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Montana Knife Company’s First-Ever Folding Knife May Be the Brand’s Most Important Release to Date

It could be the start of an entirely new chapter for the brand built on crafting high-end fixed-blade knives.

Close-up of a textured black grip and a silver metal button on a mechanical device against a blue background.Montana Knife Company
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By Hayley Helms

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During its six-year existence, Montana Knife Company has built its reputation on a single form factor: premium, USA-made fixed blades designed for outdoor, hunting and culinary use.

Now, the brand dedicated to durable, intuitively designed American craftsmanship is bringing its unique point of view to an entirely new category: folding knives.

Folding knife with a stonewashed blade marked "MKC USA MADE" and a textured black handle.
The Montana represents a new category for MKC, built on the foundation of its founder’s 30 years of knifemaking experience.
Montana Knife Company

The Montana is an ultra high-end folder with the potential to transform MKC from a respected fixed-blade maker into a true EDC heavyweight.

A new era of craftsmanship

For a company like Montana Knife Company, there’s a lot riding on the release of its first-ever folding pocket knife: will this be the start of an entirely new (and potentially lucrative and far-reaching) branch of the business, or an expensive one-hit wonder?


“People will see a liner lock knife that weighs less than three ounces and is engineered to 0.0001 of an inch, built to fit in any pocket and operate without service for years. But what matters most is that The Montana is built to be used and handed down just like every other knife we make.”


MKC Founder and CEO Josh Smith

This may be an entirely new form factor for the brand, but MKC brought over what’s arguably its defining attribute: precision engineering blended with hand-made craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Folding knife with a black textured handle and a partially open stonewashed blade on a blue background.
The brand is beloved by hunters and outdoor enthusiasts, but MKC’s newest launch has much broader appeal.
Montana Knife Company

The result is the aptly named Montana: a sub-three ounce liner lock folding blade featuring a trailing point Magnacut steel stonewashed blade, G10 handle with 3D-milled micro-texture, titanium hardware and plenty more to love.

Partially opened folding knife with a textured black handle and a silver clip on a blue background.
The Montana’s overall length measures in a 7.625 inches, with a 3.25 inch-long, .118 inch-thick blade.
Montana Knife Company

The 2.84-ounce knife boasts an EDC liner lock built around a hardened stainless pivot, custom bronze-cage bearings on silicon nitride balls and a full flat grind MagnaCut blade with the thinnest edge MKC has ever produced.

Black textured folding knife handle with partially visible silver blade and "USA MADE" text on blade.
The arrowhead thread insert pulls double duty as an aesthetic homage to the company’s origins, as well as a functional component.
Montana Knife Company

The blade is set apart not just by its premium material, but attention to detail in production; after heat treatment, it goes back into the mill for another pass over its most critical surfaces.

Close-up of a textured black surface with a small, light gray, coffin-shaped emblem in the center.
The G10 handle won’t crack, warp or degrade over time, and all hardware is titanium.
Montana Knife Company

The Montana’s liners are 2 to 4 points harder than industry standard, run the entire length of the handle, and feed blade load into compression rather than bending, which yields more strength under pressure, not less.

Detail-oriented design

Every detail of the knife is intentional, no matter how small. The trailing point blade shape also appears on the Speedgoat, the brand’s fan-favorite fixed-blade design.

Close-up of a textured black handle and a silver metal screw on a mechanical device against a blue background.
The thumb stud is machined into the blade after hardening, offering enhanced precision.
Montana Knife Company

The inlaid arrowhead in the G10 handle, an homage to MKC’s deep ties to archery, hides a structural screw that cinches the liner to the handle for added rigidity.

Black folding pocket knife with textured handle and silver metal clip on a blue background.
The deep carry clip also features the MKC Arrowhead, and is made with 420 stainless steel.
Montana Knife Company

The handle itself is 3D-milled with curvature in both directions, then micro-texture is milled back in. This allows for a grippy texture without snagging material or extra weight in your pocket.

The custom 420 stainless steel deep-carry clip is assembled with flat-head screws set flush for seamless carry.

At just under $400, The Montana is anything but cheap … but as a meaningful slice of MKC history built with incredible precision and details, the prestige of the tool balances its high-end price tag.

Availability and pricing

The Montana will go live on Montana Knife Company’s website at
7 p.m. MDT on June 4th, retailing for $390. You can sign up for notifications here.

Knife with a black textured handle and a partially visible stainless steel blade marked "MKC USA MADE.Montana Knife Company

Montana Knife Company The Montana

About the Author: Hayley Helms is an associate editor at Gear Patrol specializing in outdoor gear. Once upon a time, she wrote for Men’s Journal, Gearjunkie and Shape. Whether it’s testing a new rain shell or putting a pair of hiking boots through its paces, she leaves no stone unturned (however, she always Leaves No Trace).

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