Any CTS 204P mules made? One on the BAY - Fake?

[QUICKSILVER]

In browsing for mules on the Bay, I noticed a used CTS 204P second up for auction? Were some made and released as seconds or is this a fake?

Bill Maier

[elmeringalo]

I think MT14P in CTS-204P doesn´t exist. It´s really a fake

[awa54]

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showt ... mming-Soon!

looks like MT14 was indeed CTS-204 if this thread is to be belived

[El Gato]

My copy of the Mule Team listing on Spydiewiki quotes the following: MT14P, CTS-204P. "Was originally planned for production and announced in the Spyderbyte email, but never released."

[kosta]

I saw such mule here. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Spyderco-Mule-T ... 2041747645?

It is a fake?

[mattman]

Strange...

AFAIK... They were never manufactured, but maybe they were just not released? That *might* explain the notch...?

Finish looks terrible (I am admittedly looking at it via my phone)...

Edit to add: I've never seen a "notch" like that before, either.

[bearfacedkiller]

That does not look like any factory second notch that I have seen and the fact that it doesn't have an edge bevel is strange. Maybe it snuck out the back door.

[kosta]

foto

[The Deacon]

That does not look like any factory second notch that I have seen and the fact that it doesn't have an edge bevel is strange. Maybe it snuck out the back door.

That seems like the most reasonable possibility.

[QUICKSILVER]

Only someone from Spyderco would know if a few were made for testing. If so, someone may have appropriated a well used one with a big second notch. It would be nice to know if this could be real.
I collect mules and if this is a fake, it would be a great concern for me. I bought some of the early mules on the bay and some fakes may have ended up in my collection.
Also, will there ever be a MT14? There is a big hole in the series where it belongs.
Bill Maier

[DougC-3]

If problems were encountered with the production run before the edges were ground, it would not have made any sense to go on and grind the edges. So the lack of a ground edge points toward this not being counterfeit rather than the other way around. A counterfeiter could have easily ground an edge. So I agree with Darby and Paul. I think it came out the backdoor or was maybe helped out some legitimate employee's side window or whatever.

If I were trying for a complete set, I'd jump on it as a place filler if the price was right, but that attitude is why I'm trying not to collect them

[paladin]

That does not look like any factory second notch that I have seen and the fact that it doesn't have an edge bevel is strange. Maybe it snuck out the back door.

That seems like the most reasonable possibility.

If problems were encountered with the production run before the edges were ground, it would not have made any sense to go on and grind the edges. So the lack of a ground edge points toward this not being counterfeit rather than the other way around. A counterfeiter could have easily ground an edge.

The next clues...No box & the seller is based in Denver , CO

[shunsui]

Looks like it sold.

I think someone got a nice little collectable there.

[kosta]

I thought I have all mules. It was the bad case. Workers of Spyderco won't comment?

[DougC-3]

I thought I have all mules. It was the bad case. Workers of Spyderco won't comment?

I'm not a worker or really even a collector, but, while we're waiting on a more educated reply, I won't let that hold me back :rolleyes: I don't think most serious collectors would place much value on this. I think it would be more in the category of a rare coin which would be extremely valuable in mint condition but worth very little to collectors if damaged, worn out, or rejected by the mint because of an imperfection. Since it was never in production, I think you still have a complete collection. I think this sample would be more in the rare souvenir category and as such would be worth little money but would be very highly prized by some of us Spyderco nuts.

I'd like to see opinions from serious collectors about this.

[SG89]

I hope Sal or Taz Kristi chimes in...

[paladin]

I hope Sal or Taz Kristi chimes in...

Sal confirmed the steel was on the floor in the BF thread cited above...

So it'd be interesting to know why the MT 14 was never released...cause this would have been an EPIC MT iteration! :D :spyder: :D

Maybe there's a chance we can have a belated MT14 release yet!!!! Sal never said "never".......... fingers crossed :cool:

[sal]

Well, I did some research and came up with the following: The original MT-14 was scheduled to be CTS 204P. It was the first batch that Carpenter made. We made 127 Mule Teams and then realized that something was wrong as we could break them with our hands. We contacted Carpenter and they found that the chemistry was incorrect and the entire batch was dumped. We broke the 127 that we had and trashed them. It is possible that one might have been stolen, but the notch is not at all the way we would make it. If one was stolen, it is not a viable piece.

Whether we should make another run of MT-14 is another question.

sal

[paladin]

VERY INTERESTING...thanks Sal!

FWIW, I'd love to see the MT14 revisited in CTS204P with the correct formulation :D

[DougC-3]

Thanks for clearing this up, Sal. I'd also like to see the MT14 gap get another chance to be filled with a CTS204P Mule Team.