Mules

In the interest of comparing apples to apples why doesn't the mule team listing show the composition for each steel instead of just some of them?
Is that information considered proprietary by some of the steel manufacturers?
 
Is that information considered proprietary by some of the steel manufacturers?
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Yes, to name a couple there is ZDP 189. The 3% carbon and 20% chrome does not represent the whole composition.

R2 is a proprietary steel from the knife maker Itou. It's supposed to be from the high speed steel category but he won't say what it is. Sort of like Busse with his "Infi"

R2 and Infi aren't in the mule team steels but you get the idea. Keeping secrets isn't rare in this, and most other businesses. As far as the mule team program ZDP is the only one not known . If you know of any others let me know and I'll help you find the composition.

Joe
 
I'll be heading out there in jan for a ski trip, and for sure hitting the SFO on our way home. Last year I bought an elmax mule, and this year was planning on getting another mule. I'm all for a discounted version :)
 
Joe,

Thanks for the offer. I have a CruWear and an Elmax that I'm curious about, and how they compare to this new offering.
 
The only mule I have gotten my hands on so far was a gift from another member here. It is M4 and it arrived at my home with gorgeous micarta scales and one the best kydex sheaths I have ever seen.
I love the idea of being able to get identical blade grinds in different steels. What better way to compare different steels?

The number one thing that has drawn me to purchase Spyderco knives for 30+ years is the effort they put into the fit and finish of their products. You can tell they are proud of the knives they build. Which sure makes it easier for us as consumers to be proud to spend our hard earned dollars on Spyderco knives.

I would be happier to wait a bit longer to get a knife that meets Spyderco's standards that to save a few bucks on a whoops knife that I will likely own for the rest of my life. Either way we should count ourselves as lucky to have access to something as cool as the mule program.

I too am anxious to see a mule in K390, just as I'm anxiously awaiting a paramilitary 2 in this steel too.
 
Sal Glesser said:
I believe the K390 Mule Team is next after the XHP.

sal
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Joe,

Thanks for the offer. I have a CruWear and an Elmax that I'm curious about, and how they compare to this new offering
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Are you talking performance wise or the compositions of each alloy?

XHP is the old 440XH ingot steel which is D2 with enough extra chrome over regular D2 to be, literally a stainless D2. CTS-XHP made by Carpenter, is a powder steel version of 440XH, ie; stainless D2.

A lot of folks here seem to like it's performance, ease of sharpening, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, etc. Personally I'm in the "it's ok, but...." category. I like different steels.

One of my favorites is Cruwear. It's an steel in the industrial world made to be an upgrade over D2. Toughness, wear resistance, takes higher hardness. Everything but corrosion resistance. Cruwear is crucible's version of the discontinued "vascowear" which used to be cataloged by Vasco pacific some time ago. Sal had these ran around rc 62-62.5 and they are, IMO, among the best of the mules. They slipped by under the radar for a couple of reasons, one of which is Jim Ankerson never tested it and put it in his rankings to show how good it really is. It's difficult to make knives out of so I doubt you will see many production or customs in it. CPM M4 does out perform it when pushed hard, is a powder steel and easier to make knives out of so it will go the way it did with Gerber when they used it as "V" steel in the Sportsman 2 monel as an upgrade back in the early to middle 80's.

Elmax is a very clean powder steel in the S30 class and has had some extensive testing both formally and informally. I like it's clean, no void structure and it's one of the steels I still don't mind using at high grit sharpening as it does nicely especially for a pretty high carbide powder stainless.

Note* the compositions of all three are in the spyderco steel chart on the spyderco graph on the website, and in the catalogs.

Joe
 
Sal Glesser said:
I believe the K390 Mule Team is next after the XHP.

sal
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That's the one I have been waiting for to test for the rankings, well that and S110V in a knife of some sort. :D

Both should be off the scale I am thinking. :cool:
 
Joe,

Thanks so much.
I notice the release details for this mule are now in a sticky.
 
CTS XHP is an interesting steel, having fully tested it and use it quite a bit at work in a Military.

It's stainless D2 made in with the PM process so it's reasonably tough and holds an edge well while still being reasonably easy to sharpen and takes a very nice edge.

The Mule being priced affordable as it is should give a lot of people the chance to try out XHP and I think they will be pleased with the performance overall.
 
Hi Ted,

We're looking into that again for a mule. The first batch had some issues, but subsequent batches have been fine.

sal
 
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