Mission knives

J

jamaljahda

Joined
Mar 4, 2009
Messages
616
Hello I have been searching the Internet and came across mission knives. I really like the appearance and like that it will never rust and that they have never had one break in the field according to them. ( where else did they break)? Are they really that good? I am looking at a mpk-10-ti it has a 5.75 inc blade and 4.75 in handle perfect for my uses but the 300 dollar price tag is making me cringe. Another 150 and I could buy another glock or at least an endless supply of mora stainless knives
 
They are quality knives, but I think they use titanium as an excuse to charge crazy prices for their product. A good stainless steel knife will be 99% rust proof if handled smartly. The only way I can see titanium being a real advantage is if you are working day in and day out in salt water. Otherwise, you can get better knives for a third of the price.
 
Last edited:
The company is not the same as it was since John, the owner died and his widow sold it. Its no longer even really a viable knife company from what I hear. I don't expect them to be around much longer because after the current inventory is gone I doubt they'll make more knives. I don't think they have made anything actually since they bought the company. Word has it they just bought the company for the inventory of titanium. I can't verify this but thats what I hear. If you see something you like grab it. Most of the knives are tough as nails. They won't keep an edge that well but if you use it on softer materials and/or are just wanting something you can abuse the crap out of and be carefree about well, there isn't much better. You could salt water dive with one all your life, wash it off in puddles or the ocean waves, have it on you in the tropics or the amazon rain forests or the north pole and it would always look the same other than the dings and scratches you impose on it.

They are overpriced and you will be sharpening a lot. Otherwise the knives are solid and do have their place. Like I said though I would not count on much from the company and certainly wouldn't bank on being able to get another of whatever you buy from them if you go back this time next year looking. I'm not saying they won't have some left by then but I really don't believe the new owner is all that interested in making knives. I mean they sold out of the folders and are not making more of them so I assume that will be the story on everything else once its gone.

STR
 
Thanks I like it but don't think I can justify 300+ for a knife from A company that is on it's way out and I can't get a warranty or replacement should something happen without it being abuse. Maybe if I find one second hand I might be interested otherwise I'm going to pass
 
really the only big advantage to titanimum is digging for mines & working with a sparkproof alloy. i.m.o.dennis
 
I owned a MPF Ti tanto for a bit... sold it. If you want a decent Ti knife, look up Warren Thomas.
 
I bought a Mission MPT for the weight reduction and after trying to sharpen it, I realized why they don't break - its because nobody uses them - you just cannot get them sharp. I agree 100% that a good stainless knife, well maintained will do a much better job. My Mission knife is just a collectors item now. It may seem OTT at first, but for underwater work, you should check out the Dartmoor knife.
 
The short answer is: yes, they are that good. Rick Schultz would readily agree with many of the LEO communities and soldiers that favor the use of beta-ti products. If weight is a factor, then this is the survival knife for you. My MPK is the only 1/4 inch bowie in my collection that is ultra light when compared to the Camp Tramp or the SOD. Edge holding is acceptable. I also have an A2 variety (die steel) that is tougher than anyone can fathom. Both knives are excellent choices for a survival kit. The beta-ti knives are not suitable for chopping due to weight considerations. They are, however, almost bullet-proof for many abusive cutting chores. Five hundred years from now, the beta-ti knives will still be here whereas the high carbon crowd will have long since blown away into tiny dust particles.

Not sure what is happening with the company at the moment, but they will probably be around for a while. Mission has a 'niche product' that will entice certain buyers and those that want something a bit off the beaten path. You get what you pay for!
 
They have changed owners.

The new owner was indeed interested in the titanium for other applications as well.

The new owner really liked the knives, and beat the tar out of an MPK-12 for kicks. There is a lengthy story of how it went somewhere else.

The new owner is still making knives, and working on new models.

I have no idea how long the transition took, will take, or if it has been completed. If you are interested in the knives, give them a phone call and see how things are going for them right now. While you're at it, ask why their knives are special, and what the point of them is. I bet you'll get plenty of info to make an informed decision.
 
omg! mission knives is hardly ever discussed.
and perhaps if one was to look at it's early beginings, then maddog knives probably have lot's to say.
i wouldn't know how true it was, rumours that the late John just wasn't cut out to be running the business.
but from what i understand, John truly loved his knives and was a nice and sincere person.
btw, isn't there a dedicated mission-k forums elsewhere to look up details of the company's direction and it's products?
 
