The goal was simple: build a better mousetrap. A knife brand that combined innovative design, uncompromising quality, and fair pricing, while staying closely connected to its community. What began as three friends chasing an idea has since grown into something larger than they ever imagined—a global family united by shared appreciation for finely crafted everyday carry.
And at the heart of it all? Just a couple guys who love knives. We sat down with Jim and Jesper to talk early memories of blade collecting, current favorite carries, and their thoughts on a decade of GiantMouse.
The Knifestyles of Jim Wirth & Jesper Voxnaes
What originally got you into knives?
Jim: My first knife was a Gerber Silver Knight with nickel silver bolsters and pearl scales. It was a birthday gift from my oldest brother when I turned 14. That beautiful little knife fascinated me so much that I immediately began looking for other knives, which kicked off a lifetime of passion and collecting.
Jesper: I have always been into knives. My parents gave me my first real knife at about age 5. A small Norwegian fixed blade. I have carried a knife ever since.
My collection is pretty small (not counting production knives) and is all knives and axes made by makers I know and like. Most were given to me and have a special meaning—and will stay with me forever.
How do knives fit into your life?
Jim: Up until co-founding GiantMouse, knives fit into my life by fulfilling my love of collecting. Knives are only one of many things that I have collected over the years. When I started GiantMouse with my co-founders, my passion for knives grew much deeper as I began learning as much as possible about design and production, and began to build a brand culture for GiantMouse.
As far as my personal use of knives, I always have a GiantMouse folder in my front pocket for everyday cutting tasks (packages, tape, string, rope, etc.) and I enjoy using the GiantMouse kitchen knives on those rare occasions when I am preparing a meal for the family.
Jesper: You could claim that my life revolves around knives. I design, make, test, carry and use them every day. Living close to nature, spending time in and on the water, and having animals to tend to, makes it a must to carry at least one at all times.
What's your go-to everyday carry gear?
Jim: Knife. Mechanical Watch. Pen. Wallet. Coin. Rings. Tape Measure.
To be more specific, today I am carrying a pre-production sample of a new GiantMouse Bleecker nested liner-lock with brass scales, a Tudor reverse panda chronograph, a brass Kaweco Sport rollerball pen, a leather wallet custom made by Greg Stevens of Greg Stevens Design which has a new GiantMouse 10-Year Jubilee Coin in a coin-pocket, my wedding band (18K rolled Grey Gold made by Niessing in Vreden, Germany), a vintage sterling silver Navajo ring with an engraving of an eagle, and a brass TEC accessories GM Tape Measure.
Jesper: My EDC is often a prototype folder we need to test. With so many designs happening with GM, there’s always something to play around with. For a fixed blade, I often take my GMF4 camp knife with me on day trips in the woods. If it’s a longer trip, a good axe is in the backpack
What is your favorite GiantMouse knife and why?
Jim: This is a really tough question for me, because there are so many models that I really love. But if I had to single one out as my favorite, I’d have to say the brass Clyde. I love everything about our ACE Clyde—the size, design, blade shape, and the weight of the brass version. But if I had to pick a knife that I am most proud of, it would probably be the frogman dagger we made for the Danish Frogman Corps foundation “Conventus Ranae.”
Jesper: My favorite GM knife is most often the design I am working on. If I don't feel excited about an upcoming knife, I'm doing something wrong. Seeing a design come to life and holding it the first time is just awesome.
What do you remember most about the brand’s conception?
Jim: The initial mission was to have fun. And I’m pleased to say that 10 years in, we are still having a blast! Seriously, when Jesper, Jens and I came up with the crazy idea of launching our own knife brand after several(?) cocktails at the Biblio Bar in Brooklyn, it was with the goal of having a fun side-gig where the three of us could work together throughout the year and have reason to meet up at all of the knife shows that Vox and Ansø exhibited at.
A first major milestone was of course the launch of our first folder, the limited edition GM1. Another big milestone was launching the ACE line of unlimited folders to satisfy the people who began talking online about this great new knife brand that you can never buy a knife from because they are always sold out.
What’s your philosophy when it comes to designing a great EDC knife?
Jesper: I design by doing a lot of sketching by hand. Pen to paper is my way of finding new “lines.” Most times, I already know what type of knife I’m going to design: the size, blade style, and function. Other times, I just play around until I strike lines that catch my interest. Then, I take it into CAD and start working over the drawing.
For me, it's super important that the final design is functional and feels great in hand. I think your eyes should draw you to a knife, but your hand should make you want it!
What role has the EDC community played in shaping the brand?
Jim: Community is core to what we are all about. Everything we do, we do with community in mind. There is the overall knife enthusiast community, and then there is our “brand community,” the Shank Sharpeners Union.
Starting in the early 2000s, I was a very active member of the online Paneristi community which grew over many years as an online forum where fellow Panerai enthusiasts and collectors could meet everyday from the comfort of their office or home, and share not only their love of Panerai watches and show off their latest acquisition, but share personal life stories. It was a safe place of friendship, camaraderie, and passion.
Now, 20+ years later, some of my best friends were met online at Paneristi.com, and I do my best to attend an annual holiday dinner in New York City every December where usually around 30 or more Paneristi friends get together to carry on the friendships that we built over the years. This was the goal for creating the Shank Sharpeners Union, which I believe we’ve met.
What does 10 years of GiantMouse mean to you?
Jim: Reaching the 10-year mark is a significant milestone. It’s a testament to what can happen when clear vision, strong design, commitment to honesty and integrity, and consistent execution come together. From the beginning, GiantMouse has stood out for its dedication to functional, clean, intentional design, backed up by world-class personal customer service. A decade in, that foundation hasn’t changed—it’s only gotten sharper, more refined.
One of the biggest accomplishments over the last 10 years has been the ability to grow while staying true to the original design ethos, brand culture, and brand voice. The evolution from the early GM line to the ACE series to collaborations with other leading brands in peripheral industries such as watches or bourbon, shows not just growth in product range, but a maturing of brand identity. I think it’s pretty rare to see a brand scale without losing what made it special in the first place, something we’ve worked very hard at over these past 10 years.
Looking back, if I could offer advice to year-one GiantMouse, it would be this: trust your instincts and the strength of the design language. The customers and community will find you if the product and service speaks for itself. Stay focused on making tools that people want to carry and use every day, not just admire.
As for the next 10 years, my hope is that GiantMouse continues to innovate without overextending. Keep pushing the design envelope, explore new materials and use cases, but always with that same restraint and clarity that’s defined the brand so far.
10 years is a milestone, but it’s also a starting line for what’s next. And from where I stand, the future looks solid.
What’s your life motto?
Jim: Many of our customers know that just before co-founding GiantMouse, I launched another EDC brand that is still running strong called Carpe Diem EDC. The EDC products I design and sell are all intended to remind the holder to make the most of every day, as tomorrow is not guaranteed. Themes of Carpe Diem (Seize the Day), Memento Mori (Remember Death), and Tempus Fugit (Time Flies) are all intertwined in the coins and worrystones I’ve designed.
So Carpe Diem is definitely a life motto of mine. But there’s another… In 1965, a year before I was born, my mother wrote a letter about my father’s diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis, and how it was affecting our family. One line in particular has stuck with me since the day I stumbled upon a copy of her letter: “It is not so much how you manage the successes, but how you withstand the crisis.”
Discover Jim & Jesper's Favorites
The GiantMouse Team would like to thank YOU, our incredible community, for making us a part of your knife story. Here’s to the next 10 years of blades and brotherhood!