Why More Outdoor Pocket Knives Should Have This Rare 2,000-Year-Old Blade Treatment

Thanks to a new Scandi grind, GiantMouse’s popular Ace Nimbus V3 is even better equipped for backwoods challenges.

Published November 25, 2024

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In the GiantMouse catalog for going on six years now, the Ace Nimbus — named after, believe it or not, a Danish motorcycle — is simultaneously an ever-popular and ever-changing outdoor-leaning EDC knife for designers Jesper Voxnaes and Jens Ansø.

The Scandi grind is much less common in an EDC knife like the Nimbus, but we are stoked to see it here because of the Scandinavian history tapped into by its Danish designers. After all, the original Nimbus was inspired by the puukko, a small general purpose type of Viking era Seax knife dating back 2,000 years.

Since its 2018 intro, the knife has seen its washers and blade steel swapped multiple times, with last year’s V3 featuring flat phosphorus bronze washers and, for the first time ever, MagnaCut steel.

It goes to show how progressive the brand is that this year’s tweak of the V3 concerns not the washers or even the blade steel but the blade grind. The Ace Nimbus V3 Scandi gets the go-to bushcraft knife grind, one with a couple thousand years of Nordic history.

giantmouse ace nimbus v3 half folded — Along with the Scandi grind, the new Nimbus features S90V super steel and G10 handles.

Rise and (Viking) grind

So first things first: What exactly is a Scandi grind? It’s one that carries a single bevel that runs to zero degrees, with no angle change, which is why it is also called a zero grind. Above the bevel is a flat section running up to the spine.

While these knives can tackle EDC tasks, they are particularly adept at wood-based chores, the singular quality that has made them a popular choice for bushcraft blades. The lack of change in angle reduces friction, which makes them excellent for carving, for example.

The Scandi grind is much less common in an EDC knife like the Nimbus, but we are stoked to see it here because of the Scandinavian history tapped into by its Danish designers. After all, the original Nimbus was inspired by the puukko, a small general purpose type of Viking era Seax knife dating back 2,000 years.

Finnish in origin, puukko knives are of course fixed blades, and brands like Helle continue to make finely crafted interpretations — with the same basic design — to this day.

giantmouse ace nimbus v3 deployed — Once you become aware of the Scandi grind, it’s hard not to admire its aesthetics.

Notes on a Scandi

So let’s see, great with wood, adept at detail carving, easy to sharpen, super cool looking — what’s not to like? We would be remiss not to mention a couple of notable downsides.

First off, the Scandi grind is not great for cutting meat or veggies, making it kind of a drag when it comes to food prep. Second, that unsupported edge is a bit delicate, so it does run the risk of damage.

Still, for most everyday users and outdoor enthusiasts, there’s a lot of joy to be had here, not to mention an instant conversation piece.

For what it’s worth, we’ve never come across a GiantMouse knife that isn’t incredibly well designed and crafted with top-notch materials. And though you don’t get MagnaCut here, S90V is a pretty formidable super steel in its own right, valued for its edge retention, corrosion resistance and durability.

The blade is 3 inches, the overall length is 7.25 inches and the weight is 4.4 ounces. This Nimbus also boasts sturdy G10 handle scales, a reversible wire pocket clip and a liner lock, plus a handy hole for easy deployment. Isn’t it nice to know that eye-popping ancient blade grind is just a quick thumb flick away?