Whats the deal with Spyderco Mule Team

N

nullface

Joined
Feb 13, 2012
Messages
14
I was looking into a Elmax knife and stumbled upon the Spyderco Mule Team Elmax blade. I'm fairly new to the knife world but $64.95 for a Elmax blade seems like a realy good deal. Why are mule team baldes so cheap (or relativily cheap)?
 
Because they don't have handles and are small. Folders take alot more parts assembly etc...
 
They are supposed to be a test bed for Spyderco to test different blade steels.
 
Sal Glesser, president of Spyderco, is a knife knut and steel junky, just like us. The Mule Team project is a way for him to let us try various steels in a single package, so the only variable in comparing the knives is the steel itself. They are sold directly through the Spyderco Factory outlet, with no middleman markup. We get them at distributer price, which keeps the price down. They are sold without scales or sheath, which saves money and allows people to exercise their creativity. I've been cord wrapping mine and carrying them at work since the beginning of the program. They make great utility/work knives.
 
Stay away man... Stay away.

These things are worse than Para-2s, or Sage-series... Once you start, you'll think "well the M390 version would be cool - oh, and check out Damascus... and there's always Super-Blue...".

The ELMAX version is just a gateway drug man.



Also, do not look at this picture below:


DSCN7050.jpg
 
nullface said:
I was looking into a Elmax knife and stumbled upon the Spyderco Mule Team Elmax blade. I'm fairly new to the knife world but $64.95 for a Elmax blade seems like a realy good deal. Why are mule team baldes so cheap (or relativily cheap)?
Click to expand...

Another thing is that there isn't a middle man, so it cuts out a portion of the proceeds that would go into a dealer's pockets. Add in scales and a custom kydex sheath, and the knife starts pushing $140-150 as a package.
 
Or use Para-cord, and order $12 worth of Kydex and have something purely bad-ass and is still affordable :D
 
I suspect that Spyderco has also decided to trim their usual margins on the Mule series. I've been buying them since MT-01. It's almost a sub-hobby within itself at this point. :)
 
capid1 said:
Different steel every few months and a chance to be creative. Yeah, I'm hooked.

DSC_0253.jpg
Click to expand...

That is freaking gorgeous. I wish I had gotten the S90V, and M390 versions (and the Damascus version, and the ...).
 
Spyderco does not have scales available.

There is one company that sells titanium scales for a great price, blanking on the name right now but someone will refresh my memory in a minute here, I'm sure.
 
Halpern Titanium sells Ti and G10 scales.

That M390 Mule above is the nicest I've ever seen...
 
Thanks for the compliments guys but I can never take credit for that kind of work (picture is mine). David Williamson of Ozark Tradition Knifeworks did the scales. Great price and as you can see amazing work.
 
capid1 said:
Thanks for the compliments guys but I can never take credit for that kind of work (picture is mine). David Williamson of Ozark Tradition Knifeworks did the scales. Great price and as you can see amazing work.
Click to expand...

Is there a website with those scales for purchase? I didn't find one.

Thanks.
 
South said:
Is there a website with those scales for purchase? I didn't find one.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure those were custom fitted by a knifemaker. They appear to be held on with handle bolts that are fitted and then have their heads ground off. The 'factory' scales use bolts that can be tightened with a driver of some sort.

That is a gorgeous job. My 'garage model' S90V mule doesn't look nearly that good, although it functions amazingly!

mule3.jpg
 
elkins45 said:
I'm pretty sure those were custom fitted by a knifemaker. They appear to be held on with handle bolts that are fitted and then have their heads ground off. The 'factory' scales use bolts that can be tightened with a driver of some sort.

That is a gorgeous job. My 'garage model' S90V mule doesn't look nearly that good, although it functions amazingly!
Click to expand...

elkins,

Thanks for the info. Your knife looks great, as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top