NARROWBACK - BLACK
NARROWBACK - BLACK
NARROWBACK - BLACK
NARROWBACK - BLACK
NARROWBACK - BLACK
NARROWBACK - BLACK
NARROWBACK - BLACK
NARROWBACK - BLACK
NARROWBACK - BLACK
NARROWBACK - BLACK

NARROWBACK - BLACK

$300.00
Sold out
5.0
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
4 Reviews

Built for the Inside Job.

*The Narrowback handle is NOT dielectric. Follow proper safety procedures when using this knife.

Available Colors:

Pickup currently unavailable at MONTANA KNIFE CO SHOP

NARROWBACK - BLACK

MONTANA KNIFE CO SHOP

Pickup currently unavailable

8659 Robbins Rd
Missoula MT 59808
United States

+18888888888
$300.00

The Narrowback is an electrician’s knife. Its compact three-inch hawkbill is built to skin residential wiring, then conquer the utility work that fills the rest of the day, like cutting boxes, zip ties, and plastic.

Our founder and CEO Josh Smith spent 10 years as a lineman before founding MKC, and that decade on the poles inspired the Great Falls Skinner. The Narrowback carries the story indoors to the electricians pulling wire through conduit and crawling through rafters to reach the work.

The name “Narrowback” is old job site slang. Linemen develop broad backs climbing poles and handling heavy cable, and the guys working inside got tagged as “narrow backs.” What started as a jab between trades has become a term of endearment, and those inside guys have earned a knife of their own.

Specs
  • Blade Steel
    Magnacut Stainless Steel
  • Design
    Full Tang Construction
  • Overall Length
    7 5/8"
  • Blade Length
    3”
  • Blade Thickness
    0.120”
  • Knife Weight
    3.60 Oz
  • Blade Finish
    Stonewash
  • Handle Material
    G-10
GRADUAL HAWKBILL HOOK

Flatter than a traditional hawkbill curve, with a blade sharp enough to slide around wire.

Most hawkbills on the market run straight, then hook hard at the tip. The Narrowback moves away from that extreme hook. A blade this sharp slides around wire and splits through a bundle on its own.

The tip curves down and the edge sweeps up to meet it, so the point never leads the cut. For pull cuts through boxes and pallets, that geometry is safer than a drop point or clip point with the tip sticking straight out.
STONEWASHED MAGNACUT STAINLESS STEEL

Holds its edge through a full day of stripping wire and opening boxes.

Stripping wire, slicing zip ties, and breaking down boxes eats a cheap edge in a single shift. MagnaCut holds up. With 0.120 inches of cryogenically heat-treated stainless steel behind the edge, the Narrowback delivers toughness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance. It resharpens easily, even for novice knife owners.

Learn more about MagnaCut stainless steel from its creator, Larrin Thomas.

MINIMAL-HOTSPOT SLAB HANDLE

Flat G10 slab handle, rounded smooth, with nothing to wear into your hand over a long shift.

A working knife lives in your hand, so we kept the handle neutral: no heavy contouring or sharp corners, just a comfortable slab you can hold all shift. We maintained some rounding to keep the aggressive profile.

The full guard stops your hand from running onto the blade when you’re bearing down.

*The Narrowback handle is NOT dielectric. Follow proper safety procedures when using this knife.
WELL-DEFINED THUMB RAMP

The jimped thumb ramp locks your grip in, bare hands or gloves.

Most working knives address lock-in by adding a guard that rises from an overmolded plastic handle. We put the solution on the steel instead. The jimping on the ramp gives your thumb a defined place to lock in, cut after cut.
BUILT FOR THE TOOL BELT

Custom USA-made Kydex sheath for the belt, plus an exaggerated lanyard hole for the tether.

Each Narrowback comes with a custom USA-made MKC Kydex sheath featuring a built-in retention screw to adjust blade tension. At 7 5/8 inches overall and 3.60 ounces, the knife disappears on a loaded belt until you need it.

The oversized lanyard hole is there for a reason. Tether the knife to your belt or your kit, and stop donating blades to the job site.
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.
5.0
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
Based on 4 reviews
Total 5 star reviews: 4 Total 4 star reviews: 0 Total 3 star reviews: 0 Total 2 star reviews: 0 Total 1 star reviews: 0
100%would recommend this product
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4 reviews
  • KS
    Kyle S.
    Verified Buyer
    I recommend this product
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    9 hours ago
    Electrician knife

    As an electrician for 27 years, I've gone through a ton of knives. I've always stuck to utility knives with disposable blades because they work. I have tried the hawk bill style before and have hated them. They've always been impossible to sharpen and just don't feel good to use and they really don't cut all that well.

    When this knife was introduced I was skeptical about it but went ahead and purchased it to give it a try since I know what their other knives are like. This knife puts all other styles of hawk bill knives to shame. It slices through hard coating wire sheathing as well as rubber coatings with ease. It's easy to put a edge back on it when needed. I will say it is fairly heavy so I don't carry it on me and just leave it in my bag.

    I can see other uses also for it like in agriculture or making floral arrangements.

    Was this helpful?
    Montana Knife Company
    1 hour ago

    Thanks for the 5 star review Kyle! Love hearing that the Narrowback puts all other hawk bill knives to shame and that it slices through wire sheathing and rubber coatings with ease - that's exactly what we were going for with this design!

    It's awesome to hear from someone with 27 years of electrician experience who knows what works and what doesn't. The fact that you were initially skeptical about hawk bill style knives but this one changed your mind really means a lot. We put a ton of thought into making sure this knife would actually perform for people who use their tools hard every day.

    Super cool that you can see it working for agriculture and floral work too - always love hearing about the different ways people put MKC knives to use!

    Thanks for giving the Narrowback a shot and for your honest review and MKC support! 🇺🇸

  • SR
    Sam R.
    Verified Reviewer
    I recommend this product
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    3 days ago
    Came sharper than ever

    I’ve had this knife a week and I am extremely impressed. Used it on the job for a week to stripping wire, cutting down boxes, and scrapping Sheetrock. Still held the edge. I can’t say it enough how sharp MKC knives come from the factory. They seem expensive, but I always say buy the tool that fits the job, buy once, cry once.

    Was this helpful?
    Montana Knife Company
    21 seconds ago

    Thank you for the five stars on the Narrowback, Sam! We're absolutely thrilled to hear it came sharper than ever and has held that edge through a full week of serious work - stripping wire, cutting boxes, and scrapping Sheetrock - you're so right about that factory sharpness and the "buy once, cry once" philosophy, and that's exactly the quality and durability we put our heart into with every knife we make for folks who really depend on their tools on the job. It sounds like this Narrowback is proving itself to be the perfect workhorse for your daily needs!

  • W
    Wade
    I recommend this product
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    1 week ago
    5 Stars

    Excellent design for stripping wire and actually works really well as an edc in the warehouse setting of a shop. Great working/tradesmans blade!

    Was this helpful?
    Montana Knife Company
    1 week ago

    Thank you for your review Brandon!

  • K
    Kirk
    I recommend this product
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    1 week ago
    5 Stars

    This is a five star company from knives to clotheing to customer service Josh has built a great american compnany!!!

    Was this helpful?