The Speedgoat is Montana Knife Company’s flagship ultralight hunting knife. We named it after the pronghorn antelope, North America’s fastest land mammal. It’s for hunters who need to travel fast and light across demanding terrain, just like its namesake.
At just 1.7 ounces, the Speedgoat can handle tasks ranging from caping and gutting to skinning and deboning, all without adding unnecessary weight to your pack.
If you don’t live in Montana, you may not have heard of an animal called a “speedgoat” before. Let me explain why we chose this name and why it fits our most popular blade perfectly.
What Is a Speedgoat?
Here in Montana, “speedgoat” is slang for the pronghorn antelope. It’s one of our big game species here in the state’s eastern half, and it’s an all-around impressive animal.
The pronghorn is fast and wily, with keen vision. Its massive eyes give it a nearly 300-degree view, plus distance vision equivalent to looking through 8x binoculars at all times. Pronghorns can spot movement from miles away, which makes them notoriously difficult to approach.
But the pronghorn’s most famous trait is its speed. Clocking in at up to 60 mph, the pronghorn is the fastest land animal in the Western Hemisphere and the second-fastest in the world (only the cheetah is quicker). Unlike cheetahs, pronghorns can sustain high speeds for extended distances. They evolved alongside now-extinct American cheetahs, which explains their seemingly excessive speed.
When we set out to create an ultralight hunting knife, the pronghorn seemed like the perfect inspiration.
Why the Speedgoat Name Fits the Knife
The pronghorn is light and blazing fast, and that’s exactly what we designed the Speedgoat knife to be.
Western hunting often means facing miles of open country and steep ridges, as well as packing out game from remote locations. Every ounce matters when you’re 10 miles from the trailhead with a pack full of meat.
The Speedgoat’s skeletonized tang and thin blade profile keep its weight under two ounces, making it one of the lightest fixed-blade hunting knives on the market. And thanks to a handle wrapped in seven feet of 550 paracord, the Speedgoat brings a lot of versatility in a small package.
That paracord isn’t just for show. It can fix a broken boot lace, tie down a tent, hang meat from a tree, or serve as an emergency tourniquet. When you’re deep in the backcountry, having that extra cordage on hand can make a real difference.
MKC’s Speedgoat Lineup
The Speedgoat has been a fan favorite since its launch, so it’s only natural that we’d come up with a few variations over time. Today, we carry five different styles.
The Speedgoat 2.0: Our Flagship Ultralight Blade
The Speedgoat 2.0 is the knife that put MKC on the map. It’s the result of years of refinement based on real feedback from hunters in the field.
At 7 7/8 inches overall with a 3 3/4-inch blade, the Speedgoat 2.0 hits the sweet spot between compact and capable. The blade measures just 0.095 inches thick at the spine, which keeps the weight down to 1.7 ounces while still providing enough backbone for tough tasks.
You can choose between MagnaCut steel (available in polished or stonewashed finishes) or 52100 carbon steel with a PVD coating, depending on whether you prioritize corrosion resistance or strength. We wrap the handle in 550 paracord that doubles as emergency cordage when you need it.
The Mini Speedgoat 2.0: Big Performance in a Smaller Package
After noticing how popular the Speedgoat became among small-game hunters and everyday carriers, we created the Mini Speedgoat: a smaller, thinner, lighter alternative.
The Mini Speedgoat 2.0 comes in at 6 3/4 inches overall with a 3-inch blade and 0.09-inch spine thickness. Weighing only 1.21 ounces, it’s 40% lighter than its big brother. Steel options include MagnaCut or 52100 carbon steel, and it features the same 550 paracord handle.
We designed the Mini Speedgoat to tackle the same tasks as the full-sized version, but in a more compact package. Carry it in a pocket, on a backpack, on MOLLE webbing, and in places where the larger Speedgoat might not work. At just under three inches, the blade is legal for open carry in most U.S. cities, making it a favorite EDC blade for hunters who want a fixed-blade option for daily use.
The Speedgoat Ultra: Premium Performance With a Traditional Handle
Some of our hunters loved the Speedgoat’s blade but wanted a handle they could wipe clean easily.
The Speedgoat Ultra answers that call. It shares the same 7 7/8-inch overall length as the 2.0. The difference is its marbled carbon fiber handle, which sheds blood, dirt, and grime. The swirling gray and black patterns vary on each knife, giving each Ultra a one-of-a-kind appearance.
At 2.14 ounces with a polished MagnaCut blade, the Speedgoat Ultra is slightly heavier than the paracord version, but still remarkably light for a fixed-blade hunting knife.
