New fixed blade - need help

We sell a lot of Fixed blades at DLT, and from what I can tell fixed blades in the 3.75 inch - 4.5inch range tend to sell best. As far as my two cents go I'd say do the blade somewhere in the 4 inch range, FFG, Mid range steel that is highly usable yet can come in at a reasonable price point. A smooth G10 or Micarta handle scale with at least some chamfering if not contouring make the whole thing a nice package.
 
Would love to see a production fixed blade in the Mule profile. Yes - the finger guard can probably be gone and the blade can be a bit longer at about 4" and with G10 or Micarta scales. The blade does not need to be too thick although I don't want it to be too thin to scarify the strength (after all it is a fixed blade not a kitchen knife). Not sure about using the Military blade profile as the tip would be too pointy/fragile. Would love to see the price to be kept below $150 and it's OK with me if it means the choice of just a mid-range steel. Hopefully it will be a strong competitor for Cold Steel Master Hunter cmp-3v and Fallkniven F1.
 
Blade length: 4” blade (less than 3.75” is not that useful imo)
Blade steel: 3v or Cruwear
Handle: micarta
... Please
 
4” SHARPENED length, CPM 3V PLLLLEEEASE!

It will be a garaunteed purchase for me
 
Well, I ordered a Bushcraft today... Will be interesting to see how it does.

How about something that out-performs my Busse ADA's? I'm in for that!
 
Keep the blade stock thin, length of 3.5-4” in the classic leaf shape. Kydex sheath would be perfect. Rounded Micarta would be awesome if it doesn’t cost a ton.

If this comes out right it will likely be in my elk/deer pack to complement my Esee 3hm.
 
To start of I have been carrying my satin Street beat for about 6 month's and have not used any of my other fixed blades since. I have a few Bradfords that I really like but the Steet Beat for some reason seems to be the best and most comfortable IWC blade that I own. It would be nice if you could bring it back.
I have wanted a Mule team for a while but did not get one because I thought about how much of a pain it would be to make a complete knife.
The attraction of the Mule team series is that you can try out new steels for a reasonable price but the drawback is turning it into a finished carry knife. I find that knife companies such as yours thin that it is neccessary to design a whole new knife to kick up sales, This makes for a huge inventory of steel and manufacturing time. I now know where to get the components to make a finished knife and now will consider getting one.
I believe that if you offered scalles such as Halpern has and offer a Kydex and a leather sheath option that would make it much more enticing to buy it. By doing this your capital investment would be minimal.

I have always thought that Spyderco has way too many options nad models to be able to have a lean company. You could trim the available models by 20% and it would not affect sales in the least. I am sure you know the 80/20 rule. 80% of your profit comes from 20% of your styles. I also think that if this was done it would make it unnecessary to raise prices for a good while.
I now know where to get the components to make a finished knife and will now look to get a mule team knife.
 
I wouldnt want the blade any longer maybe just less guard. They could even put FRN scales on it. If the knife were longer it would be a different knife and in a category of many others. The MULES now perform better at daily carry than many knives that were made specifically for daily carry fixed.
 
The Mule project has been awesome and much appreciated. Thank you, Sal.

Personally, I prefer a slightly larger fixed blade, 4.25 to 5 inches. I'm always going to have a big folder, so it's nice to have a fixed blade with a bit more leverage.

The geometry issue is difficult because it depends on the steel, the heat treat and the intended use.

I'd suggest a pro line of the fixed blade, something run hard and thin in a high-end steel with narrow edge shoulders, say 0.018 or less, and a pointy point, something that would be at home on Phil Wilson's belt. Vanax SuperClean, Vanadis 4E, M4, M390, K390 would work.

A second line, maybe a survival line, could feature more robust geometry, more along the lines of hunters from Joe Calton or Nathan Carothers. 3V or 4V would be hard to beat in this line. Maybe Elmax for stainless and W2 for the carbon crowd.
 
Great thread, and fantastic to hear the general plan and interest in user input from the Spyderco crew.

