Steel Poll - What new steel would you like to try/test on a Spyderco Mule Team knife

A place to share your experience with our Mule Team knives.

What steel you'd like to see/test on one of the upcoming Mule Team knives

M398
8
8%
CPM S125V
7
7%
REX121
22
21%
Vanax SuperClean
57
55%
Your own variant (specify in comments)
9
9%
 
Total votes: 103

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Bolster
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Re: Steel Poll - What new steel would you like to try/test on a Spyderco Mule Team knife

#21

Post by Bolster »

Fireman wrote:
Mon May 31, 2021 4:05 pm
The high rockwell steels are well represented, how about more super tough steels!
S7?
3v?
L6?
5160?
Z tough?

I'm on board with that...! Would like to explore the "tough" side of the steel universe...
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AlexRus
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Re: Steel Poll - What new steel would you like to try/test on a Spyderco Mule Team knife

#22

Post by AlexRus »

Bolster wrote:
Wed Jun 02, 2021 2:10 pm
Fireman wrote:
Mon May 31, 2021 4:05 pm
The high rockwell steels are well represented, how about more super tough steels!
S7?
3v?
L6?
5160?
Z tough?

I'm on board with that...! Would like to explore the "tough" side of the steel universe...
Count me in! :)
JRinFL
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Re: Steel Poll - What new steel would you like to try/test on a Spyderco Mule Team knife

#23

Post by JRinFL »

Larrin has me interested in CPM-T15.

Reference: https://knifesteelnerds.com/2021/05/10/ ... 15-rex-76/
"...it costs nothing to be polite." - Winston Churchill
“Maybe the cheese in the mousetrap is an artificially created cheaper price?” -Sal
Friends call me Jim. As do my foes.
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Bolster
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Re: Steel Poll - What new steel would you like to try/test on a Spyderco Mule Team knife

#24

Post by Bolster »

JRinFL wrote:
Fri Jun 04, 2021 2:02 pm
Larrin has me interested in CPM-T15.

Reference: https://knifesteelnerds.com/2021/05/10/ ... 15-rex-76/
I can see why.

Does anyone know if Larrin has this graphic (one of the most important, IMO) with labels on all the datapoints? There is sort of a tightly clustered "stainless steel winner's circle" for a well-balanced steel around SPY27 and XHP but I'd like to know what the other near datapoints are. Possibly S35VN, S45VN? Dunno.

(Caveat: Larrinite, of course, breaking through that winner's circle and standing alone, in the company of the well-balanced tool steels.)
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dlrflyer
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Re: Steel Poll - What new steel would you like to try/test on a Spyderco Mule Team knife

#25

Post by dlrflyer »

Add me to the CPM-Magnacut legion. If not possible, I’d say Vanax
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attila
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Re: Steel Poll - What new steel would you like to try/test on a Spyderco Mule Team knife

#26

Post by attila »

K490
Have: old S30V Native, HAP40 Endura, ZDP DF2, S110V Manix LW, Cru-wear Para 3, SE H1 DF2, S90V Native 5, K390 Urban, SE Pac Salt, P.I.T.S., XHP Manix LW, SB Caly 3, B70P, PMA11, K03, Kapara, REX 45 Military, 154CM Manix LW, Swick, AEB-L Urban, KC Cruwear Manix, M390 PM2, Mantra 2, CruCarta Shaman, M390 Manix, K390 Police 4, S90V Manix LW, Rex 45 Manix LW, 20CV Manix, Rex 45 Lil’Native, Shaman, C208GP, Cruwear Manix, Cruwear Manix, M4 Chief, Z-max!!!

Want: SPY27, K490, Swick 5
.
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AlexRus
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Re: Steel Poll - What new steel would you like to try/test on a Spyderco Mule Team knife

#27

Post by AlexRus »

dlrflyer wrote:
Tue Jun 08, 2021 9:56 am
Add me to the CPM-Magnacut legion. If not possible, I’d say Vanax
Both would be awesome :)
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Bolster
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Re: Steel Poll - What new steel would you like to try/test on a Spyderco Mule Team knife

#28

Post by Bolster »

Looking forward to:

Z-Finit
AEB-L
NioMax
MagnaCut
Nitro-V
Vanax
Ztuff
Caldie
CPM-3V
CPM CruWear (Mule 12 was not CPM)
Z-Wear
V4E
Vanadis 8
CPM 10V
CPM D2

...the future is bright!
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Cl1ff
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Re: Steel Poll - What new steel would you like to try/test on a Spyderco Mule Team knife

#29

Post by Cl1ff »

Rex121 is my infatuation, but considering the most basic goal of the Mule Teams, why not all of the above?
rex121 is the king of steel, but nature’s teeth have been cutting for hundreds of millions of years and counting :cool:
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AlexRus
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Re: Steel Poll - What new steel would you like to try/test on a Spyderco Mule Team knife

#30

Post by AlexRus »

Cl1ff wrote:
Sun Jun 20, 2021 6:31 am
Rex121 is my infatuation, but considering the most basic goal of the Mule Teams, why not all of the above?
Agreed. In this case the more the better :)
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AlexRus
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Re: Steel Poll - What new steel would you like to try/test on a Spyderco Mule Team knife

#31

Post by AlexRus »

