Mule Z-Wear PM initial impression and experience

[AlexRus]

Thanks, nice review! the Z-wear is a great overall option as a mix of edge retention and toughness. If more people were used to/comfortable with high carbon (non-stainless) steels I think it would be very popular, especially when they realized it's basically Cruwear.

Thank you, defenestrate!
Of course it's not stainless, but it's really a very good and balanced steel!

[AlexRus]

Coffee time!

[DerRock]

Thank you, it was interesting to read and see. Congratulations on your flawless victory over the box and chicken :)

[AlexRus]

Thank you, it was interesting to read and see. Congratulations on your flawless victory over the box and chicken :)

Thank you!

[AlexRus]

Sharing with you my experience with the paracord Mule handle wrapping.
Removed the G10 scales and wrapped my Z-Wear Mule handle with Olive Drab paracord.
There are lots of paracord handle wrapping techniques on the forum and on the net in general. I chose this one I saw on YouTube. It creates texture, a bit of thickness and looks quite interesting.
I like the result so far.








And I also decided to finish the wrapping with a wrist lanyard-loop.



What do you guys think?

[Bolster]

I can't view this thread, the pictures are galacially slow to load.

[AlexRus]

I can't view this thread, the pictures are galacially slow to load.

Hi Bolster! It's faster to see them here I guess:
https://ibb.co/album/t8Zb64
https://ibb.co/album/5BtgRx

[AlexRus]

MagnaCut Mule made it all the way around the world to Russia to join his Z-WEAR brother

[Manifestgtr]

Looks like we have matching mules…this is my test maggie

[AlexRus]

Looks like we have matching mules…this is my test maggie

309A7108-8AE5-4397-83CD-1D596D6828D8.jpeg

And the Green Paracord wrapping just like on my Z-Wear Mule )

[Manifestgtr]

Looks like we have matching mules…this is my test maggie

309A7108-8AE5-4397-83CD-1D596D6828D8.jpeg

And the Green Paracord wrapping just like on my Z-Wear Mule )

Paracord actually feels pretty nice on these. At some point, I’m sure I’ll end up getting some scales but in the meantime, you could definitely do a lot worse.

[AlexRus]

Looks like we have matching mules…this is my test maggie

309A7108-8AE5-4397-83CD-1D596D6828D8.jpeg

And the Green Paracord wrapping just like on my Z-Wear Mule )

Paracord actually feels pretty nice on these. At some point, I’m sure I’ll end up getting some scales but in the meantime, you could definitely do a lot worse.

Agreed!

[Crox]

MagnaCut Mule made it all the way around the world to Russia to join his Z-WEAR brother

Have you had a chance to compare them much?

[AlexRus]

MagnaCut Mule made it all the way around the world to Russia to join his Z-WEAR brother

Have you had a chance to compare them much?

Not yet. I use Z-wear and MagnaCut wasn't used yet. But I noticed that factory sharpeness on the Magnacut Mule was much duller than on the Z-wear one. I guess it's just that factory edge thing, it's always random/different and doesn't say anything about the steel properties)

[Worm]

Here is my first ever self-made Mule Team handle (purple stabilized poplar wood by raffir) and kydex:
everything done by hand (I skipped some grits so you can still see grind lines from initial filing)

I did an impact test on the factory edge
(almost factory; you can see I left a secondary bevel after first reprofiling/cleaning of the factory edge):
I tried to baton through a shimano shifting cable.
It did not separate the cable (maybe shimano uses some high quality hardened steel wires ...)
The edge took some damage but sharpened out nicely.
Z-Wear is very similar to Cruwear and Magnacut: gets scary sharp easily with an polished edge
Edge retention seems similar to my S45VN Mule in my EDC use.

I plan to thin out the handle as it is currently too thick for the Spyderco leather sheath.

[legOFwhat?]

She's a 'beaut, worm! I wrecked a df2 hb pull cutting some rubber gasket that had a stranded steel cable hidden in it. Looks like you turned it around nicely!