Return to fixed blade knives. MKC worth it?

[wnelson14]

Why anyone would buy a knife from them at the prices they are charging is beyond me, but that is what great marketing will do for you. I am a knife junkie. My hunting knives are customs by Rick Menefee and Clint Chisan a Canadian maker. I know some of you guys may be reluctant to order a knife from Canada, but his waits are three months not three years, and his quality is outstanding. I have seen examples of piss poor workmanship sent out of MKC, and most often people will say it’s a one-off and that anything can sneak through. I say BS. I have seen videos of people on the QC line doing what QC does, but wonder what they are doing when so many complaints are online about shoddy finishing. Simply unacceptable for the price. Add on the relatively few drop point designs, and the para cord wrapped handles, and it is simply a no go for me.

It seems many on Rokslide are fans of the Canadian Belt Knife design. Here is a Canadian maker’s take on the Canadian Belt Knife. being Canadian and having grown up around them, Clint Chisan is really nailing them, is using thin stock Magnacut, and his finish work is impeccable. Finally, the exchange rate on our dollar makes it a helluva good deal for you fellas in the US.

Some say a guy who wants a custom knife is a knife snob. Not really. Why wouldn’t someone want to be able to choose every aspect of their knife at the same or lesser price than a knife from MKC?

If I were getting one, it would be like one of these.

Looks awesome, how do you order one? Quick google search and all I see is instagram, which I’m not getting one for just to order a knife.
couldn’t even find a phone number.

 

[SDHNTR]

Looks awesome, how do you order one? Quick google search and all I see is instagram, which I’m not getting one for just to order a knife.
couldn’t even find a phone number.

I agree.

 

[elkhunter505]

Where is the store going to be in Zootown? Im curious how they will have enough stock on hand for a retail store.

If you’re driving in from the west it’s on the south side of 90 by Wye. Sounds like it should have some level of stock on hand according to a buddy that works there. You will also be able to go in and get your knife sharpened there rather than shipping it. For the interim, the RMEF center carries a certain number of their knives on hand if you were looking to handle one in person. That’s where my dad and I got ours.

 

[Slalomnorth]

Add me to the list too. I’d love to see a smaller version of a blade with the same Canadian Belt Knife shape and profile, just not quite so big and wide. If anyone produces anything like this I’d love to hear from you.

I’ve got a Grohman, both fixed and mini folder and the blade on the fixed is just bigger and wider than ideal for me. On the mini folder, the blade size is almost perfect, but the handle is too small and on both, the steel is lacking. The edge just doesn’t last.

Take this blade shape in a fixed blade, put it on a slightly larger handle and make it of better quality steel. Any recommendations on who could do that for me? If possible, that might woo me away from my beloved Case pocket knives.

Shoot me a dm I can make something like that happen

 

[Slalomnorth]

Why anyone would buy a knife from them at the prices they are charging is beyond me, but that is what great marketing will do for you. I am a knife junkie. My hunting knives are customs by Rick Menefee and Clint Chisan a Canadian maker. I know some of you guys may be reluctant to order a knife from Canada, but his waits are three months not three years, and his quality is outstanding. I have seen examples of piss poor workmanship sent out of MKC, and most often people will say it’s a one-off and that anything can sneak through. I say BS. I have seen videos of people on the QC line doing what QC does, but wonder what they are doing when so many complaints are online about shoddy finishing. Simply unacceptable for the price. Add on the relatively few drop point designs, and the para cord wrapped handles, and it is simply a no go for me.

It seems many on Rokslide are fans of the Canadian Belt Knife design. Here is a Canadian maker’s take on the Canadian Belt Knife. being Canadian and having grown up around them, Clint Chisan is really nailing them, is using thin stock Magnacut, and his finish work is impeccable. Finally, the exchange rate on our dollar makes it a helluva good deal for you fellas in the US.

Some say a guy who wants a custom knife is a knife snob. Not really. Why wouldn’t someone want to be able to choose every aspect of their knife at the same or lesser price than a knife from MKC?

