MuleProjects Update, Handles, Sheaths, Friends...

Marion David Poff

Marion David Poff

Joined
Oct 8, 1998
Messages
5,403
Merry Christmas, and May your Holiday Season bring you Joy and Happiness.


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



But first, today I want to thank David. Both gestures were very thoughtful. Thank You.



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

mule-halpern005-teaser.jpg


I have received my grips, and have completed my article, with images, you can see it at...

http://eyeoncutlery.blogspot.com/

To those who have read it, you may want to glance at it again, I added an image, and I have included a link to close-up images of the hardware and such. As well, I have added a section about oiling your scales for the best color. Once I have all three colors of handles, I will post before and after images of them, showing the color difference with oil.

Note - Halpern Titanium machined a limited number of handle scales, but I understand that they still have a few left. Most likely, they will sell out pretty quickly once the new Mule arrives, so best not to wait until then, or you may have to wait until they find time to make more.

http://www.halperntitanium.com/



2. Sequimite, from his perch overlooking the Salish Sea, has discovered a Mule sheath solution, that may work for you. He found a production leather sheath that can be purchased reasonably inexpensively, that will fit the Mule Team Knives. You can read more about that, in his thead...

http://spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41352



3. A Spyderco.com Forums member, Hector Castro, has began to make scales for the Mules. He is working with both wood and synthetic materials like micarta and G-10. I have a set of his scales, on their way to me, and I will do a write up, but until then, here are a couple threads from the Spyderco Forums, that will give you some background information.

mule-hector01-teaser.jpg


http://spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40768

http://spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40984

http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31531&page=13



4. Another Spyderco.com Forum member JLS, is offering some good looking leather sheaths, if you are in the market, you may want to check them out.

http://knife-bst.com/bst/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1739

And, it looks like I will be reviewing one of them, so keep on the look out for my review.



5. 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.

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.

Show your interest by following the link, and check out the images, over at KnifeForums, in the Blind Horse Forum...

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



6. From our friend in Prague, Roman of CustomSpyderco.com, we get to see a really great custom handle solution created for the Spyderco Mule Team knife.

mule_customspyderco_muleR7-teaser.jpg


A couple posts, showing off his latest creation...

http://spyderco.com/forums/showpost.php?p=544768&postcount=240

http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showpost.php?p=544525&postcount=50

And his website...

http://customspyderco.com/index.html



7. Capt Beaky, also known as the Westmead Artificer, has been doing some really great looking work with the Mule Team knives, check him out at...

mule_captbeaky.jpg



http://www.pmjn.co.uk/Knifemaking.html



8. Get ready, we should be hearing some news about the new Mule team knife, very soon. Did someone say CPM-S35VN or was it CTS-XHP?



9. Up til now, I had not had an opportunity to check out the SpydieWiki, but when I did, I found that they had a very informative article about the Mule Team knives...

http://www.spydiewiki.com/index.php?title=MT_Mule_Team



10. The 4th gen Mules, of full hardness ZDP-189 fame, have left the building. Stay tuned for the softer, gentler side of ZDP-189. ; )



11. I am always making additions and corrections to the MuleProjects, so feel free to stop by and check it out...

http://muleprojects.blogspot.com/



12. Finally, let me mention... If there are any Mule Team Knives resources that I have missed, including one you might have created, please let me know, and I will add you to my site.



Enjoy your Mules!
Marion


PS - If you have very little to do this Christmas, or you need to keep yourself busy... I have a rare treat. The original thread where Sal introduced the Mule Team concept. Now, a couple things to remember.... Things have changed since then, so what was proposed has begun what is. Also, this is not an invitation to necro-post, that is, post to a dead thread. But, since there are a few people as nuts about these things as I am, I thought I would share it....

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=445613

M
 
Last edited:
Thanks for posting all this info Marian, I plan on ordering some scales pretty soon. Keep up the good work.

Canis
 
Pass CDN said:
Will there be any more Mule Team blades offered or are they all discontinued?
Click to expand...

A good question, and thank you for asking.

To the best of my knowledge, there will be another Mule, and probably within the next month. And the best information I have, is that it will be of Crucible CPM-S35VN, of course, I don't have any special source for information, just way too much web.

To answer in greater detail...

With the continuing success of the Mule Team Knives Project, there will be more Mule Team knives. There is no firm schedule, but they generally release them 2 -3 times a year, each release a different steel. This schedule is elastic, because they wait until a release is sold out, before they offer another, and they generally allow a little time to pass between releases. Also, given difficulties with manufacturing, and Spyderco's un-swerving commitment to quality, that can add time. Further, Spyderco has been dealing with a couple of issues recently, which would not be germane to list here, that have kept them pretty busy, as there are only so many people there in Golden to accomplish all of the administrative jobs.

Marion
 
My Halpern scales and hardware arrived and are very nice! But the hardware does not fit the first mule... I know I've read it - but I cannot find it (difference)! What size hardware do I need for Mule 01? TIA!
 
Nukemkb said:
My Halpern scales and hardware arrived and are very nice! But the hardware does not fit the first mule... I know I've read it - but I cannot find it (difference)! What size hardware do I need for Mule 01? TIA!
Click to expand...

I looked hard and never found any. I enlarged the holes, but that was quite a saga and I ruined a lot of tools getting it done. Hopefully someone has an alternative hardware source.

Actually, thinking as I type, maybe what you could do is use undersized hardware (from some place like Knifekits.com) and put a dab of epoxy around the holes in the tang to keep the connector from moving around. However, you'll still have to source the right connector, and use screws with heads that are big enough for the HT scales, and if you don't use some kind of release compound (like paste wax) you'd wind up with the scales glued onto the tang. If you want to try something like that, you should contact HT and see what they might be able to do to help you.

Or, you could just eBay the MT01 and replace it with any of the later ones, which have 3/16" holes in the tang.
 
Thanks! I did ask the question of HT (if they had suitable hardware) and the response was to ask me what size is needed... I'd much rather buy the right hardware than to dremel! :)
 
You will never enlarge those holes with a Dremel. I don't remember what size the undersized holes in the MT01 tang were. I think there are posts here or (more likely) at Spyderco forums with that spec. The Spydiewiki article might have the size, too. I'll see if I can dig up more info.
 
I had someone else make the scales for my MT01, but it's good to know if I decide to put some on the 2nd one that now only has friction tape. It's a great shop knife, even without formal scales :cool:
 
Yes, wholly aside from the attraction of testing and comparing various steels, the basic knife pattern itself is a darned fine and useful blade.
 
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