Adam Scepaniak 04.10.24
If you spend any discernable amount of time in the outdoors, you will understand and know the value of a good blade. Many of us have everyday carry (EDC) knives for all manner of tasks. From cutting cardboard boxes, snapping zip-ties, buttering the sandwich in our lunch, and even for use as a self-defense tool. Potentially all of the above. What do you do if you need an even larger blade? For sawing tree limbs, cutting wood, batoning sticks, or other outdoor tasks? Then, most of us would jump to an axe. The problem with an axe is that they are often large and cumbersome – robustly built for chopping down trees – and fail in a lot of the smaller tasks we mentioned. So, what do we use then if a carry knife is too small and an axe is too large. A forgotten, but perfectly appropriate tool is a reliable hatchet. Gone by the wayside for many blade manufacturers, Montana Knife Company (MKC) is still crafting hatchets – and rather good ones, at that. So, today we will take a look at the Montana Knife Company (MKC) Hellgate Hatchet in an all Black colorway to see how it performs under our testing. Let’s dive in!
Montana Knife Company (MKC) Coverage on AllOutdoor
Specifications – Montana Knife Company (MKC) Hellgate Hatchet
The Montana Knife Company (MKC) Hellgate Hatchet has an MSRP of $375 in its 6 different colorways of Black, Orange/Black, Green/Black, Tan/Black, Grey, and Olive. For all of today’s review on the Montana Knife Company (MKC) Hellgate Hatchet, we will be speaking to the all Black version. All of the specifications, features of note, and a word from Montana Knife Company (MKC) on the Hellgate Hatchet can be read below:
- Blade Steel: 52100 Ball Bearing Steel
- Design: Full Tang Construction
- Overall Length: 10 1/16″
- Blade Length: 4 7/8″
- Knife Weight: 14.9 Oz
- Blade Finish: Black Parkerized
- Handle Material: G-10
- Manufactured: 100% Made in the USA
- Hand Finished: In Montana
Every hunting blade in the MKC lineup is tough enough to baton wood and perform essential campsite tasks, but we’re not satisfied with “good enough.” That’s why we’re so excited to introduce you to the newest member of the Montana Knife Company family: The Hellgate Hatchet.
Crafted with passion and designed to be the ultimate packing and hiking companion, this little beast is as handy as it is resilient. Chop wood, clear your campsite, and start fires with ease.
- Parkerized 52100 Carbon Steel Blade – The Hellgate Hatchet is made from cryogenically treated 52100 high-carbon ball-bearing steel, achieving the perfect balance of edge retention, toughness, wear resistance, and easy resharpening.
- The steel is also parkerized to a matte black finish, which minimizes rust and glare.
- Hair Shaving Edge – While most hatchets are primarily designed to be swung, the Hellgate can do more than brute force. We gave it the same super sharp edge as our knife blades to make it even more useful.
- If you find yourself without a knife, no problem. The Hellgate’s edge acts like a curved bladed knife, allowing you to open a chest cavity and field dress an entire animal.
- Multi-Use Head – The butt of the head protrudes from the handle, giving you extra steel for a variety of tasks like digging rocks and dirt, pounding tent stakes, breaking up ice, and poking your fire.
- This makes the Hellgate hatchet a do-it-all tool for any task on around the campfire or when you’re in the backcountry.
- Bulletproof G-10 Handle Scales – The Hellgate’s handle scales are made from the same G-10 material found on many of our knives. G-10 is famous for being strong, durable, and lightweight — unmatched by any natural handle material.
- It can withstand any abuse without cracking or breaking, won’t absorb blood, and provides excellent grip, even when wet. We’ve also given the base of the handle a large knob that lets you lock in your grip when swinging the hatchet.
- Exclusive MKC Kydex Sheath – Each Hellgate comes with a 100% Made in the USA, custom MKC Kydex sheath.
- The Hellgate Hatchet sheath comes with a single-direction snap that prevents the knife from coming out of the sheath by accident and haptic feedback when sheathing or removing the blade.
- Free Sharpening for Life & Beyond – Generations® is our promise to restore your knife to its original, unmatched working condition.
- MKC will clean, sharpen, repair, and even reshape your blades when necessary, as well as rewrapping handles free of charge.
- While we perform all necessary sharpening and maintenance, our aim is not to return your knife to its brand new appearance. Learn more about MKC Generations Promise.
Field Use – Montana Knife Company (MKC) Hellgate Hatchet
So, how did this lil’ Hellgate Hatchet perform out in the field?… I found this hatchet to be equally – impressively, and concerningly sharp – when I used it. I resoundingly stand behind both of those adverbs because I would never expect such a primal tool as a hatchet to be so sharp (impressive) and it was so sharp that I had to be cautious using it (concerning). The blade sharpness Montana Knife Company (MKC) achieves on the Hellgate Hatchet is truly one-of-a-kind.
As far as the handle and grip panels go, the G10 grip panel material felt nice in the hands to simply hold this hatchet, but when chopping and striking wood vigorously I found it to be a little slick. If the G10 grip panels were stippled or had some kind of texturing to them, it would lend this hatchet to having more dexterity when your hands/palms are sweaty or you’re simply going to town chopping on a piece of wood.
Another trait that I loved is how lightweight this hatchet is. I own other hatchets that I have used for camping in the past as well as trapping, and those other hatchets in my inventory are heavy. The don’t feel like a handy, lightweight hatchet (like the very lightweight Hellgate Hatchet); rather, they feel like a chubby, heavy, micro axe. So, the Hellgate Hatchet scores well on handiness, its light weight, and overall ability to easily wield it out in the field.
Speaking to the utility of the Hellgate Hatchet, this hatchet is great for campfire work. If you need to baton small pieces of wood to create tinder and kindling, this is a phenomenal campfire hatchet for that. It is a little too small and light to chop down trees of larger sizes, but it does a wonderful job cleaning branches, stems, and whittling wood.
A final and additional point to the sharpness of this hatchet I would make is that the blade is so sharp that I was cautious removing it from its kydex sheath on my hip. It’s not a hatchet you’re going to whip out of its holster/sheath at a moment’s notice because you may accidentally nick yourself and soon need a tourniquet. So, simply a word of caution: Montana Knife Company (MKC) has accomplished such an amazing edge to this hatchet that you do need to manipulate it with care.
Final Thoughts – Montana Knife Company (MKC) Hellgate Hatchet
So, what are my final thoughts on the Montana Knife Company (MKC) Hellgate Hatchet in an all Black colorway?… Overall, for the everyday outdoor enthusiast, hunter, or camper type, this might come across as an expensive hatchet at $375. But, for all of us with a lot of outdoor experience and countless hours behind knives, hatchets, axes, and chainsaws, you will be able to recognize just how good of a hatchet this is and not scoff at the price. The value is present in this hatchet if you want this to be your last one. All that being said, I firmly support anyone who is eyeing this hatchet. Dive in, grab one, you will love it.
In closing, I want to say thank you to Montana Knife Company (MKC) for allowing AllOutdoor and myself the opportunity to try out their Montana Knife Company (MKC) Hellgate Hatchet in an all Black colorway. That is greatly appreciated. Also, we would like to know what all of you guys and gals think? Do you believe that the Montana Knife Company (MKC) Hellgate Hatchet in an all Black colorway is something worth spending your money on? Would you deploy one for hunting this fall? Take it with you camping? Use it everyday in your kitchen at home? As always, let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
