Showcase #335: IT Director from Connecticut, USA

Welcome to the Urban EDC Showcase! Each week, we feature a member of the EDC community and the gear they rely on every day. Want to be featured? Submit your gear photo.

Living and breathing knives and firearms, Ross (@swiss.ross) works as the Senior Director of IT for the National Shooting Sports Foundation (who owns and runs SHOT Show). Read on to learn all about Ross’s EDC and find out how he once sliced his thumb off with his first Victorinox Tinker.

Featured Tools:

• Knife: GiantMouse ACE Bronze Biblio
  I have been a VOX / Anso fan for a long long time (I wish I still had my original marine steel Snailor!) and have loved the Biblio since release. I love things that patina and wear gracefully and the heft of the bronze scales just calls to me. Definitely my favorite Biblio to date and made even better by the Stonewood Designs bronze bead. The blade shape is perfect, the action is perfect, the ergonomics are perfect. Just a phenomenal EDC knife in every way and everyone should own a Biblio.
  
  
• SAK: 1985 Victorinox Black Alox Old Cross Pioneer
  The Pioneer had always been my go-to in the Alox line and I have a ton of variants from a number of decades. But the Old Cross is just so cool. And a black Old Cross is super rare. A dated blade is even rarer on a Pioneer vs a Soldier, so this knife hits all the “cool” buttons for me and is my hands-down number one SAK. 
  
  The Zirc bead (unknown maker) is just icing on the cake. Everyone should own at least 10 SAKs. Versatile, pocketable, and they typically don’t cause any fuss when you pull one out at work or in public. And they don’t break the bank if you decide to collect them!
  
  
• Utility Tool: Vox Snailor
  Don’t really need to say much about this one. Super cool and functional. The bead is by Turning Point Machine Works.
  
  
• Flashlight: Prometheus Beta QRv2
  I have had this one since 2015 and I have a few in different colors/materials. On any given day you will find a Beta in my pocket. The bead is a Hinderer South Sister. Also, copper because again, I love things that patina and wear beautifully with real use. This guy runs on a single AAA, pockets well, has low/med/high modes, and has been absolutely bulletproof for me.
  
  
• Coin: GiantMouse x Shank Sharpener’s Union Coin
  Have to rep the SSU. My advice is to ALWAYS have a toy or something to fidget or play with within grasp. Not all meeting attendees react well to flipping open a knife repeatedly, so a coin makes a lot of sense and again, it’s copper!

What's your story:

I live and work in CT as the Senior Director of IT for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. We are the firearms industry trade association and also own and run SHOT Show in Vegas every year.

I am very fortunate to work in an office where no one gives a second glance if I pull out a Norseman to open an Amazon box.

I started collecting knives when I was 8 or so. I was a huge MacGyver fan and my Dad bought me a Victorinox Tinker that I carried everywhere. I cut my thumb off (successfully reattached) with that Tinker and haven’t slowed down since.

These days I spend most of my free time with my 3-year-old daughter (yes, she has a toy SAK) so my hobby time is mostly in the knife / EDC world. I have played the guitar for 30+ years and am a little obsessed with cars. I enjoy shooting whenever I can find the time (usually with my FN TSR XP .308 or vintage 1953 Browning A5).

Favorite EDC Tool:

The Black Old Cross Pioneer. It’s rare and just oozes cool to me. And it still functions flawlessly after 34 years. Probably my most satisfying knife acquisition to date.

What's On Your Gear Radar:

1. GiantMouse GM6 (hopefully this century!)
2. I have a TRM Atom inbound so I’m excited to finally play with one as I’ve heard great things.
3. I would love to find a Rask without having to sell any major organs.