If I were getting one, it would be like one of these.

Never seen this guy I’ll have to check them out. As far as I know I am one of the few makers using 1/16” stock in magnacut for hunting knives. 10v I use even thinner (.075”)

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

I agree that the CBK shape are excellent for breaking down animals.

I normally use a combo of my old Tyto with replaceable blades and then move to the fixed blade for removing prime cuts along bone and for the rear quarters.

I’ll throw out another option…

I’m on year three with the Hogue Extrak and around 50 big game animals so far. Hopefully another 10 or so before the end of the calendar year this year.

Good shape, grips comfortably, and the steel lasts a long time before sharpenings. Also weighs less than 2 ounces.

 

[peterk123]

For the last decade I’ve been doing a fair amount of field dressing larger animals like moose and elk. We’re not talking about a crazy amount of game, but I will reliably be involved in the breakdown of 3-7 moose/elk a year. Not to mention deer and bear as well.

Years ago I used to carry a fixed blade knife, then switched to all the replaceable blade knives, and now I find myself going back to fixed blade knives and a field sharpener. I hate the Havalon style blades for larger game. Outdoor edge are about as good as I’ve used for replaceable blades, but they aren’t that sharp and loose an edge quick in my opinion. Plus the blade release button happens to be in a spot I seem prone to placing my thumb on, and sometimes pop blades out mid-cut. Not safe, especially when dealing with large animals.

I don’t own any high quality fixed blade knives. I own three drop point style knives that will work. A CRKT Wrangell Range (440a steel), CRKT Kommer 30-30 (1.4116 steel), and a cheap Cold steel Pendleton lite hunter (4116). The cold steel is a knife that I keep in my pack and used it many times. It’s just a cheap stainless blade like a Victorinox, but I use Vic’s when I filet fish and do the final processing work on meat and they work fine. Edge retention is so so, but easy to resharpen.

For field sharpening I use the work sharp pocket knife sharpener and no complaints with that as a field sharpener. I see MKC sells a version with a 17 deg. angle instead of the 20 deg version I own.

For you knife nerds, is field dressing noticeably better when using something like an MKC stonewall skinner or stoned goat 2.0, and is magnacut as amazing as they claim? I guess it boils down to whether or not pricier knives with newer materials are that much better if you had to field dress larger game, assuming edge retention and ease of resharpening in the field are top priorities. Thanks.


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I would say 100% a fixed blade knife is well worth it. Like you, I used to pop off the blade with replaceables. Then you are trying to pop it back on with bloody and greasy hands. I'm shocked I never lost a finger.

I use a mkc stubhorn. It's stout for bone and joint work, has a great point, and plenty of belly for skinning. I love it. Not because it's a mkc blade, but because it's a fixed blade.

There are a lot of good steels to choose from. Just pick one that is known to be reliable and you are good. I think we tend to over analyze steel. They all go dull. It just comes down to what an individual defines as dull. If I'm doing an elk, a blade is getting a quick touch up in the field. Sure, I could do two elk before a touch up, but why? I prefer a blade to be razor sharp. There is nothing wrong with taking ten seconds to touch up a blade.

The other nice thing about a fixed blade is that it has no moving parts. No nooks and crannies that fat will get into making it impossible to replace the blade, or close it.

I feel like a fixed blade is far superior to a replaceable. Not even close. Lastly, it's like mechanical broadheads, one less thing that can fail.

As for mkc, they make a good knife. So does Benchmade. So do a bunch of custom makers.

 

[Sns2]

Looks awesome, how do you order one? Quick google search and all I see is instagram, which I’m not getting one for just to order a knife.
couldn’t even find a phone number.

Clint lives in Strathmore, Alberta, Canada. Few hours north of Montana.

His email is [email protected]

He makes really nice knives, as do many of the makers who post here. A number of the guys on 24hr campfire have ordered from Clint and are very happy.

It is nice to be able to have choices where you know you are going to get an heirloom quality knife for less than a MKC.