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Exclusive Release | GiantMouse x Carryology Sonoma Auxikko
A champion of the Carry Awards elevated.
Introducing the GiantMouse x Carryology Sonoma Auxikko, a limited-edition piece that seamlessly blends sophistication with utility. This EDC pocketknife is crafted with laser-engraved titanium scales and an Elmax steel blade and it elegantly pairs the sleek lines of a gentleman’s accessory with the ruggedness of a tool knife, offering the perfect blend for Carryologists.
And pssst, when your GiantMouse arrives in the mail, look out for a "Golden Ticket" (a Castle & Key Bourbon label, with a hand written note on the back) because there'll be three hidden in packages at random, so good luck!
x3 Golden Tickets
Everyone who buys a GiantMouse x Carryology Sonoma V2 should feel lucky. But we've added an extra element of excitement to this limited edition release! Hidden inside three random Sonoma V2 Carryology Edition boxes are "Golden Tickets" – special Castle & Key Distillery bourbon bottle labels. The extra lucky individuals who find these Golden Labels will receive three incredible prizes:
1. Exclusive Knife: A limited edition GiantMouse x Castle & Key knife, designed and produced exclusively for Castle & Key.
2. VIP Distillery Experience: A VIP experience at Castle & Key Distillery in Frankfort, KY, including a personalized tour and tasting, scheduled at a time coordinated with Castle & Key's Hospitality Team.
3. Branded Oak Barrel Head: A unique bourbon barrel head, stenciled with the logos of Castle & Key Distillery, GiantMouse Knives, and Carryology.
Will you be one of the fortunate three to uncover a "Golden Label" and enjoy these extraordinary prizes? Secure a GiantMouse x Carryology Sonoma V2 and find out!
The Humans Behind the Mouse
Who are the brains behind GiantMouse? At the helm of the US-headquartered team are three co-founders: Jim Wirth, CEO, based in Michigan, and designers Jens Ansø and Jesper Voxnaes from Denmark, both world-renowned knifemakers.
In 2016, they met serendipitously at a knife show, all wearing the same Panerai watch. They hit it off, sharing the same values and vision, and decided to launch a brand together. Combining their extensive experience in everyday carry tools and knives, they aimed to design a “better mousetrap.”
Since the launch of their first knife, the GM1, the brand has grown dramatically. GiantMouse has made its mark with innovative designs, cutting-edge materials, and meticulous attention to detail, becoming worthy contenders among the giants of the knife industry.
From GiantMouse:
“At GiantMouse, our designers collaborate to craft high-quality production knives that we are confident our customers will take pleasure in owning and using. Our design team is deeply involved in every stage of production, exercising complete control over design choices, materials, finishes, and more. Production proceeds only after the entire GiantMouse team conducts a thorough review and testing of prototypes and production samples, ensuring that the finished knife is one they would proudly carry and use themselves.”
We Love GiantMouse… Why Do We Love the Sonoma?
Choosing a second platform for another collaboration was easy—we just looked in our own pockets. Explorer legend Piotr Ma calls this his “go-to folding pocket knife.” We’ve written about it six times on our website, and it won 1st place in the highly competitive Carry Awards’ EDC category.
We’re talking about the Sonoma. Sonoma County is beautiful, but we’re referring to GiantMouse’s Sonoma V2 pocket knife. What makes it different from the Riv? What makes this existing production version a favorite among Carryology staff and readers?
This first part is subjective, but for me, it’s the lines. The classic, timeless silhouette of a gentleman’s folder, where form meets function, is just perfect aesthetically. It’s like a vintage Laguiole knife combined with modern technology and functionality.
While rugged enough for serious adventures, this originally urban-designed knife blends seamlessly into a professional setting, so you won’t scare off any nervous coworkers. The sculpted handles wrap the frame like an automotive designer crafted it from a clay model—sharp, classy, and dare I say, elegant?
Aside from its form, it has a reversible stainless steel wire pocket clip for lefties and righties and features Elmax steel on a 3.4″ EDC/adventure-sized blade. It has an overall length of 8″ when opened. The GiantMouse team named it after Sonoma County, near their HQ, one of their favorite inspirational getaways.
Overall, it’s an incredible piece. But now, it was time to turn it up to 11. We all linked up and hit the drawing board. The goal was to start with a Carry Award-winning icon and make it even better. We found a winning combination of features with the Riv Auxikko, so we replicated the same features to create a matching pair of GiantMouse x Carryology folders for your collection.
Titanium Auxikko
Laser beams and titanium are an unmatchable combination, so we had to bring them back.
The Sonoma V2 pocket knife has only been made with canvas Micarta handles so far, and while they look great and provide good grip, for a special edition nothing really compares to an all-titanium finish.
