- Joined
- Oct 8, 1998
- Messages
- 5,403
Good Day,
I have been expressing my interest in the Mule Team Project by building a Blog dedicated to it's expression. From News and Rumours, to a Gallery and How-To's, I have been really immersing myself in all the information available online about the Mule Team Project.
In the process, I have been educated, founds some new things, and gained a new understanding of things I have only skimmed over before. Let me tell you, there is a great deal going on in the Mule World.
So, I have some thoughts about some of this stuff, and I thought I would post them here.....
With the release and delivery of the fifth Mule, the 9Cr18Mo Mule from China, the issue of the finish quality of the knives has been a subject of quite a bit of talk. The issue most discussed is warpage. It seems, that with the ground-breaking nature of the use of this steel in a knife of this style, the manufacturer did not have their heat treat procedures as dialed-in as would be best. But, this is really no deal breaker, it seems to me. If your Mule is too warped, send it in, and Spyderco, being the Class Act company that they are, will exchange it for one that will function properly.
But, this brings us to the greater debate, that has been seething under the discussions about warpage. Function. The Mule Team Project has a very simple purpose, to place a piece of steel in your hands so that you may experience the qualities of that steel. Period. The Project is that simple. There is an experimental nature to this Project. Some of these steels have never been made into a knife of this type. The Mule Team Project is an Experience as much as it is a Product. It is a chance to learn, for Spyderco, and for us, the Knuts and AFI's. So, if you remember that the purpose is to provide a useable piece of steel, then minor warpage or finish irregularities become unimportant.
Also, remember that no knife is perfect, it is only the scale of the 'imperfections' that changes. A custom maker with decades of experience can create a knife that is visually without blemish, but if you ask him about the flaw, he will probably be able to show you one right away, and if he can't, hand it to me, and with the help of the right magnification and the right light sources, I will show you a couple. The scale of perfection for the Mules is a bit lower than the Spyderco standard, but that is because that standard of fit and finish is just not necessary to fulfil the Purpose, and would increase the price of the knife, which cannot happen if this project is to continue.
Another issue which has made it's self present, is the "Mule as Kit Knife". Remember, the Mule Team Projects purpose is not to produce kit knives, but if one keeps that in mind you may find that a particular release suits that purpose just fine. It is a knife, after all. As well, I think it was only a matter of time before the greater knife world came to see that Spyderco was creating a great knife, and once that happened, people started being interested in them as Kit knives. Which is why I think it may not be a bad idea if Spyderco were to create a Mule every so often, that would suit this purpose. After all, if Spyderco can make a profit selling a knife to a guy who wants a knife, and he wants it as a Kit knife, why not. Or maybe there could be a regular production Mule, 154 CM maybe?
I say that we are seeing some growing pains for the Project, and if bear with, we will see the Project strengthened for them.
Now, a few words about steel.
I have read a few times where it has been suggested that a Mule be created in Hitachi Blue. Which I am all for. Sal has stated that they are required to buy more than is necessary for the Mule, to which I respond that I think it might be a good idea to make a larger than normal Mule run. Hitachi Blue certainly has the chops to be a high quality knife, and could provide a high quality Kit blade. And with the resurgence of interest in high carbon non-stainless steels, Hitachi Blue is a fine choice.
I don't know which one will be next, though CPM 35VN is a top contender in my mind. But, be they Carpenter, Hitachi, Bohler, Thyssen-Krupp, the old Crucible, the new Crucible, or Takefu, keep 'em rolling. Be they they old standards like W2, O1, D2 or if they be exotic like Mission Beta Titanium, INFI, or X15t.n, bring them on. Even if they have strange names like Super Gold, CruWare or Uddenholm Elmax. Maybe even kick down some Mootz or Clad.
Keep 'em coming.....
If you haven't seen my blog, check it out, you might like it.
http://muleprojects.blogspot.com/
Marion
I have been expressing my interest in the Mule Team Project by building a Blog dedicated to it's expression. From News and Rumours, to a Gallery and How-To's, I have been really immersing myself in all the information available online about the Mule Team Project.
In the process, I have been educated, founds some new things, and gained a new understanding of things I have only skimmed over before. Let me tell you, there is a great deal going on in the Mule World.
So, I have some thoughts about some of this stuff, and I thought I would post them here.....
With the release and delivery of the fifth Mule, the 9Cr18Mo Mule from China, the issue of the finish quality of the knives has been a subject of quite a bit of talk. The issue most discussed is warpage. It seems, that with the ground-breaking nature of the use of this steel in a knife of this style, the manufacturer did not have their heat treat procedures as dialed-in as would be best. But, this is really no deal breaker, it seems to me. If your Mule is too warped, send it in, and Spyderco, being the Class Act company that they are, will exchange it for one that will function properly.
But, this brings us to the greater debate, that has been seething under the discussions about warpage. Function. The Mule Team Project has a very simple purpose, to place a piece of steel in your hands so that you may experience the qualities of that steel. Period. The Project is that simple. There is an experimental nature to this Project. Some of these steels have never been made into a knife of this type. The Mule Team Project is an Experience as much as it is a Product. It is a chance to learn, for Spyderco, and for us, the Knuts and AFI's. So, if you remember that the purpose is to provide a useable piece of steel, then minor warpage or finish irregularities become unimportant.
Also, remember that no knife is perfect, it is only the scale of the 'imperfections' that changes. A custom maker with decades of experience can create a knife that is visually without blemish, but if you ask him about the flaw, he will probably be able to show you one right away, and if he can't, hand it to me, and with the help of the right magnification and the right light sources, I will show you a couple. The scale of perfection for the Mules is a bit lower than the Spyderco standard, but that is because that standard of fit and finish is just not necessary to fulfil the Purpose, and would increase the price of the knife, which cannot happen if this project is to continue.
Another issue which has made it's self present, is the "Mule as Kit Knife". Remember, the Mule Team Projects purpose is not to produce kit knives, but if one keeps that in mind you may find that a particular release suits that purpose just fine. It is a knife, after all. As well, I think it was only a matter of time before the greater knife world came to see that Spyderco was creating a great knife, and once that happened, people started being interested in them as Kit knives. Which is why I think it may not be a bad idea if Spyderco were to create a Mule every so often, that would suit this purpose. After all, if Spyderco can make a profit selling a knife to a guy who wants a knife, and he wants it as a Kit knife, why not. Or maybe there could be a regular production Mule, 154 CM maybe?
I say that we are seeing some growing pains for the Project, and if bear with, we will see the Project strengthened for them.
Now, a few words about steel.
I have read a few times where it has been suggested that a Mule be created in Hitachi Blue. Which I am all for. Sal has stated that they are required to buy more than is necessary for the Mule, to which I respond that I think it might be a good idea to make a larger than normal Mule run. Hitachi Blue certainly has the chops to be a high quality knife, and could provide a high quality Kit blade. And with the resurgence of interest in high carbon non-stainless steels, Hitachi Blue is a fine choice.
I don't know which one will be next, though CPM 35VN is a top contender in my mind. But, be they Carpenter, Hitachi, Bohler, Thyssen-Krupp, the old Crucible, the new Crucible, or Takefu, keep 'em rolling. Be they they old standards like W2, O1, D2 or if they be exotic like Mission Beta Titanium, INFI, or X15t.n, bring them on. Even if they have strange names like Super Gold, CruWare or Uddenholm Elmax. Maybe even kick down some Mootz or Clad.
Keep 'em coming.....
If you haven't seen my blog, check it out, you might like it.
http://muleprojects.blogspot.com/
Marion