My $0.02 (which has already been stated by others): the fewer changes, the better; a smidge longer, but no thicker; carbon (premium!) and stainless (budget-ish) options.

Cheers,
jswa2
 
The only modification that I've made to the many mules that I've purchased has been to grind off the guard on the ones I use frequently.
Slightly less thumb ramp on the spine would be preferable. The stock thickness and blade shapre are excellent as they stand.
Something up to 4" of blade length would be okay, but longer than that the balance would be too blade heavy.
The handle is great for my size 9 hands but if you lengthen the blade consider lengthening the handle a bit.
In terms of steel, I guess I'd go for one in hard M4 (can't get enough of that steel) and the other in the non-chippy stainless of your choice.
 
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Even though the majority of my knives are Spydercos, and the majority of those have thumb ramps, I prefer a knife with little to no thumb ramp.
 
My suggestion would be along the lines of a scaled down Temperance 2 with one of Twindog's steel suggestions. I'd be all over that.
 
Ok Sal Glesser Sal Glesser , I'm gonna go waaaaaaaay out on a limb here.

I think this is an awesome idea, but I see an issue emerging. The Mule has been a "tinkerer/DIY" knife for so long that people are used to that idea. People are use to picking up a blade and then separately picking out scales, sheath and hardware. You'd have to create an infinite number of options with this knife to give the customers what they want... or would you?

What if Spyderco teams up with TheKnifeConnection.net on this to create a "build your own" version just like TKC has for ESEE and Ontario? Maybe even an exclusive model through TKC? It means that all Spyderco has to do is stamp out, HT and finish the blades. Then TKC offers an array of their G10 scales, hardware, and sheaths so that people can mix and match as they please. Want it with black G10 and a leather sheath? Sure. Want a dangler too? You got it. They'd create that combo. Want Orange G10 and Kydex? Want a Tek-Lock with that? They'd sell you that too. How about a ferro rod holder and ferro rod to attach to that Kydex? It's in the mail. You'll see it in two days.

I'd imagine it vastly simplifying and streamlining the production process for Spyderco, while at the same time giving your customers a bunch of options.

As for what steel to use, i'd love to see a few options available, but of course since we dont know where it would be produced, everything is speculative. I'm not going to suggest VG-10 if it'll be made in USA just like I wouldnt suggest HXP if it's made in Japan. That said, I'd love to see a rust proof H1/LC200n full serrated, along with a lower-mid grade steel in plain edge like BD1 and then an exotic for the steel nerds, like 4V or whatever...

Just spit-balling.
 
I personally would love to see a Spyderco knife that is made in the US that is designed for similar general purpose tasks as a RAT-3 or perhaps a little more robust like a Gerber Strongarm or Ontario SK-5. The mule seems a little tall (wide from edge to spine) to me, but lengthening it may address that. A budget-for-Spyderco (not just budget, i.e. BD1, not 420HC) steel and an MSRP around $200 (street price around $125) would be great. It wouldn't be quite as cheap as an Ontario and not nearly as cheap as a Gerber, but I am sure the blade geometry and consistency will be worth the price difference. Regardless of whether the end result is anything like that, it'll be great to see more Spyderco fixed blades being made in Golden.
 
Warbow150 said:
Same thickness or .125 at most. 3.5" at most. Shorten the guard a bit. Add a smidge of belly and reduce the hump back a hair. There's your darn near perfect hunting knife.
Click to expand...
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I agree, Sal. 1/8" max, 3.5" blade length to agree with some states' max length regs. Shorten the guard so that you can chop veggies. Wouldn't hurt to hollow-grind the blade so that it will slice better. Gotta admit that the 1/8" CRK Sebbie with hollow-ground blade is still plenty tough, but will out-slice just about any other knife that I've ever owned. Flat grind is no competition for a good hollow-grind.
Stay with at least blade-steels that are well-respected and not the "lower range" of steels.
It's nice that you are asking our opinions. Thank you, sir.
 
I would like to see a permanent model in a rust-resistant steel (VG-10, S30v, S35), not a tool steel, or "super steel" (super expensive).
 
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