MT03P – Mule Team Fixed Blade featuring CPM®-S90V

Sal Glesser said:
Complaints on a project like this do tend to be discouraging.

sal
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I like to think of them as discussion rather than complaints. The whole point is to compare the differences in the steels. If CPM-S90V is tough to machine and polish that's part of the package. That's precisely what we want to know about.
 
I'm happy with my Mule's any darn way Sal wishes to sell them! :grumpy: I am just very very pleased to be able to play with the different materials! :D Keep 'em coming!
 
I have two S90V Mules and am very pleased with them. I get to try out a steel that I wouldn't have been exposed to otherwise, and am able to do so at a great price. As far as the finish goes, it is just fine by me. Since I am trying to evaluate the steel the knife is going to get used and used hard, which will degrade a smoother finish anyways. I personally would rather save money by buying them as they are now than pay more in order to get a satin finish. Thanks for making these available Sal. :)
PadaukMule.jpg
 
CUTS LIKE A KRIS said:
Sal- this was meant more as a post to see if perhaps the QC may be missing something as opposed to just a complaint, again sorry if it came off wrong but I would have felt I was doing others, and Spyderco a disservice if I did not mention it. Things happen and I wanted to see if anything was off with mine. Sorry about no pics- my camera is not interfacing with the new computer well- can't download.
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No worries, mate.

As Joe mentioned, the stuff is a "mutha" to grind. I'm sure none of them are perfect.

We're learning that each steel does present its own challenges, which makes the project challenging. We also don't get the repeat production experience to work out the problems with each new steel.

I'm afraid that "we" will all have to live with imperfections if we are to be able to keep making them.

I will say that I have been very impressed with the many beautiful handle and sheath variations that I've seen.

sal
 
CarpScot said:
I have two S90V Mules and am very pleased with them. I get to try out a steel that I wouldn't have been exposed to otherwise, and am able to do so at a great price. As far as the finish goes, it is just fine by me. Since I am trying to evaluate the steel the knife is going to get used and used hard, which will degrade a smoother finish anyways. I personally would rather save money by buying them as they are now than pay more in order to get a satin finish. Thanks for making these available Sal. :)
PadaukMule.jpg
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Nice handles on there! :thumbup:
 
Complaints on a project like this do tend to be discouraging.

sal
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You have been doing this longer than there has been an internet. As you know, people just seem to want to complain sometimes. That doesn't mean that your work isn't appreciated, even by those that are doing the complaining. It's just human nature I guess.

With the mule program you are not only breaking new ground, but you are getting people much more involved with the process of knifemaking, some of whom will hopefully be inspired to add their talents one way or another to the industry.

There is a lot of learning going on by everyone. Then, there are people like me who are just plain having fun.

I suppose if you have to put up with the occasional complaint by people who don't really see the big picture, this is the program worth putting up with it for.

We are the legacy we leave behind, not how much money we made, IMO.

I'll say it again Sal, thanks for the mule team program, and everything else you do for us knifeknuts. Joe
 
I'll second Joe's comment. I complain sometimes too but have no intention of changing my knife buying habits :)
 
Want to pipe up from the deep background to echo the thanks.

I'm having fun learning about steels I would never had learned about here (have an M4 blade, but 52100 and S90V are totally new to me).

I'm also having fun learning about how to put grips on knives and learning about the various natural and synthetic materials available.

And, my boys, 17 and 20, are having fun doing the same.

I am sorry I'm not providing detailed feedback on these metals. Maybe the most fundamental thing I'm appreciating is HOW GOOD these are. I thought the 52100 blade was amazing until I got working with the M4 - wow. And the S90V is at least as good as the M4. These are so good that it's hard to tell how much better one is than another or what circumstances favor one over another.

By the way, although it's presumably not really the point, I've decided that I really like the proportions and size of the Mule pattern. It's a great general purpose fixed blade of moderate size. I'm looking forward to each new version. Thank you again.
 
On a different note, does S90V mirror finish, and if so, would mirror finishing remove the Etched trademark etc? (I don't want to.)
 
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On a different note, does S90V mirror finish
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Not very easily , good luck. The best I've seen on that kind of steel is frosted/mirrored. With enough time, and the right equipment, ?

I'd guess on removing the trademark when mirroring. Joe
 
Love this Mule, it is perfect. I have managed to finish handle on one of them. I tell you that S90V is not an easy still to work with. It took me some time to polish the spine to my liking. I would say if it looks like half finished knife from the box that is because it is. Look at it as Spyderco gives you an opportunity to input into the making of the final product. In the end I took #1000 grit sand-paper and went over the blade to remove the "coating". Now it looks really good. I will also try to use buffer to make it even better. Watch-out for the pics in the near future.

BTW. my first one uses wedge wood for the handle and bolts.
Second will use purple hart wood. :D

Sal and all of the people in Spyderco, thank you for making it a reality. I love this project and looking forward to getting some new releases in the future. :thumbup: :D
 
I love the shape of the Mule too. Just perfect for everyday cutting and control.
Having COOL steels to play with is a bonus.

Thanks Sal ~;-)
 
Sal Glesser said:
No worries, mate.

As Joe mentioned, the stuff is a "mutha" to grind. I'm sure none of them are perfect.

We're learning that each steel does present its own challenges, which makes the project challenging. We also don't get the repeat production experience to work out the problems with each new steel.

I'm afraid that "we" will all have to live with imperfections if we are to be able to keep making them.

I will say that I have been very impressed with the many beautiful handle and sheath variations that I've seen.

sal
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By all means keep making them. I just got two of these and since I am a novice with nothing other than sanpaper, files, and a Dremel, was wondering what I might use to try and "smooth/polish" these out?:

3332265218_67d7d40512_b.jpg


Both have these grind marks in the same spot. The handles I "see" when I look at these would leave that area exposed so of coarse in a perfect world... :jerkit:
I respect the intention, risk taken, and execution of the Mule Team program. I know this is not a finished product (yet), so if these are typical, then they are typical. I am not a knifemaker, and have no idea what goes into getting the steel to this stage. I really like everything else about them and look forward to trying my hand on one of these myself after I practice on a few less expensive blades.

Thanks, Stu
 
Flymon, I would suggest using sandpaper starting from grit #400->#600->#800->#1000. That would bring up to a smoked mirror-like finish. I guess those marks were produced by a grinding process and not an issue as far as I am concerned.
 
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