My 1st Spydie: Mule Team 26 PMA11 edge porn (20X loupe, too)

[azdonw]

I ordered my first Spydie on Wednesday and received it today (Saturday). Can't beat that for service! So I thought I would take a few photos to share. To me the edge seems pretty symmetrical, and it cuts old Harbor Freight catalog pages with ease!






20X Loupe middle of the blade:


20X loupe toward the choil:

[Deadboxhero]

I ordered my first Spydie on Wednesday and received it today (Saturday). Can't beat that for service! So I thought I would take a few photos to share. To me the edge seems pretty symmetrical, and it cuts old Harbor Freight catalog pages with ease!






20X Loupe middle of the blade:


20X loupe toward the choil:

Nice A11/10v is bad to the bone!

Look forward to seeing the edge with some use and Sharpening

[sal]

Hi Azdonw,

Welcome to our forum.

Getting the loupe is a good idea. When I used to train our knife salesmen, I told them that I was their Number two teacher. Loupe was number one teacher. Use the Loupe regularly, especially while sharpening. Seeing what's really going on with the edge is a great opportunity for learning. I keep a 10X in my pocket, a 20X in my briefcase and a 50X on my desk at home and bring it with me in my suitcase when I travel.

sal

[azdonw]

Thanks for the welcome, Sal...and the great service!

[azdonw]

Nice A11/10v is bad to the bone!

Look forward to seeing the edge with some use and Sharpening

Hey Brown, I've been watching your videos on sharpening. I was this close to buying a Manix 2 LW in maximet like yours in the video. I've been practicing your sharpening technique. Alas, I've wanted a Mule for a long while and with the shutdown announced, I had to get one of these. I'll be sure and post again when I eventually have to resharpen. I'd love to reprofile this to 20 deg inclusive, but I don't have your skills or tools :) .

[brainfriction]

Yeah my 10x loupe is the best $9.99 I've spent on sharpening gear. I had a knife that I was having trouble sharpening all the way to the tip, there was always a little speck of sharpie left right at the very end no matter what. Thought for sure maybe I rolled it, but upon inspection with the loupe I realized I just needed to focus a little bit more on the area between the belly and the tip, just a quirk from how it was sharpened at the factory on the slack belt.

[SF Native]

That’s an unusual first spiderco. Love the Mules myself. Going to buy scales or make some of your own? I’m sure that one is going to serve you well.

[Deadboxhero]

Nice A11/10v is bad to the bone!

Look forward to seeing the edge with some use and Sharpening

Hey Brown, I've been watching your videos on sharpening. I was this close to buying a Manix 2 LW in maximet like yours in the video. I've been practicing your sharpening technique. Alas, I've wanted a Mule for a long while and with the shutdown announced, I had to get one of these. I'll be sure and post again when I eventually have to resharpen. I'd love to reprofile this to 20 deg inclusive, but I don't have your skills or tools :) .

Haha thanks man, you'll get there, just keep at it :D

Nice steel choice man

[azdonw]

That’s an unusual first spiderco. Love the Mules myself. Going to buy scales or make some of your own? I’m sure that one is going to serve you well.

Yeah, I've been eyeing the Mules for years and kept missing out on them. I love the creativity of designing and crafting "my own custom" knife. I've got some olive drab green canvas micarta on order and some matching green kydex to make a sheath. Been researching all the different methods, and I think I have a good design that will work for my needs. The sense of accomplishment I feel every time I use something I make is priceless...but I save a little money as well :D . This knife will be for hunting/skinning (I know, not the best blade shape), but where can I get a great steel like this for the price? And I get to enjoy the process of making it, to boot!

[SF Native]

I have a collection of mules that I have made handles for. My advice and best practice is:
2 handle pins is much easier to line up than 3 or more.
You can attach the he slabs and sand paper or coping saw won’t hurt it.
Have fun. You can do it.

[azdonw]

I have a collection of mules that I have made handles for. My advice and best practice is:
2 handle pins is much easier to line up than 3 or more.
You can attach the he slabs and sand paper or coping saw won’t hurt it.
Have fun. You can do it.

Thanks for the advice. I am planning on two pins and tube for the lanyard hole. Can't you clamp the two scales together with the handle on the outside of them and use the handle holes as a guide to drill both at once?
I was planning on using the coping saw to get close, then finish with sandpaper.

[SF Native]

I have a collection of mules that I have made handles for. My advice and best practice is:
2 handle pins is much easier to line up than 3 or more.
You can attach the he slabs and sand paper or coping saw won’t hurt it.
Have fun. You can do it.

Thanks for the advice. I am planning on two pins and tube for the lanyard hole. Can't you clamp the two scales together with the handle on the outside of them and use the handle holes as a guide to drill both at once?
I was planning on using the coping saw to get close, then finish with sandpaper.

You got it on both counts. A drill press is a big help to keep the holes straight. If done by hand, it’s a lot harder to get perfectly vertical. The pins bind up if not straight.

[azdonw]

I have a collection of mules that I have made handles for. My advice and best practice is:
2 handle pins is much easier to line up than 3 or more.
You can attach the he slabs and sand paper or coping saw won’t hurt it.
Have fun. You can do it.

Thanks for the advice. I am planning on two pins and tube for the lanyard hole. Can't you clamp the two scales together with the handle on the outside of them and use the handle holes as a guide to drill both at once?
I was planning on using the coping saw to get close, then finish with sandpaper.

You got it on both counts. A drill press is a big help to keep the holes straight. If done by hand, it’s a lot harder to get perfectly vertical. The pins bind up if not straight.

Thanks again. I wish i had a drill press . I have to do everything with hand drill, rotary tool, and hand belt sander. Have a jigsaw, but I think a coping saw would be safer.

[TomAiello]

This thread has got me thinking that I need to buy another PMA11 mule before they run out. :)

[legOFwhat?]

Love my PD#1 mule! Although I did buy the G10 scales and G-clip with it I plan to make up a few different style handles just to get some practice and probably pick up a few mules like your PMA11. I really appreciate Sal and the spyderco team on doing these mules. Wish I would have known about these years ago.

[azdonw]

Love my PD#1 mule! Although I did buy the G10 scales and G-clip with it I plan to make up a few different style handles just to get some practice and probably pick up a few mules like your PMA11. I really appreciate Sal and the spyderco team on doing these mules. Wish I would have known about these years ago.

I appreciate them, too; and I knew about them for a few years but kept missing them. They would sell out in a day or two.