A guard tab

A place to share your experience with our Mule Team knives.
mokele
Member
Posts: 47
Joined: Tue May 03, 2022 12:57 pm

A guard tab

#1

Post by mokele »

Did anybody cut it off?
I am wondering if it is preventing you from using the part of the edge closest to the handle (heel).
Thinking about skinning and butchering mostly, but also cutting food on a board
User avatar
sal
Member
Posts: 16964
Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 12:00 pm
Location: Golden, Colorado USA

Re: A guard tab

#2

Post by sal »

Hi Mokele

Welcome to our forum.

sal
Coastal
Member
Posts: 1214
Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2021 7:14 pm
Location: Galveston Island

Re: A guard tab

#3

Post by Coastal »

mokele wrote:
Sat Jun 11, 2022 12:07 am
Did anybody cut it off?
I am wondering if it is preventing you from using the part of the edge closest to the handle (heel).
Thinking about skinning and butchering mostly, but also cutting food on a board
I've wondered the same thing, and wondered why it's there, or why it's so large. When I buy the production SPY27, I think I'll reduce it by about 1/2.
JRinFL
Member
Posts: 6145
Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2015 10:30 am
Location: Unfashionable West End of the Galaxy (SE USA)

Re: A guard tab

#4

Post by JRinFL »

Two things:
It’s easier to remove/reduce the guard than it is to add one.

It’s also easier and less costly to leave the tab as it is. The Mules are not money makers so it better to keep production costs as low as possible.
"...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.
M.N.O.S.D. 0001
mokele
Member
Posts: 47
Joined: Tue May 03, 2022 12:57 pm

Re: A guard tab

#5

Post by mokele »

Thank you for your welcoming Sal,
I have a huge respect for your work and participation in the community.
I am just wondering about real experience of Mule team users, like how many of you had that thought of cutting it off or thinking about it.
I will test mine as it is once I put a handle on, and will tell you the results.
In case I decide to cut it, how should I do it, so not ruining the blade? I have an angle grinder, worksharp tool grinder on Ken onion sharpener, files, stones. The blade I acquired recently and will test is z-wear.
User avatar
standy99
Member
Posts: 2205
Joined: Sat Jul 22, 2017 11:07 am
Location: Between Broome and Cairns somewhere

Re: A guard tab

#6

Post by standy99 »

If your really testing a knife you want it there. Don’t mind it and it’s never hindered any cutting.

But also quite easy with a dremel to take off.
Im a vegetarian as technically cows are made of grass and water.
Bemo
Member
Posts: 1298
Joined: Sat Jul 27, 2019 6:00 pm
Location: Boise Idaho

Re: A guard tab

#7

Post by Bemo »

It seems to me to be required for the boltaron sheath, but I could be wrong.
User avatar
Bolster
Member
Posts: 5573
Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2007 1:27 pm
Location: CalyFRNia

Re: A guard tab

#8

Post by Bolster »

A belt grinder would remove it in a trice, if that's your desire. I've not removed one yet because I want the safety for outdoorsy knives. I have considered removing the guard for a kitchen knife, to get the heel of the blade on the board, but have not actually done it yet.
Steel novice who self-identifies as a steel expert. Proud M.N.O.S.D. member 0003. Spydie Steels: 4V, 15V, 20CV, AEB-L, AUS6, Cru-Wear, HAP40, K294, K390, M4, Magnacut, S110V, S30V, S35VN, S45VN, SPY27, SRS13, T15, VG10, XHP, ZWear, ZDP189
User avatar
attila
Member
Posts: 1812
Joined: Fri Apr 29, 2016 9:20 am
Location: Maryland

Re: A guard tab

#9

Post by attila »

I have shortened the one on my Magnacut mule by about a 1/3-1/2. I also rounded the sharp edges that I’ve always disliked in use. It’s much more comfortable.
DBF9B1CF-652A-496A-942E-DCD70C2F6F30.jpeg
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
.
User avatar
jsl3
Member
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Apr 22, 2021 3:12 pm
Location: White Mountains

Re: A guard tab

#10

Post by jsl3 »

I also wondered about removing the tab. On my first attempt, you can see from the middle mule I trimmed it back slightly. But on the z-wear mule (top) I significantly paired back the size and shape of the tang as well. I primarily utilized an inexpensive harbor freight 1x30 belt sander, which actually works quite well.
Attachments
IMG_20220116_133720569~3_copy_1704x1118.jpg
Bemo
Member
Posts: 1298
Joined: Sat Jul 27, 2019 6:00 pm
Location: Boise Idaho

Re: A guard tab

#11

Post by Bemo »

I really like that top one in your pick jsl3!
User avatar
sal
Member
Posts: 16964
Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 12:00 pm
Location: Golden, Colorado USA

