The Mission is a lightweight, hard-use bushcraft knife designed by renowned custom knifemaker Steve Kelly for Shield Knife & Tool. Featuring a 3-7/8-inch CPM-3V steel blade with Scandi-style sabre grind and ergonomic Micarta or G10 handle, The Mission delivers exceptional toughness in a compact package. Whether your mission is backpacking, bushcrafting, backcountry fishing, or survival shelter-building, this knife is built for reliable performance on the farm, ranch, or wilderness.
What Makes The Mission Special?
The Mission combines the legendary toughness of CPM-3V steel with Steve Kelly's proven field knife design. The Scandi-style sabre grind provides excellent cutting performance and is easy to sharpen in the field, while the 0.156-inch spine offers the perfect balance of strength for batoning and fine edge geometry for precision work. At just under 4 inches, the blade is compact enough for detail work yet capable of serious backcountry tasks.
Blade Specifications
- Blade Length: 3-7/8 inches (3.875")
- Blade Material: CPM-3V steel - exceptional toughness, edge retention, and wear resistance
- Blade Thickness: 0.156 inches at spine - robust for batoning and hard use
- Blade Grind: Scandi-style sabre grind - optimized for bushcraft tasks and field sharpening
- Hardness: 60 HRC (Rockwell Hardness) - superior edge retention and durability
- Purpose: Multi-purpose bushcraft, survival, and backcountry tasks
Handle & Construction
- Handle Design: Ergonomic contour for comfortable extended use
- Handle Material: Micarta or G10 composite scales - extremely durable with excellent grip
- Hardware: Black nitride stainless steel screws - corrosion resistant and allow scale removal for maintenance
- Grip Performance: Secure handling during hard-use applications
- Balance: Optimized for control in both cutting and carving tasks
Overall Specifications
- Overall Length: 8-3/8 inches (8.375")
- Handle Length: 4.5 inches (calculated from overall length)
- Blade Thickness: 0.156 inches
- Steel Hardness: 60 HRC
- Manufacturing: Hand finished in Montana, 100% made in USA
Handcrafted Leather Sheath
- Sheath Material: Premium leather, handcrafted in Montana
- Construction: Dry-formed for secure, custom fit to the blade
- Belt Loop: 1-1/2 inch belt loop for secure carry
- Retention: Tight fit ensures knife security during active use
- Durability: Leather construction provides long-lasting protection
- Aesthetic: Traditional craftsmanship complements the knife's design
Technical Specifications Summary
| Specification |
Measurement |
| Overall Length |
8-3/8" (8.375") |
| Blade Length |
3-7/8" (3.875") |
| Handle Length |
~4.5" |
| Blade Thickness |
0.156" |
| Blade Material |
CPM-3V Steel |
| Blade Grind |
Scandi-Style Sabre |
| Handle Material |
Micarta or G10 |
| Hardness |
60 HRC |
| Sheath Material |
Leather (Handcrafted) |
| Belt Loop |
1-1/2" |
| Made In |
Montana, USA |
What Is a Scandi Grind?
The Scandinavian grind (Scandi grind) is a blade geometry that features a single bevel extending from approximately the middle of the blade to the edge, with no secondary bevel. This design is beloved by bushcraft enthusiasts for several reasons: it's incredibly strong, easy to sharpen in the field with minimal tools, excels at wood carving and feather stick creation, and provides excellent control for precision tasks. The Scandi-style sabre grind on The Mission offers these benefits while maintaining a more versatile cutting geometry suitable for a wider range of tasks.
What Is CPM-3V Steel?
CPM-3V is a high-performance tool steel engineered specifically for maximum toughness and impact resistance. It's one of the toughest blade steels available, making it ideal for hard-use knives that may encounter batoning, prying, or other demanding backcountry tasks. While CPM-3V requires maintenance to prevent corrosion, its exceptional durability and edge retention make it the preferred choice for bushcraft and survival knives where failure is not an option.
Design Philosophy & Applications
The Mission is designed as a do-it-all bushcraft and survival knife that balances compact size with serious capability. The sub-4-inch blade is long enough for camp tasks but short enough for detailed carving work. The Scandi-style grind makes it ideal for wood processing, while the CPM-3V steel ensures it can handle aggressive use without failure.
Common Uses:
- Bushcraft and wilderness skills practice
- Fire preparation (feather sticks, fire bow construction, kindling processing)
- Shelter building and wood carving
- Trap and snare construction
- Food preparation in the backcountry
- General camp tasks and survival scenarios
- Ranch and farm work
- Backpacking and lightweight wilderness travel
Who Should Buy The Mission?
- Bushcraft and survival skill practitioners
- Backpackers seeking a capable, compact field knife
- Hunters and anglers needing a reliable backcountry tool
- Ranch and farm workers
- Outdoor educators and wilderness guides
- Anyone seeking a tough, versatile everyday carry knife
What's Your Mission?
The Mission is named to inspire personal purpose and determination. Whether your mission is mastering bushcraft skills, exploring remote wilderness, or simply being prepared for whatever challenges arise, this knife is built to support your goals with unwavering reliability.
Designed by Steve Kelly
Steve Kelly is a renowned custom knifemaker known for designing tactical and field knives for professional users. His collaboration with Shield Knife & Tool on The Mission brings decades of knife-making expertise and field-tested design principles to create a bushcraft knife that performs when it matters most.
Hand Finished in Montana, USA
Each Mission knife is hand finished in Montana and manufactured 100% in the United States, ensuring the highest quality standards and supporting American craftsmanship.
SKT Lifetime Warranty
The Mission is backed by Shield Knife & Tool's transferable lifetime warranty against defects in workmanship, materials, and manufacturing. No receipt required - if it has the SKT mark and something isn't right, we'll fix it or replace it. The warranty does not cover misuse, intentional damage, or normal wear and tear.
View full warranty details and process →
Free Spa Treatment Service
Every Mission knife includes lifetime access to our complimentary Spa Treatment service. Send your knife back to SKT for professional sharpening, blade finish restoration, and handle reconditioning - completely free. This service ensures your bushcraft knife maintains factory performance after hard use in the field.
Learn about Spa Treatment service →
