knives
McNees makes folding and fixed-blade knives, with deep hollow grinds as a defining feature of its designs. The Alabama-based business grew from Jonathan McNees’s custom knife shop into a family operation producing small-batch and hand-finished knives. Its lineup includes manual and automatic folders as well as fixed-blade models.
The PM Mac 2 folding knife comes with a 3-inch or 3.5-inch blade, while the AutoMac is an automatic folder. The PM Mac 2 sizes offer a choice between a more compact and a fuller-size knife for everyday carry and utility cuts. AutoMac provides an automatic-opening option for pocket carry.
Folding knives for everyday use
The PM Mac 2 is McNees’s manual folding knife family, with 3-inch and 3.5-inch blade options. The shorter version gives customers a more compact folder; the 3.5-inch version offers a longer blade for utility cutting. Current PM Mac 2 models use CPM MagnaCut steel, while earlier or other McNees knives may use different steels. Check the individual model details when comparing a specific knife.
AutoMac is the brand’s automatic folding knife. It differs from the PM Mac 2 in its opening mechanism, while both are pocketable folding designs. McNees also makes fixed-blade knives for customers who prefer a blade that does not fold. Handle materials and features vary by model and configuration, so they should be checked on the relevant product listing.
Materials and construction
McNees uses 6AL-4V titanium for the scales on most current folding knives. Titanium provides a durable handle material, but it is not universal across the range. Current folders also use stainless steel hardware, caged bearings and a ceramic detent ball. Bearings support the blade’s pivoting movement, while the detent helps hold the blade closed until it is opened. McNees notes that its folders are hand-fitted, so blades should not be swapped between knives.
Company background
Jonathan McNees began making knives in 2008. The business has grown from a one-person custom shop into a family operation producing small-batch and hand-finished knives in Vernon, Alabama. McNees states that its lifetime warranty covers craftsmanship and materials under normal use; coverage excludes damage from improper use, inadequate maintenance and aftermarket modifications.