MKM Knives DCA Pocket Tango 1 Review

The MKM Knives DCA Pocket Tango 1 is a small-form fixed blade that carries on your belt or in your pocket. The Nessmuk version of this knife has proven to be problematic for yours truly. I wasn’t looking for another petite belt knife. I thought I already had that covered and that I would relegate this knife to bushcraft stuff.

However, the combination of the knife itself and its ambidextrous leather sheath quickly proved otherwise. When I am carrying it, I hardly know it’s there. When I am using it, I feel like I am performing surgery — it’s that precise.

I, of course, need to blame David C. Andersen — the “DCA” in the knife’s name — for this. He’s both the one person and the last person that you want designing knives. When he designs a knife, it’s a desirable culmination of materials, form, and function.

The downside to this is that I find it hard to put the MCM Knives DCA Pocket Tango 1 down. I use it for everything, even though some would consider its Nessmuk blade shape to be for specific tasks.

In short: Though not intended to replace your belt knife, a knife like the DCA Pocket Tango 1 from MKM Knives easily could. Especially when you consider the Nessmuk version, which is uber-efficient for shaving, slicing, cutting, and carving.

If you’re shopping for bushcraft knives, check out GearJunkie’s guide to the best bushcraft knives.

Design & Features

These days, it doesn’t get much better than MagnaCut and Micarta when it comes to knives that excel in form and function for use in the great outdoors. 

MagnaCut has quickly become one of the most sought-after EDC knife steels due to its corrosion and abrasion resistance and its ability to hold an edge for a prolonged period of time. Micarta is timeless. The more you use it, the better it looks. And no matter if your hands are wet or dry, you can expect a consistent and reliable grip.

Paired here with the swooping shape of the DCA Pocket Tango, it creates a precision experience bolstered by the Nessmuk-style blade. 

Part of that precision feel is due to the knife’s overall length of 6.69” and 2.54” blade length, coupled with its flowing design and tapered scales. This lets the handle fill your hand, and the blade extends out via various hand holds. And no matter how you plan on holding it, your thumb or finger always finds the jimping on the down swoop in the spine of the blade.

Leather & Magnets

As good as leather sheaths look, they’re generally right-hand carry only. As a lefty, I’ve overcome it over the years and just take the knife out and put it in my left hand. However, that’s not a present obstacle with the Pocket Tango.

The leather sheath can carry the knife facing forward or backward. Additionally, the belt flap uses magnets to secure the sheath around your belt or in your pocket. This allows for the MCM Knives DCA Pocket Tango 1 to be worn on either side and attached or removed quickly.

First Impressions

The Pocket Tango is available in three blade shapes: Sheepsfoot (KnifeCenter Exclusive), Reverse Tanto, and Nessmuk. The first version of the knife that I saw was the Reverse Tanto, and I was impressed. Then I saw the sheepsfoot style and was intrigued.

When I saw the Nessmuck version, I knew I needed to get my hands on the knife as soon as possible. When David C. Andersen reached out to me about it, I was stoked, and then honored, and then determined.

This is a small and slight knife, but it’s not limited by its stature. If anything, the size and shape dance really well together here. You can use the Pocket Tango as a utility knife or for precision tasks. It’s really up to you, but keep in mind that you should push the limits of this knife. Just because it’s small and has a Nessmuk-style blade doesn’t mean you have to keep it to bushcraft tasks and elegant food prep. 

Regarding the sheath, I was both intrigued and skeptical. I love leather and I love magnets. However, I was concerned that due to how tightly the knife fits in the sheath, the magnets wouldn’t hold when I tried to retrieve the knife.

I’m happy to report that in the few test runs I have had with the sheath, it’s not going anywhere. No, you can’t just yank the Pocket Tango out of it. But placing your thumb firmly on the sheath leaves it in place and puts the knife at the ready in your hand.

Why Nessmuk?

Aside from the way it functions, the Nessmuk-style blade shape is a part of history. Call me old-fashioned, but I like knowing that there’s a little culture behind the unique shape.

George Washington Sears, who went by “Nessmuk,” was an author and outdoor enthusiast in the 19th century. He commissioned three-edged tools: a two-bit hatchet, a folding knife, and a belt knife with a deep belly and upswept point. These would become his “holy trinity,” and he used them to survive on his many expeditions.

The Nessmuk knife is specifically designed for skinning and slicing, but itor cutting, shaving, and carving — all with a heightened level of performance and precision. The original knife was compact, lightweight, and balanced. Since then, modern knifemakers have also maintained that form.

In the last few years, the Nessmuk style has made a significant comeback. For a knife mentioned only once in a book written more than a century ago, I hope the spirit of Nessmuk is enjoying this 21st-century resurgence.

MCM Knives DCA Pocket Tango 1: In the Field

We went through quite a different winter here in Connecticut. While I won’t say the amount of snow we had was extreme or even impressive, it stuck around for days at a time. This made my adventures in the outdoors a lot of fun, if not a little more complicated.

When it’s cold, we burn energy faster. So, if I want to stay outdoors longer, I need to eat. I don’t mind Probars in the warmer months, but in the winter, give me meats and cheeses and a warm cup of coffee or tea. Also, give me a little fire in a small clearing under a big pine tree so I can rest and enjoy these treats. For all of this to happen, I need a good knife, and the Pocket Tango has proven to be just that.

From making feather sticks for fire to slicing up venison sausage and Vermont cheddar, I have relied on the Pocket Tango for at least one thing, every day, in the last couple of weeks. It’s gone from a knife destined for those outdoor adventures to an EDC carry.

This, of course, is all part of a phase of life I am in, where I have fully embraced the pocket fixed-blade craze. But it also has something to do with how easily the leather sheath attaches to my belt and how easily it can be removed. 

That being the case, I like the option to carry it on my belt or in my pocket. I wear standard Carhartt Double-Front pants in my day-to-day life, but when there’s a lot of snow outside, I opt for overalls. There’s no option to wear a belt with overalls. Having the magnetic flap on the sheath makes going from pants to pants and belt to pocket nearly effortless.

The Lefty Factor

After writing everything here, I realized that I really didn’t drive home the ambidextrous advantage of the Pocket Tango’s sheath. That said, it shouldn’t go unnoticed.

That’s a big deal in a knife market where most leather sheaths are right-hand carry. As a knifemaker, it’s something that kept my business partner and me from pushing leather sheaths. Without fail, someone would ask for a left-hand version.

In Conclusion

Knives like the MKM Knives DCA Pocket Tango 1 are a clear indication that the “pocket fixie” movement is here to stay. A little precision goes a long way when you have a knife like this that you plan on relying on. It’s an enjoyable experience, overall.

That being the case, if you’re looking to hop on the pocket-fixed blade bandwagon, the Pocket Tango would be a good place to start. Even if labels don’t matter to you and you’re just looking for a good, reliable, fixed blade knife to add to your kit, this knife will impress you for years to come.

And maybe it’s not the Nessmuk version? Perhaps you’re a sheepsfoot junkie. Cool. You’ll still get to enjoy the ergonomics of the knife as well as its ease of carry and accessibility.