Mule project.

T

These_Nutz

BANNED
Joined
May 2, 2008
Messages
378
Im just starting to understand why no other knife maker has done this before.
When you consider what hardness the blade should be for that steel etc theres going to be a lot of diffrent opinions and lots of points on the knife.
I hope as was stated at the start that they stick to using more exotic type steels.
I thought 3V was next but im told either ZDP or some chinese stuff.
While the ZDP would fall into the category of exotic steels more and more are using it.As for the Byrd steel i wouldnt imagine there would be a big demand for it IMO.
I wonder why theres still any M4s left because it was the steel everyone wanted.
I know theres a credit crunch world wide but its not a dear piece and for example i just got beat again on ebay for a dodo and i bid $170.
I still think this is a great idea but would rather see steels that are truly exotic or not that easy to come by like say super blue or A8 or 10v or s125v etc just steels that i cant get a hold of in a good blade by a good manufacturer like spyderco.
As said i think this is a great project and like the 52100 i got but i would only buy the more exotic steels in this project as i know how the others handle.
 
Hi These_Nutz,

Thanx for the input.

Working with foundries for low volumes of their exotic steels does present its challenges. Also working with makers to make these Mules has its challenges as well.

What is exotic to some is not ecxotic to others, so a spread of the steels will be necessary. I'm sure some will be more popular than others. The project only appeals to "steel junky's" and there are fewer of them than might be imagined.

S125 V seems to be off the table at this time. Making the steel and processing the steel has not worked to date.

I'm not aware of any production fixed blades in ZDP at this time. We also had to make more of the ZDP to satisfy the maker (1,000 pcs).

Regarding sales of the M4 version; verbal demand on the forums is not always equal to sales when a product is available. The M4 is also more expensive than the first piece. We plan for a month to move the run. If the run cannot move in a month, then it is time to reconsider the project.

9Cr18Mo is a new steels that has not been used before. If it works well and can be processed in production, it will more than likely affect our Chinese made models in the future. No doubt our competitors are also watching.

Thanx again for the interest and comments.

sal
 
edit- The answer to the question I asked was in another thread. Thanks.
 
Last edited:
Another good thing about spyderco is that they respond to there customers IMO.
All that sounds good.
A ZDP version would be intresting but the M4 sounds the better steel IMO and at only $70 is a bargain still.
I wonder if we will see these other rare steels on the future Mules.
It sounds much more of a complex project than id think.
 
Thanks Sal for the info!

Sal Glesser said:
Regarding sales of the M4 version; verbal demand on the forums is not always equal to sales when a product is available. The M4 is also more expensive than the first piece. We plan for a month to move the run. If the run cannot move in a month, then it is time to reconsider the project.
Click to expand...
Hey, people who bought only 1 for other people to be able to buy one, please reconsider buying another it if you have the funds!
I'm not the only one who would hate it if this project had to end early.
 
I'd think the M4 mules will sell out. I'm surprised they have any left. If there are more payday, I'm going to take advantage of it.

The price was amazing for the type of steel used. I've seen single pieces of the CPM M4 stock that cost more than the finished mule.

Personally I'm looking foreward to the next runs as currently planned. I'll find a way to order them, even if I have to sell a few knives. It'll be interesting comparing the price of the ZDP to the CPM powder, high speed steel.

The new steel from China will be fun to work out. No sitting around getting lazy for them either. :)

Thanks Sal. Joe
 
Ironic how people raised Kain about getting shut out of the first go around...where are they?
 
Lol, as for the m4 mules, I am just hoping like hell that there are some left untill I get money, after that you can all go on a buying spree.
 
Ironic how people raised Kain about getting shut out of the first go around...where are they?
Click to expand...

- The hype is always biggest the first time :)
- It was $39,95 instead of $69,95
- financial crisis hit well after the MT-01 release
- the first run may have satisfied a lot of customers who wanted ONE fixed, cheap yet good, "blank" Spydie
- When released, there was repeated shortage ("out of stock") because of the knife being put up for sale in "waves", increasing the must have-factor when a new batch was listed. IIRC, the final (regular) batch lasted for quite a while.

All this may be a reason for the new MULE being less demanded than the first. Plus, I have a feeling that a even more popular steel, i.e. S125V would have been a better seller because of its legendary reputation as a uber-hard steel. Thats a guess, of course...

That said, it's not my fault they're still available... I bought 2 of them :D

Dennis
 
Murdoc370 said:
- The hype is always biggest the first time :)
- It was $39,95 instead of $69,95
- financial crisis hit well after the MT-01 release
- the first run may have satisfied a lot of customers who wanted ONE fixed, cheap yet good, "blank" Spydie
- When released, there was repeated shortage ("out of stock") because of the knife being put up for sale in "waves", increasing the must have-factor when a new batch was listed. IIRC, the final (regular) batch lasted for quite a while.

All this may be a reason for the new MULE being less demanded than the first. Plus, I have a feeling that a even more popular steel, i.e. S125V would have been a better seller because of its legendary reputation as a uber-hard steel. Thats a guess, of course...

That said, it's not my fault they're still available... I bought 2 of them :D

Dennis
Click to expand...
And, on top of all those things, there was the "Collectors Club" factor. All CC members received the first Mule. That alone accounted for close to 200 pieces. Probably less than half those are "all variant" members, and the balance of the Mule Team runs were set up as an "opt in" item for them, so I would not be at all surprised if 50 or less did so.

