This New Pocket Knife Is Tougher Than Almost Everything. Of Course, It's Magnacut

Fans of RideApart know that I'll always stand up and take notice of a new pocket knife, as I firmly believe that these handy-dandy little knives are perhaps the best backcountry tool of all time. Again, helped me cut myself out of a bad car wreck when I was 16, and they've rarely left my side ever since. 

But more than just cutting a seatbelt to extricate yourself from a smoking wreck, a pocket knife can be the do-it-all tool you need for when things go south. From backwoods fixes to slicing up your latest hunting harvest to even being used as a makeshift screwdriver, a pocket knife can be the one tool to rule them all without going overly bulky with something like a multitool. 

One company that I've come to use repeatedly, however, doesn't have a folding pocket knife: Montana Knife Company (MKC). The brand has made a reputation for building nigh indestructible knives that I used on my mule deer buck last year, and cursed I didn't have while butchering my elk. They're as sharp as a lightsaber eating through a Tauntaun, and cannot be broken. But again, they're fixed-blade knives, and don't pack onto your hip as easily as a folder. 

That's all changing, as I got my hands on MKC's new Montana knife, and it's the brand's first folder. And from my initial impressions, it still maintains what makes the brand's other offerings as attractive as they are. You'll probably have trouble picking one up when it drops in a week or so.

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As you'd expect from a good knife these days, the blade is made of Magnacut steel. For those who haven't been paying attention to the knife world lately, it's the latest, greatest steel composition that gives you great edge retention, hardness, and corrosion resistance without sacrificing one or the others. Most older knives have to choose one or two of the three, ala the Iron Triangle of "Fast, Good, or Cheap, Pick Two." 

And as I've come to expect from an MKC, the Montana's Magnacut trailing point blade comes wicked-sharp straight out of the box. No, seriously, when you open the box and first flick it open, be careful. If you aren't, you're likely to end up in the ER needing some stitches. 

The blade length is 3.25 inches, while fully extended the overall length is 7.62 inches. That's about right to fit my gorilla-sized mitts, though maybe a little extra at the back would be nice. 

The MKC Montana folding pocket knife

I could've used this knife on this bull...

Drop point Magnacut blade? Yes, please

That blade is wicked sharp

Photos by: Jonathon Klein

Weighing just 2.84 ounces, the knife feels light as a feather, which makes me giddy with anticipation for my hunting season, as light knives as sharp as this one make quick work of anything this side of a hippo. More than that, it makes wearing it while you have full moto gear easier, as your pants and pockets aren't weighed down by something stupidly heavy. Unlike other folders in the space, the Montana uses a liner lock to keep it open, while the handle is G10 with a nice shark-tooth-like texture to it. 

Like other MKC knives, it bears the brand's arrowhead emblem set in the middle of the handle, and it's flanked by a deep-carry clip. And while the blade deployment is not assisted, it sure as hell feels like it, as the blade just flicks out without an ounce of hesitation. It's deeply satisfying, too. Though that just might be my need to fidget with something all the time. 

Gotta love the details

Photo by: Jonathon Klein

More than anything, MKC's Montana is covered under the brand's Generations program, i.e. it's warranty program that ensures this knife is something you can conceivably pass down to your children. It covers sharpening, cleaning, and repairs for as long as the knife lives, which is something you want from a premium knife manufacturer. 

There is the elephant in the room, in that it costs $390. Yep, that's steep as hell for a pocket knife. Even one as seemingly rad as this one. It does, however, follow the costs of producing something like the Montana here in the States while also maintaining that warranty. 

Now is it worth that? I'm still figuring that out, as I've only had the knife for a few days. I want to really put it to work before I say yes or no, but from my experience with MKC's other offerings, you might want to start saving up, as this folding pocket knife has the potential to be the one knife to rule them all. 

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