Any Cal. said:
They have changed owners.

The new owner was indeed interested in the titanium for other applications as well.

The new owner really liked the knives, and beat the tar out of an MPK-12 for kicks. There is a lengthy story of how it went somewhere else.

The new owner is still making knives, and working on new models.

I have no idea how long the transition took, will take, or if it has been completed. If you are interested in the knives, give them a phone call and see how things are going for them right now. While you're at it, ask why their knives are special, and what the point of them is. I bet you'll get plenty of info to make an informed decision.
Click to expand...

Well, I haven't seen any new inventory. I look there all the time and all I've seen is depleting inventory with no restocking which indicates to me that the company is not making much.

jack lowe said:
yes they still a forum on knifeforums. :)
Click to expand...

That forum may as well be renamed the dead zone because the only people posting on it are a few of the same folks all the time, some of which seem pretty angry and disgruntled by things, but the one thing you don't see is anyone from Mission there to answer even important questions when asked. I think the last post made there was the end of July so it appears its not that active for a manufacturer forum. What you get instead is some other guys speaking for the new owners when a question is asked which is all well and good but hardly enough to indicate serious interest in maintaining the company image or improving it. If actions speak louder than words what are we to make of this? Hmm. Good question to ponder I think.

I hear they are making a new web site and working on new products and new designs but seriously I've been hearing that since the day he bought the company. Surely they have something to show for all that time and work unless its just a bunch of empty words??? I haven't even seen a new link to this new site they are building.

I have a Mission MPF-3 and I love the knife even with its shortfallings and I'd love to see someone redesign it and improve it to start selling them again. I'd love to have another one like this one and just do the fixes myself to improve it like I did on this one I have but they are gone from the web site. No new ones have taken their place and I've heard there were new ones coming out. Of course this was over a year ago now. Where are they? Who knows?

STR
 
Purchased a latest model MPF with skeletonised handles and tip up carry just before Xmas 2009. Lucky to get one I suppose but it came blunt and took ages to sharpen, still not quite shaving sharp, unlike the MKT fixed blade I bought years ago which came razor sharp
 
Thrustus the MPF you bought is actually called MFK 1 and was not created by teh new owners but was made by John years ago. Go to the other site and search back in and you'll find where this knife was made and when. The new people have even tried to claim it was new and someone on their forum went back and referenced the previous post by John which included pictures of the knife you have. Reason it came blunt was because it was part of the old stock left over when the company was sold, John made a handful of which one was sold on ebay by an employee of Mission several years ago, and one was sold to a guy over seas in Europe and well I see your also over seas, wow how ironic.
 
STR said:
Well, I haven't seen any new inventory. I look there all the time and all I've seen is depleting inventory with no restocking which indicates to me that the company is not making much.



That forum may as well be renamed the dead zone because the only people posting on it are a few of the same folks all the time, some of which seem pretty angry and disgruntled by things, but the one thing you don't see is anyone from Mission there to answer even important questions when asked. I think the last post made there was the end of July so it appears its not that active for a manufacturer forum. What you get instead is some other guys speaking for the new owners when a question is asked which is all well and good but hardly enough to indicate serious interest in maintaining the company image or improving it. If actions speak louder than words what are we to make of this? Hmm. Good question to ponder I think.

I hear they are making a new web site and working on new products and new designs but seriously I've been hearing that since the day he bought the company. Surely they have something to show for all that time and work unless its just a bunch of empty words??? I haven't even seen a new link to this new site they are building.

I have a Mission MPF-3 and I love the knife even with its shortfallings and I'd love to see someone redesign it and improve it to start selling them again. I'd love to have another one like this one and just do the fixes myself to improve it like I did on this one I have but they are gone from the web site. No new ones have taken their place and I've heard there were new ones coming out. Of course this was over a year ago now. Where are they? Who knows?

STR
Click to expand...

Valid points. I checked the website last night, because I knew that they were supposedly redoing it, but it still looked the same. I haven't looked at their forum in a long time...

I guess until something happens I may have to agree with the "actions speak louder than words".
 
The is some misinformation regarding Mission & Beta C titanium.
They are quality knives, but I think they use titanium as an excuse to charge crazy prices for their product. A good stainless steel knife will be 99% rust proof if handled smartly.
Click to expand...
Unless you are referring to H1 or Bohler N680 you are wrong. High carbon stainless steel is more corrosion resistant than carbon steel but it is not rust proof. Ask any salt water fisherman.
really the only big advantage to titanimum is digging for mines & working with a sparkproof alloy
Click to expand...
Titanium is NOT sparkproof!