Next, we added our Carryology Auxikko pattern, laser-engraved into the titanium. Inspired by samurai armor, this pattern gives the Sonoma a distinct look. Additionally, the micro-depth of the laser engraving adds extra grip when your hands are wet, cold, or gloved. Aesthetics meets functionality.
Elmax Blade Steel
Like our Riv Auxikko and the base model Sonoma V2, we used Elmax steel for the blade. This steel is favored for its perfect balance of sharpness, edge retention, durability, and corrosion resistance. While there are many blade steels to choose from, the experts at GiantMouse carefully selected Elmax. Based on real-world usage and Piotr Ma’s feedback from his adventures with the Sonoma Auxikko, this steel lives up to its claims. It’s a top-tier premium blade steel with a Rockwell hardness of 60 HRC.
Please note, this steel can get very sharp. Sometimes, knives don’t have the best edge when they’re brand new from the manufacturer. However, the Sonoma Auxikko (and all the other GiantMouse knives we’ve handled) come near razor-sharp straight out of the box.
Scandinavian Blade DNA
The straight-back blade, typically found in fixed-blade knives, is ideal for bushcraft, survival, and everyday tasks. Tracing its roots back to Scandinavia, this blade has a curved belly and a straight back, making it great for piercing and wood carving while providing excellent control for small tasks. GiantMouse added jimping at the rear of the blade for better grip and control, as well as a well-placed finger groove at the blade’s base for a comfortable and safe grip with the index finger.
Heavy-Duty Liner Lock
Fortunately, we didn’t need to ask the GiantMouse team to re-engineer the entire locking mechanism like we did with the Riv Auxikko. That’s a major benefit of starting with an already incredible platform. The Sonoma V2 features a robust all-titanium liner lock system, which keeps the blade firmly in place when open and doesn’t budge until you deliberately disengage the lock with one hand (or even one finger) to close the blade smoothly.
There are two additional benefits to the liner lock system: 1) the clean, smooth handles on both sides feel better in the hand compared to the edges of a frame lock mechanism. 2) Well, see below.…
Lefty or Righty
The liner lock enables smooth handles on both sides, allowing the stainless steel spring pocket clip to be mounted for both right-handed and left-handed users. Personally, due to a broken finger (from a funny story for another time), I prefer left-hand carry (in my left pocket) despite being right-handed. The easily swappable clip lets me carry it in my left pocket and use it in my right hand. Switching takes just seconds with milled slots and stainless steel screws.
Whether you’re left-handed preferring right pocket carry (thanks to an incident with an alligator) or any other preference, the Sonoma Auxikko accommodates. Its deep-carry clip securely positions the knife low in your pocket until needed. Additionally, the backspacer includes a built-in hole for adding paracord or Dyneema cord with a custom CNC bead or a practical knot—a favorite user modification.
Fast Action Ball Bearing Flipper
When you first handle the Sonoma Auxikko, one thing stands out: the buttery smooth but precise action. GiantMouse has perfected this with a ball-bearing pivot mechanism. This means the blade stays closed in your pocket. With just the right amount of force on the blade’s flipper tap (enhanced with jimping for grip), you can flick it open effortlessly with one finger. The blade snaps firmly into place with confidence, thanks to the ball bearings ensuring smooth and secure movement that improves with use.
Orange Ano
Orange is our brand’s color. The Chicago Bulls logo features red and black, and they sell products in those colors. Pepsi is associated with blue, while Coke uses red. Anyway, digressing aside, yes, we agree—blaze orange can be quite bold. That’s why we use it sparingly on the exterior of our products. In this case, it serves more as an accent or highlight, letting the titanium and Auxikko pattern steal the spotlight.
Here, the washers on the ball bearing pivot and the center backspacer down the spine are hard coat anodized in orange, with additional jimping on the backspacer. These details add just enough visual interest without overwhelming the knife’s timeless, clean lines.
Mini Mouse
Similar to our approach with orange, we avoid placing big, gaudy logos on the exterior of our products. Minimal and clean is our preference. Let the product’s form speak for itself without distracting text. Like we did with the Riv Auxikko, we laser-engraved both brands’ logos onto the blade, keeping the closed knife free of branding and revealing the logos when the blade is opened.
While the laser logos on the Riv Auxikko were perfect, in my opinion, those on the Sonoma Auxikko are even more precise and sharp.
Bringing Bonus Baggies Back
Again, just because, we agreed they needed to come back. So, we included a black soft fabric drawstring pouch with both brand logos printed in orange. Use the pouch to transport your knife when you need to pack it in checked luggage. Alternatively, store some Ga-Jol Ren Lakrids candies (Creative Director Taylor Welden loves these, while Senior Editor Laurence Fry hates them).
Taylor Welden
Creative Director | Industrial Designer
Taylor designs for countless carry brands, across every carry category. He’s contributed to the lost art of manly moustaches, and earned a reputation for reviews that keep our core carry nuts learning.
WAYS TO CARRY