The Tactical Speedgoat: Built for Hard Use
The Tactical Speedgoat takes our proven design and adds a Cerakote finish for hunters and outdoorsmen who need extra durability and corrosion resistance.
It keeps the standard Speedgoat dimensions: 7 7/8 inches overall, 3 3/4-inch blade, 0.1-inch thickness, and 1.7 ounces. The MagnaCut blade gets a Cerakote coating for an extra layer of protection from harsh conditions, salt, and heavy use. The handle remains wrapped in 550 paracord, preserving its survival functionality.
The Traditions Speedgoat: Classic Style Meets Modern Performance
The Traditions Speedgoat brings old-school aesthetics to our ultralight design. We craft the handle from desert ironwood, a material prized for its hard, closed grain that naturally repels oil, blood, and water. The wood stays clean and stable without warping or cracking, even after years of hard use.
This version ships with a premium leather sheath, handmade by Francesca Ritchie at Teton Leather Company, a classic alternative to our standard Kydex sheath. The durable and attractive MagnaCut blade completes the package.
If you appreciate traditional craftsmanship, Traditions delivers.
What Makes the Speedgoat Unique in the MKC Lineup
We build a lot of hunting knives at Montana Knife Company, and each one serves a specific purpose. Understanding what sets the Speedgoat apart will help you decide if it belongs in your pack.
Weight is the Speedgoat’s defining advantage. The Blackfoot 2.0 and Stonewall Skinner are both excellent knives, but the Speedgoat weighs less than half of either one.
The Speedgoat’s paracord handle also sets it apart. Most of our other hunting knives use G10 composite handles that wipe clean easily, but they can’t double as emergency cordage like the Speedgoat’s can.
If you’re hunting close to your truck, a heavier knife with more blade works fine. But when you’re hiking miles into the backcountry after pronghorn, mule deer, or mountain goats, the Speedgoat delivers serious cutting performance without the weight penalty.
Many MKC owners carry multiple knives on the hunt, keeping the Speedgoat on their pack strap for quick access while a larger blade stays in the kit for heavy processing work.
Why Pronghorn Hunters Need a Lightweight Knife
Pronghorn hunting is demanding. These animals live in open country where there’s nowhere to hide, and their incredible eyesight means you need to cover serious ground to close the distance.
Spot-and-stalk pronghorn hunting can involve crawling across sagebrush flats, belly-crawling through draws, and hiking miles to find an animal in a stalkable position. When you finally make a successful shot, you’re often far from your vehicle with little shade and warm early-season temperatures. Getting that animal processed and cooled down quickly matters.
The Speedgoat excels in this scenario. You’ll barely notice it clipped to your pack during the approach, but it’s sharp and capable enough to field dress a pronghorn quickly and cleanly.
One Speedgoat owner told me he processed six bucks in a row with his blade, and his hands still felt great afterward. That’s the kind of comfort and efficiency we designed this knife for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the Montana Knife Company Speedgoat get its name?
“Speedgoat” is Montana slang for the pronghorn antelope. We named our ultralight knife after this animal because they share the same qualities: speed, efficiency, and the ability to thrive in demanding terrain.
What’s the difference between the Speedgoat and Speedgoat 2.0?
The Speedgoat 2.0 includes safety and ergonomic improvements based on customer feedback: a new finger guard, a slightly longer handle, added thickness in high-stress areas, and a widened lanyard hole for easier paracord threading.
Can the Speedgoat handle big game like elk?
Yes. Despite its ultralight design, the Speedgoat is large enough to completely field dress an elk. The slim blade geometry actually makes processing easier because the edge cuts through tissue with minimal resistance.
Is the paracord handle hard to clean?
The paracord cleans easily with cold water and mild soap. For stubborn blood stains, a hydrogen peroxide soak works well. If your handle ever needs rewrapping, you can do it yourself or send it to us through the MKC Generations® program.
Should I choose the Speedgoat or the Blackfoot?
If you prioritize absolute minimum weight, choose the Speedgoat. If you prefer a traditional handle that’s easier to wipe clean, choose the Blackfoot. Both knives perform the same tasks just as well.
Find Your Speedgoat
We’re big Speedgoat fans around here, and our employees use it in the field all the time. I hope we’ve demystified the name and answered your burning questions about our flagship knife.
Explore the complete Speedgoat collection to find the variant that fits your hunting style.
by Josh Smith, Master Bladesmith and Founder of Montana Knife Company
