The Rinella Flattail, the second blade in our collaboration with “MeatEater” host Steven Rinella, is a lightweight, all-around knife that’s perfect for long trips into the wilderness.
Stylistically, it’s similar to the Rinella Stubhorn, its big brother, but it’s more suited for ultralight backpackers and long-distance hunters.
This medium-small blade is fine and surgical, with an ultra-precise blade tip. You can keep it handy in your pack or on your person without being weighed down by extra ounces, making it perfect for long hunts.
It’s like a foil to the Rinella Stubhorn, but it shares the same design philosophy: accessibility and comfort for hunters of all backgrounds.
The Story Behind the Rinella Flattail
The name “Flattail” references beavers. Steven Rinella started trapping at a young age, and beavers were a common quarry. In fact, beaver trapping was where his passion for conservation really began, and he wished he had a knife like the Flattail to use at that time.
The Flattail is an excellent knife for small to medium game, such as beaver or turkey. It excels at minor cuts, where the Stubhorn would be too large and clumsy for those delicate tasks.
When designing this minimalist blade, we prioritized function over form. While I believe we’ve perfected the Flattail’s form as well, its form serves its function in a way many overdesigned knives don’t.
Primary Uses and Functions
The Rinella Flattail excels at many precise tasks, especially processing small game. The Flattail provides extra control and accuracy when caping around delicate areas on large prey, too, such as antlers and necks.
When we designed the Flattail, Steven and I wanted to create a knife that could replace removable blade knives. It won’t break like a replaceable blade might, but it provides the same level of usability. Unlike a disposable blade, it’ll keep its edge over time, too.
The Flattail is functionally very similar to our MKC Speedgoat. However, the ergonomics are slightly different, and the Flattail has a full G10 handle instead of a paracord handle.
Because of that full G10 handle, it’s a little easier to keep the Flattail clean. You don’t have a handy paracord to repurpose during emergencies, but some hunters may find that trade-off worthwhile.
Steven Rinella’s MeatEater community attracts hunters from all walks of life, and we want his blades to reflect that. Thus, the Flattail is made for every hunter to use and enjoy. Whether you hunt large or small game at home or across the country, the Flattail is your next favorite knife.
Rinella Flattail Specs
The Rinella Flattail has a drop point, a solid G10 handle, a three-inch blade, and an overall length of just under eight inches. It has a full, flat grind with a ton of belly. It weighs just over three ounces.
We made sure to add a good-sized finger guard to the Flattail. It really lets you choke up on the blade for fine-detail work. We also included a lanyard loop for additional carrying options.
The blade itself is Magnacut steel with a stonewashed finish, and it comes with a matching Kydex sheath for protection.
Like all our knives, the Rinella Flattail is made right here in the United States.
About Steven Rinella
The Flattail is our second knife made in collaboration with Steven Rinella, host of the show “MeatEater.”
Steven is a hunting advocate, a passionate conservationist, and a great friend of Montana Knife Company. He loves introducing hunting to non-hunters by educating people on its benefits, discussing hunting safety, and making the sport accessible to everyone.
Unlike the Rinella Stubhorn, which we geared toward beginners, the Flattail is suited for advanced hunters. It’s a thinner, more delicate knife, so it might not be very intuitive for inexperienced hunters.
Final Thoughts on the Rinella Flattail
What do you think about the Rinella Flattail? I think it’s a welcome addition to our lineup and a fitting member of the MKC-Rinella family. It’s a knife I see myself keeping in my pack at all times.
I might not use it on every hunt, but at three ounces, I can include it in my kit without worrying about it weighing me down. It’s the perfect backup blade.
by Josh Smith, Master Bladesmith and Founder of Montana Knife Company