Bolster wrote:
Sat Jun 19, 2021 9:13 pm
Looking forward to:

Z-Finit
AEB-L
NioMax
MagnaCut
Nitro-V
Vanax
Ztuff
Caldie
CPM-3V
CPM CruWear (Mule 12 was not CPM)
Z-Wear
V4E
Vanadis 8
CPM 10V
CPM D2

...the future is bright!
Awesome listing! :cool:
KKnives_Switzerland
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Re: Steel Poll - What new steel would you like to try/test on a Spyderco Mule Team knife

#32

Post by KKnives_Switzerland »

I throw in S390 Microclean. Pete/Cedric&Ada recently tested a blade I sent to him with nice results: https://youtu.be/9OKjBjCHPhU
It has a very nice toughness-hardness balance at 67-68 HRC; I love that stuff. Otherwise, Vanax Superclean or, dare I say it, the allmighty Vancron Superclean.
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AlexRus
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Re: Steel Poll - What new steel would you like to try/test on a Spyderco Mule Team knife

#33

Post by AlexRus »

KKnives_Switzerland wrote:
Sun Jun 20, 2021 10:15 am
I throw in S390 Microclean. Pete/Cedric&Ada recently tested a blade I sent to him with nice results: https://youtu.be/9OKjBjCHPhU
It has a very nice toughness-hardness balance at 67-68 HRC; I love that stuff. Otherwise, Vanax Superclean or, dare I say it, the allmighty Vancron Superclean.
Hi Roman! Glad to see you in the thread, thanks for chiming in!
:)
KKnives_Switzerland
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Re: Steel Poll - What new steel would you like to try/test on a Spyderco Mule Team knife

#34

Post by KKnives_Switzerland »

JRinFL wrote:
Fri Jun 04, 2021 2:02 pm
Larrin has me interested in CPM-T15.

Reference: https://knifesteelnerds.com/2021/05/10/ ... 15-rex-76/
You might would like S390 then! Quite similar in composition.
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Screenshot_20210620-191915_Knife Steel Compositions.jpg
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Bolster
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Re: Steel Poll - What new steel would you like to try/test on a Spyderco Mule Team knife

#35

Post by Bolster »

KKnives_Switzerland wrote:
Sun Jun 20, 2021 10:15 am
I throw in S390 Microclean.

Thanks for the graphic. What does it mean when one steel has several datapoints of different colors?
Josh1973
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Re: Steel Poll - What new steel would you like to try/test on a Spyderco Mule Team knife

#36

Post by Josh1973 »

I have no idea what to pick since I am not a metallurgist or knowledgeable of the steels on the choice list. I would pretty much pick what Larrin would pick.
KKnives_Switzerland
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Re: Steel Poll - What new steel would you like to try/test on a Spyderco Mule Team knife

#37

Post by KKnives_Switzerland »

Bolster wrote:
Sun Jun 20, 2021 10:40 pm
KKnives_Switzerland wrote:
Sun Jun 20, 2021 10:15 am
I throw in S390 Microclean.

Thanks for the graphic. What does it mean when one steel has several datapoints of different colors?
Pete tests several different sharpening systems. On the upper right corner, there is a key which tells which is which: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... 1607644856
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Re: Steel Poll - What new steel would you like to try/test on a Spyderco Mule Team knife

#38

Post by Bolster »

Josh1973 wrote:
Sun Jun 20, 2021 10:54 pm
I have no idea what to pick since I am not a metallurgist or knowledgeable of the steels on the choice list. I would pretty much pick what Larrin would pick.

"What Would Larrin Pick?"

A good bumper sticker or tee-shirt.

My impression (after reading his book and his blog) is that Larrin (1) matches steel to use when he can; (2) in absence of use data, goes for a well-rounded balanced steel (but doesn't weight sharpenability much); (3) tends to value toughness more than most afi's, since toughness contributes to edge stability.

Those of you who follow Larrin, what say? Reasonable summary, yea, or nay?
Josh1973
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Re: Steel Poll - What new steel would you like to try/test on a Spyderco Mule Team knife

#39

Post by Josh1973 »

Bolster wrote:
Mon Jun 21, 2021 8:48 am
Josh1973 wrote:
Sun Jun 20, 2021 10:54 pm
I have no idea what to pick since I am not a metallurgist or knowledgeable of the steels on the choice list. I would pretty much pick what Larrin would pick.

"What Would Larrin Pick?"

A good bumper sticker or tee-shirt.

My impression (after reading his book and his blog) is that Larrin (1) matches steel to use when he can; (2) in absence of use data, goes for a well-rounded balanced steel (but doesn't weight sharpenability much); (3) tends to value toughness more than most afi's, since toughness contributes to edge stability.

Those of you who follow Larrin, what say? Reasonable summary, yea, or nay?
Yea. Seems pretty reasonable. To make it a bit more clear. I trust his judgement of steel over mine.
Josh1973
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Re: Steel Poll - What new steel would you like to try/test on a Spyderco Mule Team knife

#40

Post by Josh1973 »

Fireman wrote:
Mon May 31, 2021 4:05 pm
The high rockwell steels are well represented, how about more super tough steels!
S7?
3v?
L6?
5160?
Z tough?
My thoughts exactly fireman. Toughness is too often overlooked.
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