I have a custom knife made from Beta C. Ed Schemmp forged the blade and Nick Wheeler finished the knife. Both knifemakers said it was very very difficult to work and neither wanted to work with it again.

Cutting Beta C is horrible. Grinding it make lots of sparks and removes the grit from your belts without removing much titanium. If you can break a Mission titanium knife you must be part gorilla. It is very strong. I've been trying to find Beta C sheet for years. The only form I found was rod. If you find sheet please let me know.

I think $300 for a Mission knife is a good value.
 
STR, how much trouble do you have sharpening your MPF-3? I thought about sending my MPF-1 in for sharpening and some other work. but now i'm little worried about the company now. :)
 
Not much trouble really. I use a diamond DMT on mine, stropping it after that hard on a card board like that found on the back of a legal pad followed by some pant leg strops on my jeans. Seems to do just fine. I like this knife, so don't get me wrong when I state what I do about the company. In fact I venture to say its the single toughest folder I own. I've never had any worry about it. It cuts and I can attest to the fact that it cuts flesh very well including mine :eek:! This knife has been through about 25 white tail in its life at this point and its been cleaned countless times in mud puddles, and grimy ponds. I also carry it when I'm cutting grass or doing chain sawing to get fire wood. It doesn't mind salty sweat any more than it does salt water marshes.

Seriously I would love to get hold of some Beta C myself for some blades, especially since I found some 2-56 ti screws to use for some assembly work and some ti rod to use for pivot and stop materials.. I have used Stellite, made a blade out of Talonite that I got from Chuck (last one) and personally I like Beta C better than both of those materials. You know as I said you'll be sharpening it but its not as bad as some make out and it really depends on how you use it and what you use it on like it does for anything else we carry. For example I carried an old Buck 501 for half my life and this Mission folder keeps an edge every bit as well as that knife ever did and for that matter I'm not sharpening it any more than I do my 1972 Buck 112 either. Not to pick on Buck but thats just what comes to mind. Perhaps the only draw back to the folder from Mission anyway, at least the one made with the Beta C blade, is the detent ball situation. The ball can't be steel or ceramic so they use a nylon ball. Its better than nothing at all but basically its still somewhat of a compromise. I have to keep my pivot tighter than I would like just to keep the thing from being a gravity knife is what I'm indicating. Still, I love the knife though and wouldn't part with it.

Chuck is right though about the sparks and titanium. The thing is its not magnetic and is rust proof. Long after our civilization is gone some new civilization will find a Mission knife and have it on display in a museum looking much as they do right now only it will be thousands of years from now! Back to the sparks. If I have a sheet of metal in my hand in the shop and am not sure what it is all I have to do is touch it to a grinding belt after getting it rolling and the sparks tell all. If its unhardened stainless its nothing and not even enough to bother my 11 year old Saint Bernard from a rest. But if its titanium she'll hop right out of the way and get the hell away from it. Ti sparks leave a trail two and a half feet long and thats 6Al stuff. Beta will certainly spark though and perhaps the best thing about it is the toughness. You're a real He Man if you can break this stuff.

STR
 
Last edited:
thanks for the info! :) i can attest to the dentent ball problem. i've had to get replacements from mission a few times.
 
Mission knives are TOUGH. I have all but literally beat on the ones I have with a pipe or something else, and they just will not break. The beta c is over the top, John told me about a naval office that had one in his desk and every day the guy would put the blade up to the hilt/handle in a crack in his desk and literally jump on the handle. It would not break, finally the guy got pissed off and just started putting a portion of the blade in say like the first 25% and eventually the guy was able to break off a small piece at the tip.

STR is right, long after were gone some life form will dig up one of these and it will pretty much look exactly like it does today. Again, the stuff is tougher than anything I've ever had any experience with other than maybe Infi but Infi is going to rust. Beta C is the ultimate "hard use" folder material. NO MAINTENANCE other than sharpening, it will not rust, it is TOUGH and has EXCELLENT WEAR RESISTANCE. It is the ultimate bend don't break and "one knife" material. There aren't a whole lot of folding knives out there that you could literally throw in the DEAD SEA and have someone fish it out a hundred years from now, clean it off and whamo pretty much just like the day you dropped it in. Say what you want but theres not plain and simple.

That said it is just a dam* shame the company can't get its act together.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top