The Kabar Mule

wildmanh

wildmanh

Part time Leather Bender/Sheath maker
Joined
Jul 9, 2000
Messages
7,764
A few years ago I purchased a Kabar Mule model 3053. Got it from a local shop for a good price because the shop wasn't going to carry that color combo anymore. I carried it a couple times over the last few years but mostly it just sat next to my computer. Well I pulled it out yesterday (after being in storage for 9 months) and started carrying it again.

The handle is amazing!! Large, comfortable and strong. It has stainless steel liners under Zytel handle slabs that have rubber like cushions. The shape of the handle works well for me. I'm almost shocked that I didn't carry this more often years ago. The reason I didn't is because I used to have to wear slacks for my Retail jobs and the Mule is so big that it didn't work clipped to the pockets. Now that I don't work retail and wear jeans all the time, carrying the mule in my pocket is no problem.

The blade came really sharp, lock up is good and the action is slow but smooth. It's one beefy knife! The pocket clip is setup for deep pocket carry and is really stiff. Today it's clipped to the leg pocket on my Carpenters Jeans. So far I have not had any problems with the clip getting caught or moving around on me. I like where the thumb ramp is located and it's size.

Untill this morning I was thinking of trading the knife for a plain edged one or seeing if Kabar would sell me just a Plain Edged blade. Mostly I didn't care for the serrations because I thought the blade shape and grind would be great for whittling and the serrations are right where I normaly do that with a blade. This morning I needed to cut up some old straps made of webbing so that I could re-use the steel hardware and the serrations ate though the webbing like it was butter. Now I've desided that the Serrations can stay because I tend to cut lots of cordage, webbing and the like when working or camping. Besides, I normally always have a Slip joint in my pocket for whittling.

So to sum it up, I feel that the Kabar Mule is a great knife and one that I will carry a lot more often!
 
Hell yeah its a solid knife. I had a Mule years ago, when they first came out. I wore that thing out when I worked as an electrician. That Mule stripped more wire, gouged holes in wall. What killed it was a "dead" electrical outlet. I was short on tools, and I was investigating the "dead" outlet. This lady had her fridge plugged into, and nothing was happening, so, I cross arced the wires, as a last ditch test to make sure it was safe to work on. Good thing, it was alive, and hammered the blade. I never replaced it.

Fast forward to 2010, the new Kabar Mules are available with G10, linerless handles. Much lighter, a little slimmer, and just as tough. Plus, priced to sell, lad, priced to sell. Some folks don't fell that rocker lock is good on a "tactical" folder, but on that knife, its a good heavy duty pocket/sheath folder.

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Love'em.

Moose
 
My son has the straight edged one and loves it to death. He uses the heck out of it - pretty much wore his first one out.

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Beckerhead #42
 
I have a Desert Mule and have been enjoying it.
Am waiting for the right forum to post a review. ;) :D

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I had one of the first ones, tan with an awesome sheath and no clip. Really sturdy knife but sold it as I was moving into other things.
 
Gent's, it's nice to know that there are others who have the same taist in folders. :)

Moose, I didn't know about the G10 version till you mentioned it. Thanks!

The Nylon sheath that came with mine is pretty nice. Am thinking of using it to carry a flashlight, a different folder that doesn't have a clip or maybe a pistol Magazine. :) I just noticed that they are less then $10 on Kabar's site. Might have to pick up a few more if they fit my 1911 Mags or Tactical lights.
 
I have the desert tan one w/straight edge myself. Yes, the sheath is sweet, but it's a little too large to edc it and the action is slow.
 
ktomes_340 said:
I have the desert tan one w/straight edge myself. Yes, the sheath is sweet, but it's a little too large to edc it and the action is slow.
Click to expand...

Mine used to be slow to open, but after carrying it for 2.5 days it's really sped up. Probably helps that I was pulling it out every 15 minutes or so to cut thread, was sewing up 9 machete sheaths. It's not as fast as some of my knives, but it sure is faster then it was when I found it in storage. :)
 
I like it but feel that the blade is just this side of too small. Tough knife though. I carried\used mine quite a bit but it has been in a closet knife pile for about a year now. I think that its future will be in the car glove box.
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