Rod, Reel, and MagnaCut Steel: MKC x Huk Flathead Fillet Knife Review

The collaborations keep on coming. This time, MKC has partnered with Huk to bring a sharp edge to your tacklebox and wardrobe.

On Saturday, August 17, at 10:00 a.m. MDT, you’ll be able to get your hands on the MKC x HUK Flathead Fillet knife and the Performance Hoodie. The collaboration between these two brands makes a ton of sense when you think about how many fishermen are wearing Huk apparel and using fillet knives.

Fortunately, I’ve had the pleasure of testing the Flathead Fillet Knife for some time now, and let me tell you, this ain’t yo pappa’s fillet knife.

Sure, spending $300 on a fillet knife might seem like a stretch for your average fisherman, but if you’re the type of angler who finds the end of their days spent cutting fillets (yeah, that rhymes), then investing in a solid fillet knife is worth every penny.

In short: The MKC X Huk Flathead Fillet Knife has the serious edge we’ve come to expect from MKC, with exactly the right amount of flex to wiggle the most bang off the bone. I could include a line about needing a little cerakote on your boat, but I think I’ve hit my rhyme quota for this review already. Honestly, If you’ve got the bulk in your wallet and the lifestyle that finds you slicing up fish on a regular basis, this knife is money well spent.

MKC X Huk Flathead Fillet Knife Review

Check Price at MKC

Specifications

• Blade steel: MagnaCut stainless steel
• Design: Full tang construction
• Overall length: 12.5”
• Blade length: 7”
• Knife weight: 4.6 oz.
• Blade finish: Black Cerakote
• Handle material: G-10

Pros

• Incredibly sharp
• Holds an edge
• Just the right amount of flex for the job

Cons

• Expensive

Rachelle Schrute

Flathead Fillet Knife Specs

The Flathead Fillet is over a foot of radness with roughly a 50/50 handle-to-blade ratio, with just a hair more blade than the handle. It comes in several color combinations, all with a cerakote blade finish. I tend to prefer my knives with a bare steel finish, but the cerakote does seem to help with the oiliness of fish. It almost feels cleaner because of it.

The G-10 handle is bulletproof, literally, and is grippy in hand, even when wet. All in all, it’s everything you’ve come to expect from MKC’s hunting knives, but directed toward your hunts in the water.

Testing the Flathead Fillet

Full disclosure: I have used the original Flathead Fillet knife from MKC for a while now. Aside from the Benchmade Water Collection, it’s the only other knife that goes with me to the river or on the boat. This new collaborative knife with Huk is all the same greatness, with a little extra fishing swagger attached.

It was also a good reason to get my tail south and send bait down 200 feet to gather enough fare worth filleting. As such, I headed to Florida with Huk to see what we could gather from the salt. Fortunately, the sea gods smiled up at us.

After reaching a boat’s limit, we headed back inshore for the work to begin. Fortunately, I had the honor of being a bystander this time. Also, I’ve had plenty of time with the Flathead Fillet Knife in hand prior to this to know its capability.

The Flathead Fillet Knife has a more substantial feel in hand than you might expect from a fillet knife. The combination of MagnaCut steel and the G-10 handle makes the knife feel significantly more sturdy than that old $19 wood-handled fillet knife we all have in a drawer somewhere (you know the one).

I’ve actually used the Flathead Fillet to do some boning out of a few big game animals when I was too lazy to sharpen the knife I’d dulled. It has plenty of flex to work around the countless bones in a fish but plenty of guts to handle far more demanding jobs.

Who Should Buy the Flathead Fillet?

Listen, if you’re only using a fillet knife once a year like my dad, you might not need to invest in a $300 fillet knife. That old Rapala will do you just fine.

However, if you live on the coast and spend your evenings chucking scraps to the cats, you cannot go wrong with this knife. You’ll spend far less time and effort maintaining an edge and feel just a bit more oomph in your capability when the catch gets big. I personally love this knife and for me, even as a fly fisherman, I’d consider it a solid investment.

Final Thoughts on the MKC x Huk Flathead Fillet

Even with a price tag that might be tough to stomach for many fishermen, the MKC x Huk Flathead Fillet is a knife I’m glad to have in my boat box. I know I’ll never have to buy another fillet knife, and when push comes to shove and I land those monster fish that are screaming to be tacos, it’s the knife I’ll reach for to get the big jobs done.

And if you feel like rounding out the package with a seriously technical sun shirt, toss one of the MKC x Huk Performance Hoodies in your cart while you’re at it.

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