MuleProjects Update, Handle Grips Available Now!! Review(s) Coming, Review Updated.

Marion David Poff

Marion David Poff

Joined
Oct 8, 1998
Messages
5,403
Good Day,

In an effort to keep you informed about the news and developments in the world of the Spyderco Mule Team Knives, I am posting a short update.



1. Halpern Titanium is currently manufacturing grips for the Spyderco Mule Team Knives...

G-10; Black, Strider Ranger Green and Coast Guard Orange...

mule_halpern_OP_1_Orange.jpg



You can read more about that, at their forum on USN ( http://www.usualsuspect.net/forums/showthread.php?t=451777 ) or at my blog, MuleProjects, http://muleprojects.blogspot.com/2009/10/8.html.

One point of attention. They made a limited number of these handle scales, and given their busy productions schedule, there are no guarantees when more will be manufactured. If you want one, get one, or as blacksmiths have said for years... "Strike while the iron is hot."



2. If you have not seen my article about the custom handle products of Cuscadi of Germany, I invite you to read it, a link can be found at muleprojects...

If you have already read it, I would invite you to see it again, as I have added a couple more images from Cuscadi, and I have also added a post-script about the custom handles I received for my Spyderco Mule Team Knife, including images.

Here is a teaser...

mule_cuscadi_arrival_01package.jpg





3. In terms of new news in the world of MuleProjects, I recently found out that Blind Horse Knives has, in the past, made handle scales for the Spyderco Mule Team Knives, and you can see a couple images here...

http://www.knifeforums.com/forums/showtopic.php?tid/859173/post/last/

I have ordered a pair of these handle scales, and should have them sometime after the first of the year. At which time, I will do an initial review.



4. Remember, the full hardness ZDP-189 Mules are available through the 14th of this month, after which time, they will be re-heat-treated for a lower hardness and then they will be available for sale.

http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=413



5. Finally, I have added a section to MuleProjects, Temporary Handles, a short review and link list, giving a view of the different temporary handle options available to the owner of a Spyderco Mule Team knife.

http://muleprojects.blogspot.com/ Scroll down, it is near the bottom.


Enjoy your Mules!
Marion
 
From this thread...

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=447311&page=45

HaroldB said:
Marion, They look very nice, but I have a question. The Mules have been different is size by very tiny amounts. So why are these scales way under sized?

If they'd been slightly over-sized anyone with a piece of sandpaper could have spent a few minutes and shaped them down. But one can't "up-size" a noticeably small scale. Just curious ~;-)
Click to expand...

I am responding here, so that we don't de-rail that thread...

To your last point, as I addressed in my article, if they need to be modified by the buyer, that would make them a DIY project, and that is not the purpose of the product, which were supposed to be Ready to Use. Honestly, I prefer a bolt-on and done product to one I have to modify before I can use. Some people are prepared to modify a product before they can use it, but I would hazard a guess that most are not.

I would not say that they are 'way' undersized, but they do allow the tang to stick out, which is not an unheard of practice...

Benchmade Nimravus...
http://www.benchmade.com/products/140

Chris Reeve Full Tang Knives... link to TNK, their images are better.
http://www.truenorthknives.com/vcom/index.php?cPath=347_348_412

Honestly, I am a bit confused by the reaction to the choice that they made, as it is a logical one. And, I go over the options in my article.

I would think that the question would be whether the tang sticking out is uncomfortable... And, my experience is that it is not uncomfortable, at all. And, hardly noticeable to some. As I mentioned in my article, a friend of mine came over, and we were talking about knives and gear, and he held my ZDP-189 Mule with the Halpern Titanium G-10 Grips, and did not even notice that anything was less than normal. Then, when I pointed out the under-sized grips, he had to pick the knife back up, and still thought they were perfectly functional. And he remarked about how much he liked the look of them.

Now, if I had a choice of custom fitted, flush mounted, perfect fit handle scales, I would obviously choose that. But, given the challenges, and the options available to Halpern Titanium, I think they chose well. And I think that this is a fine product and functional.

And, I appreciate the question.
 
Marion,
Thanks for the input. I've owned the Nimravus for 3 years and love it, so maybe this will be fine in actual use.

In the close-up photos, it just 'looks way small', but that might just be way it photographs.

Still looking forward to trying them on my Mule.

BTW- I've put wood scales on two of my Mules myself and it was kinda fun :D
 
HaroldB said:
Marion,
Thanks for the input. I've owned the Nimravus for 3 years and love it, so maybe this will be fine in actual use.

In the close-up photos, it just 'looks way small', but that might just be way it photographs.

Still looking forward to trying them on my Mule.

BTW- I've put wood scales on two of my Mules myself and it was kinda fun :D
Click to expand...

Do you have images of your Mules?

Marion
 
I appreciate the compliment, but I filed and sanded till then fit my own hands. Looks weren't in my mind, as knives are just tools to me. A good tools real beauty is in how well it works, eh?
 
HaroldB said:
I appreciate the compliment, but I filed and sanded till then fit my own hands. Looks weren't in my mind, as knives are just tools to me. A good tools real beauty is in how well it works, eh?
Click to expand...

Harold, in addition to the ridiculous amount of time I spend on the MuleProjects, I also spend a great deal of time on the web, in general. And the knife web in particular.

And I can tell you, that there are people selling their work, whose knives don't look as good as those.

So, not just a compliment.

Marion
 
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