Spyderco Mule and SOG Team Leader - My next two test knives

Ankerson

Ankerson

Knife and Computer Geek
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Nov 2, 2002
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These will be the next two knives in my series that I am doing now. Thanks to Dennis for letting me borrow them for the tests that I will be doing. I will be doing both cardboard and wood to test the edge holding abilities of both steels.




The SOG Team Leader in Duratech 20CV steel. As you can see the edge grind will need some work before I test it. It has a nice flat grind and the blade is pretty thin so it should do very well in the tests.





The Spyderco Mule is in M4 steel, the edge grind is pretty good, but I will sharpen it and make sure the edge is even before the testing. The blade is very thin so I am expecting it to cut like a razor knife through the cardboard. I am impressed with the quality of the Mule, the grind lines are straight and I didn't see any tool marks.






Once I get both knives the way I want them as in the edges reprofiled to 15 degrees per side and polished up to my Air Bleeding edge I will start the tests. All of it will be on video for both knives.
 
Just finished sharpening the SOG putting a nice 15 degree per side edge on it. :)

It's some very tough steel, my Edge Pro 220 grit stone made short work of evening out the edge thankfully so I didn't have to use the 120 Grit stone.

Bringing up the bur was pretty easy until I go to the 600 (2000 grit whetstone) Grit Stone then it took some work a long with the 1000 Grit stone. Ploished the edge up to 6,000 grit (32,000 grit whetstone). Like I said it's tough steel, but it takes a very sharp edge.

Duratech 20CV is no joke I can tell you that just from sharpening it. :thumbup:



 
Here is the Spyderco Mule after Sharpening.

The M4 steel is nice, I can see why it's so popluar in cutting comps. It sharpens up easy and takes a excellent edge. It was a little easier to deal with than the 20CV steel.

They are all ready to go now so I just need to get more testing materal ready.

Also Jeff is going to bring by a S35VN Mule this weekend to add to the group. :D :thumbup:





Thanks to Dennis and Jeff for loaning out the knives for the test. :thumbup:
 
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I too am really looking forward to the results. I have a Team Leader with Duratech 20 CV steel and really like the performance. Used it to cut up the carpet in our house an it never missed a beat. Did a much better jod than my utility knife.

Looking forward to the reviews.
 
I am thinking they both will do extremely well. :thumbup:

I am looking forward to testing them. :)
 
I'm thinking the M4 will hold an edge better than most. It take's a great steel to hold an edge and be tough with thin edge angles.

On smaller knives I think 15 per side is about perfect for M4. Most steels won't hold a good edge very long at 10 per side, but I bet the M4 would.
I know he doesn't want his knife taken down that much though...so you need to buy you one and take it really thin:p

Look foward to the results:thumbup:



BTW- I have an M4 mule, but haven't used it:o I've only read, and heard from a few others that it does great with a thin edge.
 
Ken44 said:
I'm thinking the M4 will hold an edge better than most. It take's a great steel to hold an edge and be tough with thin edge angles.

On smaller knives I think 15 per side is about perfect for M4. Most steels won't hold a good edge very long at 10 per side, but I bet the M4 would.
I know he doesn't want his knife taken down that much though...so you need to buy you one and take it really thin:p

Look foward to the results:thumbup:



BTW- I have an M4 mule, but haven't used it:o I've only read, and heard from a few others that it does great with a thin edge.
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I ain't taking it down to 10 degrees I can tel you that. :eek:

15 Degrees is plenty. :thumbup:
 
The videos will be held up for a few weeks because someone knocked my Nikon D90 DSLR onto a concrete floor so I have to wait until they buy me a new one to replace it.
 
Trying to be patient Jim, but It's difficult. How are you liking the M4 mule, which should be around 64.5 RC on average, from what I recall.

20CV is good stuff too, but I really have gotten fond of M4.

Joe/Raleigh
 
This is actually the SOG I've thought about buying. I own a Seal Pup Elite and it's awesome, this is cooler though. Hey Ankerson, did you use the sandpaper and mouse technique to get that mirror edge on the SOG? I'm loving that edge brother!
Ankerson said:
The videos will be held up for a few weeks because someone knocked my Nikon D90 DSLR onto a concrete floor so I have to wait until they buy me a new one to replace it.
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:barf:OMG, I'd be ill if that happened to me, those guys are pricey ehh.
 
The Mastiff said:
Trying to be patient Jim, but It's difficult. How are you liking the M4 mule, which should be around 64.5 RC on average, from what I recall.

20CV is good stuff too, but I really have gotten fond of M4.

Joe/Raleigh
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It's nice, haven't cut anything with either knife yet, I do have a 2nd Mule that Jeff dropped off last night in CPM S35VN.

RevDevil said:
This is actually the SOG I've thought about buying. I own a Seal Pup Elite and it's awesome, this is cooler though. Hey Ankerson, did you use the sandpaper and mouse technique to get that mirror edge on the SOG? I'm loving that edge brother!


:barf:OMG, I'd be ill if that happened to me, those guys are pricey ehh.
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I use the Edge Pro. :)

I was very pissed when it 1st happened... And Yeah they ain't cheap. :(
 
Nice pix, as usual!
Sorry to hear about the camera trouble. Hope you will end up with a new one.:)
Looking forward to your post with the test results.:thumbup:
 
Got my New Nikon D90 replacement camera yesterday so my cutting videos will be coming real soon. :thumbup:

Jeff you need to PM me. :)
 
Gress said:
Nice pix, as usual!
Sorry to hear about the camera trouble. Hope you will end up with a new one.:)
Looking forward to your post with the test results.:thumbup:
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Have you put the edge on them yet? :)
 
Thanks for taking the time for this. I've always been curious about the SOG TL as well as the "super steel" its in. Looking forward for the actual tests.
 
untamed said:
Thanks for taking the time for this. I've always been curious about the SOG TL as well as the "super steel" its in. Looking forward for the actual tests.
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It's up on my channel, I tested it yesterday. :thumbup:
 
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