ESEE vs Spyderco Mule

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RG_Pippy

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Feb 11, 2011
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Hello all, I am looking for some information/opinions about a couple knives and the properties of the steel they use. I currently own an ESEE Izula II and an ESEE 4. These have been great for hard use/camping/bush craft type chores. However, I have one of the new Spyderco Mules in M390 on the way. Now, from my research and somewhat limited understanding of steel properties, it seems to me that with carbon vs stainless steels there are always tradeoffs. With carbon steels, you are trading corrosion or stain resistance for toughness and strength. The thing is, I've never had a knife in M390 before. I have knives in VG-10, 154cm, and S30V, but M390 is a bit of a curve ball for me. So, what are your opinions on Spyderco's M390 Mule for a bush craft/camping/hunting and possibly food prep knife versus the ESEE's? How do these two steels compare in strength, toughness, wear resistance/edge holding? Thanks.
 
Is this thing on? Nobody have any opinions on how M390 would hold up for a bush craft/camping/hunting knife? Is M390 just too new?
 
Well, I've only been flogging my M390 Mule for a couple of weeks, but it has held up quite well so far. The thing is, there isn't any bush to craft around here, so I have no idea how it would work for what you want to do, and the only ESEE I have to compare it to is a Junglas. The disparity of size kind of skews that comparison.
 
Haha, yeah the junglas is a tad bigger. From reading Ankerson's tests, it seems that M390 has pretty good edge retention. How has your experience been so far? Is it a PITA to sharpen? Thanks.
 
It's not bad to sharpen, but then I'm used to S90V, so you can take my opinion with a grain or two of salt. I've done quite a bit of whittling on hardwoods with the M390 Mule, and that doesn't seem to bother it a bit. I don't know how well it would stand up to batonning, as I prefer finesse to brute force, but it does finesse quite well.
 
RG_Pippy said:
Is this thing on? Nobody have any opinions on how M390 would hold up for a bush craft/camping/hunting knife? Is M390 just too new?
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You might want to read this =>> http://www.bucorp.com/files/Phil_Wilson_Testimonial.pdf


Bits taken from the manufacturer's FAQ:

What is your best stainless blade steel?

That depends on the application. Bohler M390 has the highest performance available and is priced to match. Uddeholm ELMAX is competitive with other powder stainless with excellent overall results. Uddeholm VANAX has the performance of ELMAX, combined with the corrosion resistance of 300 series stainless. Bohler N690 has great edge holding and sharpness in an economical conventional steel. N680 has good salt water corrosion resistance.

Why is Bohler M390 so good in knives?

Two reasons, first our third generation powder metal technology produces finer grain and more uniform carbides for higher toughness and the second is the chemistry of M390: 1.90% Carbon and 4% Vanadium for added abrasive wear resistance, 20% Chrome for increased corrosion resistance and added tungsten and molybdenum to increase performance and grain refinement. Working hardness from 60-62 Rc.

As a custom knifemaker should I use M390 in every knife?

Yes, if edge holding is your top priority and you want every knife to be at least 60 Rc hard. If toughness in a stainless is your number one priority then use Uddeholm ELMAX tempered to 58-59 Rc. If corrosion resistance is most important, Uddeholm VANAX is the choice.

How well do your stainless steels finish, can I mirror polish?

Our steels are fine grained and very “clean” with few inclusions that mar the final finish. M390 and ELMAX will take a mirror polish, but you are advised to do the final polishing, above 800-1200 grit, with diamond foil or paper. N690 and N680 are not for a full mirror finish, there is a slight “haze” in the steel.

What stainless can I easily sharpen in the field?

Of course that depends on your experience, but N690 and N680 are both conventional steels that respond to traditional sharpening techniques. M390 and ELMAX as high carbon and vanadium steels require more advanced sharpening tools and skills.
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Hope that helps.

Cheers.
 
With the blades of the knives of such a differen geometry... I think the knives are fahr too different to consider them for steel comparison. That is my personal impression from Izula and Mule I have.
 
Thanks a lot guys, great info there. Really looking forward to the Mule. Now if I can just get Tom Krein to do some handle/kydex work, I'll be a happy man!
 
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