Re: A guard tab

#12

Post by sal »

Hi Jsl3,

Welcome to our forum.

sal
burlyspyder
Member
Posts: 79
Joined: Sat Feb 25, 2017 11:09 am

Re: A guard tab

#13

Post by burlyspyder »

I removed the tab as well, at least for one of mine. Here's a not-quite-finished pic. I used a carbide end mill.
mulewa1.png
Cheers,
-burly
:bug-red: H1(s), M4, 4v, 10v, 15v(m), Hap40, s90v, s110v, BD1n, Maxamet, Magnacut(s), Z-max(m), Z-wear(m), Magnacut(m), SRS13(m), Rex76(m), M398(m)
Other: D2, White#1, Blue#2, SuperBlue, VG-10, 204P, 20cv, s30v, s35vn, s45vn, s90v, HIC, TC71
User avatar
hereiamu1
Member
Posts: 283
Joined: Tue Jun 26, 2018 6:45 pm
Location: WA

Re: A guard tab

#14

Post by hereiamu1 »

burlyspyder wrote:
Tue Jun 14, 2022 8:21 am
I removed the tab as well, at least for one of mine. Here's a not-quite-finished pic. I used a carbide end mill.
Cheers,
-burly
Looks nice. I was thinking about doing something similar with my Manacut mule.
mokele
Member
Posts: 47
Joined: Tue May 03, 2022 12:57 pm

Re: A guard tab

#15

Post by mokele »

jsl3 wrote:
Tue Jun 14, 2022 5:32 am
I also wondered about removing the tab. On my first attempt, you can see from the middle mule I trimmed it back slightly. But on the z-wear mule (top) I significantly paired back the size and shape of the tang as well. I primarily utilized an inexpensive harbor freight 1x30 belt sander, which actually works quite well.
Which shape works the best for you? Like what do you use each version for? Thanks
User avatar
Tucson Tom
Member
Posts: 1629
Joined: Tue Mar 28, 2017 10:19 pm
Location: Somewhere in Arizona

Re: A guard tab

#16

Post by Tucson Tom »

Better safe than sorry is my point of view.

I also have the Harbor Freight 1x30 belt sander, and it was an excellent purchase that I find useful for all kinds of things.
sbdude
Member
Posts: 44
Joined: Thu Mar 30, 2017 12:00 pm
Location: SW Missouri

Re: A guard tab

#17

Post by sbdude »

jsl3 wrote:
Tue Jun 14, 2022 5:32 am
I also wondered about removing the tab. On my first attempt, you can see from the middle mule I trimmed it back slightly. But on the z-wear mule (top) I significantly paired back the size and shape of the tang as well. I primarily utilized an inexpensive harbor freight 1x30 belt sander, which actually works quite well.
Did a nice job on the top one. Really like how you changed the shape of it.
ykspydiefan
Member
Posts: 489
Joined: Wed May 27, 2020 9:28 pm

Re: A guard tab

#18

Post by ykspydiefan »

Wow, nice work.

Insert meme of a mule kicking a Mule Team Blade square on the Halpern Scales, the blade achieves a critical blur turning into any one of the above mods, then hits dead center on a target.
Spyderco: Tenacious G10, Waterway, Para 3 Spy27, Pacific Salt H1, In the Mule Team Stable(Z-Max, Z-Wear, S45VN, Magnacut, SRS13/SUS405, M398, Aeb-l, 15v)
mokele
Member
Posts: 47
Joined: Tue May 03, 2022 12:57 pm

Re: A guard tab

#19

Post by mokele »

Tucson Tom wrote:
Tue Jun 14, 2022 9:35 pm
Better safe than sorry is my point of view.

I also have the Harbor Freight 1x30 belt sander, and it was an excellent purchase that I find useful for all kinds of things.
I honestly only see the point of the tab being useful in case of stabbing. I have dealt with a lot of knives from Finland (puukkos and leukus), and none of them have any sort of guards, as they are used for slicing primarily. And for slicing things, the tab, IMHO, is very detrimental. It is the reason I don't have a flipper folder.
I also agree that it's better to have it on the blade initially in case someone wants it, as it's easier to remove it than to add it. I am happy to see use cases of removed or shortened tab, thanks to those who posted them.
User avatar
jsl3
Member
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Apr 22, 2021 3:12 pm
Location: White Mountains

Re: A guard tab

#20

Post by jsl3 »

It is good to see that the modifications are being well received. I went back and found a couple of pictures that show the extent of the reprofiling.... I was not sure how much to take off at first, but I'm happy with the results. My hope was to make the blade more easily used in the kitchen. It has worked out very well!
Attachments
IMG_20220115_150250081~2_copy_1174x1997.jpg
IMG_20220115_150327754~2_copy_1709x715.jpg
Post Reply