Montana Knife Company is about to do another online knife drop, and this one might be worth waiting in line for. Whether you call it the MKC X Rinella Stubhorn Knife or the MKC X MEATEATER Stubhorn (the brand refers to it both ways), the knife itself has been a pleasant surprise that I’m glad to have on my belt.

I tend to view collaboration knives in the same way I view the new seasonal YETI color. Yeah, it’s fun. But is it really worth setting a timer to get online to get one? Usually, I’d say no. With this knife, it brought more than just a name and a new color. It’s a totally different blade and handle and I happen to love it.

It officially drops tonight (Thursday, June 27, 2024) at 7:00 pm MDT. Is it worth logging in and trying to get your hands on one before they inevitably sell out?

In short: The Stubhorn, branding and collaboration aside, is a rad knife and it might finally bump my beloved Stonewall Skinner out of my pack. At $325, it isn’t cheap but it falls in line with what you should expect to pay for a knife of this caliber.

MKC X MEATEATER Stubhorn Knife Review

One of the first things you’ll notice when you have this knife in your hand is the balance. The handle and blade are almost equal lengths, making it feel nimble and secure. The handle itself has no frills in design; it just fits well in your palm.

At 5.25 ounces, it feels shockingly substantial. When I first pulled it out of its sheath, I couldn’t tell the difference between it and the few Stonewall Skinners I have. Those knives are seriously substantial.

So I had to go to the side by side.

Before you view the next image: Josh Smith: I apologize. This is my least taken care of, most abused knife. I’ve loved it to death and haven’t been good to it. Left uncleaned, blood turns to rust.

Once you let the shock of that abused Stonewall Skinner wear off, you can see they’re similar but different in a few key ways.

The Stonewall is longer overall, with a longer blade/handle ratio. It also has a smooth, slightly downward-curved spine, whereas the Stubhorn is dead straight with traction ridges.

The safety guard on the Stubhorn is built into the handle, not the blade. This is a huge benefit over the Stonewall for me. There’s extra security when wet or bloody hands have a tendency to slip.

The deeper belly and surgical-style tip of the Strubhorn just might mean I can finally swap out my old Stonewall and get it in the mail to MKC for a little (OK, a lot of) much-needed love.

The Stubhorn is available in seven different handle colors, including MeatEater’s go-to Hunter Orange.

So, What Do I Think About the MKC X MEATEATER Collab?

Listen, if you haven’t noticed by now, I really do like this knife. It hasn’t been through a hunting season yet, but I have no reason to doubt its performance.

The shorter blade, bulkier guard, and top-notch material mean the MKC X MEATEATER Stubhorn is everything I need in a hunting knife and nothing I don’t. If you happen to be a MeatEater fan, well, that’s just a fan bonus.

If I were you and I was looking for my next hunting knife, I’d get in line and get one before they’re gone.