Jonathan McNees’ Journey to the Top

Sportsman and former Marine Jonathan McNees’ journey as a knifemaker and entrepreneur wasn’t a lifetime dream. Rather, it began by surfing the internet and caught fire from there. “I started making knives in 2008 after discovering online forums where people were discussing making knives in their garages, etc. Before that, I really had no idea people were doing it. Not at that level, at least. Finding some brands I’d never seen before, like Strider, was what led me to find the knifemaking forums.” That spark caught fire and took the Alabamian on a ride from novice to custom knifemaker all the way to being the fine mid-tech factory owner he is today.

The reason Jonathan decided to move production knives in 2019 was his total output as a maker of fine custom knives was only around 200 to 300 knives per year. “I realized I couldn’t make the kind of impact in the industry that I wanted to by just flying solo doing customs. I not only wanted to be a craftsman, but I also wanted to build a business,” says McNees. “Watching people like Rick Hinderer, Mick and Duane from Strider, and Ernest Emerson let me know that it was entirely possible to make the leap from custom to production.” Even though Jonathan has made the transition to a seller of high-end production knives, he has done it cautiously slow to make sure his customers receive knives that are as close to his customs as they can be. Indeed, he has upgraded his hot-selling PM Mac 2 to a second-generation model and has recently added his third model, the Dixon, to the line. What McNees Knives lacks in models, it makes up for in finishes and designs in both the blades and handle treatments.

Straight Show Stoppers

There’s a reason the McNees Ridge Runner was named American-Made Fixed Blade Of The Year at the 2024 Blade Show in Atlanta, Georgia. At just over 8.0″ overall (8.195″ to be exact), this is a fixed-blade that can wear a lot of hats, be they working in the field, doing EDC duty in the burbs, or tactical duty anywhere. The Ridge Runner’s blade is stout — 3.7″ of CPM 3V, Crucible Industries fine-grained non-stainless steel using the company’s famed powdered metallurgical technology. This is very tough steel and the Drop Point blade is deeply ground for cutting — and cutting some more.

Nowhere is the design of the Ridge Runner compromised for integrity — that’s not McNees’ style. The Ridge Runner’s 4.50″ handle is large enough to handle big mitts without sacrificing the average user a place at the table. And McNees gives it enough variations you forget it’s one design. The maker equips the knife with a Kydex sheath set up for belt carry with plenty of loops for strapping to gear.

Those who need a fixed-blade with a boost in size — and attitude — will find the recently added McNees Stalker right up their alley. While the Ridge Runner is a chore hound, the Stalker is a hound dog hell-bent on fighting. At 9.0″ overall with a 4.0″ Crucible Industries’ CPM S90v Clip Point blade, the Stalker is geared for combat. This fixed-blade has a lengthy 5.0″ handle sitting below a double-guard at the base of the business end. Our example has an Atomic gray stonewash finish with diagonally ribbed Tan G10 scales with a diagonally milled texture. Weight is a svelte 3.0 oz., and when not cleaning house, the Stalker stows away in a black Kydex sheath adaptable for various forms of carry.

Flagship Folder

When Jonathan launched his factory knives in 2019, the PM (Performance Machined) Mac 2 instantly became his flagship seller. The PM Mac 2, now in its second generation, is a frame-lock folder built for hard, rugged use and is just as comfortable doing so in both urban and field environments.

The PM Mac 2’s overall length is 7.6″ opened up and McNees has built his factory versions with the same quality materials found on his custom models. The PM Mac 2’s 4.0″ open frame is built from Titanium and the knife’s 3.5″ deeply ground MagnaCut Drop Point blade is the same top shelf steel as that found on his hand-made knives. The blade is accessed with right- or left-hand thumb studs via a caged ball-bearing pivot, locking up solid as a bank vault by the locking leaf on the rear frame rail. Out back is a machined 2.0″ pocket clip for stowing. Overall weight of the PM Mac 2 is an easy-to-carry 4.35 oz. There is also a slick push-button automatic version of this McNees icon available (see photo to the right).

Buying a PM Mac 2 is easy, but choosing from McNees’ delectable assortment of handle designs and anodizing choices will make you feel like a kid in an ice cream shop. Jonathan offers an array of handle finishes, textures and designs that will dazzle even the pickiest of carriers, with tantalizing names like Atomic, Frag, Honeycomb, Jolly Roger, Swerve and Shockwave. Add colorful anodizing in one or multiple colors from blazing to muted and the possibilities are brain-boggling.

Enter The Dixon

Those wanting more beef in a folder than the PM Mac 2 — whether they have bigger mitts or a bigger attitude, or both — can now have the recently added Dixon model. Named after the Darryl Dixon character in The Walking Dead, McNees’ version has all the attitude but is a heck of a lot better looking. The Dixon is 8.4″ overall, featuring a rugged yet refined frame-lock design with stout, contoured frame rails measuring 4.75″ in length. The 3.75″ blade Clip Point blade is premium Magnacut stainless steel, hollow-ground to perfection. The blade is accessed ambidextrously by a diamond-shaped hole and rolls out effortlessly on a caged ball-bearing pivot.

On the rear handle, the Dixon has a locking leaf that blends into the scale like pure poetry and an exquisite, machined 2.4″ pocket clip that adds to the clean styling. Often ignored, Jonathan has made the backside an intriguing part of the knife. As of this writing, the Dixon is relatively new, so we haven’t seen a lot of variations like those of the PM Mac 2, but you can bet you’ll see McNees’ touches added to the Dixon very soon.

Super-Highway Ahead

Jonathan McNees got a late start to both custom knifemaking and manufacturing, but he has come lightyears from the days he was surfing the web, discovering the craft. What is most impressive is how he was able to transfer his customs to new-tech manufacturing with very noticeable differences between the two. That’s due to his no-compromise attitude and firm stand on making his production knives right here in the U.S.A., so that he has his touch on every knife that leaves the premises. It’s the McNees way … the American way!

For more info: McNeesKnives.com