Paul
bar_02.gif

My Personal Website - - - - - - A Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting - - - - - - Kiwimania
Dead horses beaten, sacred cows tipped, chimeras hunted when time permits.
Spyderco Collector # 043 - - WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
It's easy to grin when your ship comes in and good fortune and fame are your lot, but the man worthwhile is the man who can smile with his shorts twsited up in a knot. - Morey Amsterdam
 
Lol, I get my all variant notices so infrequently anymore, I'm starting to forget I'm in that club. :p
 
Sal Glesser said:
Regarding sales of the M4 version; verbal demand on the forums is not always equal to sales when a product is available. The M4 is also more expensive than the first piece. We plan for a month to move the run. If the run cannot move in a month, then it is time to reconsider the project.
Click to expand...

Maybe if it doesn't start moving faster you could open up the two per person limit? :)
 
There are those that were stopped by the 2 mule limit. When word gets around they can resume purchasing mules a few more will sell. ( I'm one of those, waiting for pay day) Joe
 
zenheretic said:
Lol, I get my all variant notices so infrequently anymore, I'm starting to forget I'm in that club. :p
Click to expand...
Know that feeling Zen. :p But take heart, I think the dam is due to burst soon. ;) Let's see, as of right now I'd say we're in for the Kukri, Barong, "3 Flavor" Kopa, Phoenix, and DigiCamo Military. :eek: Plus the Mule if you signed up for it. :D
 
I picked up one of the M-4's getting it handled by a knife maker on the forums
will post once complete, I was going to try it myself but too busy with regular
stuff and too much travel, plus not having the proper tools it would take me longer
to complete the handle.

and yep, I'm a steel junkie of sorts, but didn't see the need to buy two of the Mules
maybe should have but like most folks, the dollar's are shorter right now so one for
now worked for me, I would hope that they would sell out to help keep projects like
this moving along!

My next knife I'm interested in is the G10 Police, but being the steel snob I am ;) was
hoping to see that offered in a sprint run of zdp or something other than VG10...just me :)
G2

ps,
The Mule is a GREAT handling knife, nice grinds, sharp as the dickens out of the box
Sal, you guys/gals do an excellent job!
 
All this may be a reason for the new MULE being less demanded than the first. Plus, I have a feeling that a even more popular steel, i.e. S125V would have been a better seller because of its legendary reputation as a uber-hard steel. Thats a guess, of course...
Click to expand...

People still ask for this steel but it's not even made amymore other than, IIRC, as a coating or lamination. The steel didn't even roll properly. New grinding wheels would have to be created for this stuff as available ones were being ground away themselves too fast. Sal stated faster than the steel.

Was he joking? If so, it wasn't much of an exaggeration. I have a piece of this steel big enough to make a mule out of. I've worked on it a bit. Enough to know it's beyond my means and equipment.

If you want to try it have Phil Wilson make you a custom in it. He is one of the very few to not only have some of this rare stuff, but who is willing to work with it, and experienced in it, including heat treating & triple tempering.

Yes, it'll cost more than most other steels ( he also does 10V, cpm154cm, and a few others). It'll take a RC of 65 without straining, but with the carbide total fraction of 28% don't expect this to be a super tough chopper.

I personally would vote for a mule in 10V, to use as a reference standard for super wear resistance. There are a few steels, but very few that can out wear 10V. It is now somewhat of an industry standard.

CPM M4 is pretty hot stuff. A few years ago I never would have imagined we would not only have $70 mules in it, but there would be extra in there unsold. I would have thought that was a joke on me. No one can make a production run, especially for that cost.

We'll see how it goes. To have mules sitting there unsold at that price, after the trouble Sal and Spyderco went through getting them there at that price is unacceptable.

We are gonna have to buy them up. It's that simple. Or kiss the rare/difficult/expensive mule team knives goodbye. Joe
 
Last edited:
Gary W. Graley said:
I picked up one of the M-4's getting it handled by a knife maker on the forums
...
ps,
The Mule is a GREAT handling knife, nice grinds, sharp as the dickens out of the box
Sal, you guys/gals do an excellent job!
Click to expand...

GG brings up an EXCELLENT point - the Mule is a great knife regardless of its "mission" of providing a platform for steel comparison. Worth the money just to have a high quality knife like this. With or without scales. The only thing it Really needs to be a first rate user is a sheath. And it Needs to be a user, or else how can it fulfill its mission - testing the steel in EDC tasks (I know you can design a series of experimental tasks for comparative purposes, but I want to know how it holds up to the everyday things we do with knives). Just my 0.02$.

p.s. if I had the $$ I would buy a second one (I have 2 now anyway) so I could also experiment with handles more easily.
 
My Mule sheaths consist of a nickel's worth of cardboard and duct tape. Laugh if you want, it works for me. I've been carrying a Mule in the ruler pocket of my carpenter jeans for months now.

Has the 2 piece limit been lifted? If so, I'm in for a couple more.
 
Can someone with access to the search function please point me to a thread that explains the Mule project? I'm in the dark here.

Or is it some sort of exclusive thing that you have to qualify to be involved in somehow?

Thanks for any info.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top