Mule Team blades in stock

[weeping minora]

Can't believe there are any AEB-Ls left.

Available for just over 2 years now, with 99 left in stock per the Spyderco website, as of this posting.

I am not at all surprised to see this Mule still around. I believe VG-XEOS will befall this same fate, too, which IMO is ultimately a death knell for steels within this class, to be introduced within this format.

[horzuff]

Luckily the Mule Team is more about allowing us to experience new steels rather than being a big sales success.

Though I do think that a mule folder would possibly increase the appeal, and thus amount of data/reviews, especially of the less specialized steels like AEB-L and VG Xeos. Would require to be one of the locks that don't have to be mated with blades (so backlocks, ball bearing locks, crossbar locks, possibly variations on the SNECX superlock) so that Spyderco could offer just the blade for each mule run and have a single handle on offer similarly to the mule handle and sheaths. One can dream. Especially after seeing @CasperFatone 's Folding Mule Project thread and how well the design works in a folding implementation

[VandymanG]

Can't believe there are any AEB-Ls left.

Totally agree especially since I think @Deadboxhero was involved with the Heat treat. Good AEB-L knives sell for a lot more than the price of this mule. I’ve got 2 been thinking about grabbing a 3rd one.

[carter]

Where’s the inventory info on the site? I’ve never noticed this

Can't believe there are any AEB-Ls left.

Available for just over 2 years now, with 99 left in stock per the Spyderco website, as of this posting.

I am not at all surprised to see this Mule still around. I believe VG-XEOS will befall this same fate, too, which IMO is ultimately a death knell for steels within this class, to be introduced within this format.

[weeping minora]

Where’s the inventory info on the site? I’ve never noticed this

Here's an overloaded info dump for you.

Spyderco's official website, search for 'Mule Team'.

https://www.spyderco.com/?s=Mule+team

Find a MT of interest and add an unreasonable quantity within the supplied quantity box (say x1000), and then Add To Cart.

You will be redirected to the Shopping Cart. Once there, scroll down and click on the 'Update Quantites' box below. If the quantity you have entered is greater than the internal inventory suggests, then the page will refresh and display the remaining inventory stock at the top of the page, allowing you only x amount is available for purchase.

A couple of caveats to note;

-Not all MTs displayed in the search engine are available for purchase. You have to click on the MT specifically and see if it is 'Sold Out', or available to 'Add To Cart'.

-I've noticed, amongst others here, that just because there's an inventory count available to be displayed using this little hack, this doesn't necessarily mean that the 'inventory' count listed is absolute, or correct. There have been multiple instances where a MT has become available again after being 'OOS', namely, the T15 MT popped back in stock many times after initially being sold out, though only in very limited quantities that sold out very quickly. Something to look out for is around Seconds Sales, and MAP discounts, stock sometimes becomes available. Maybe more inventory was found, returns, etc. when trying to prepare for such events?

-Last June (2024) the K294 Mule showed only a handful of inventory available, and it was replenished enough to finally be sold out this Month (April 2025). If you are willing to be dilligent enough, you may find a K294 MT for purchase via the website, though it may not be the case. Only time will tell, but you will have to act fast, as typically an APB goes out here on the forums once potential stock is discovered, and is quickly back to OOS once more.

Hope this helps.

[Mage7]

Can't believe there are any AEB-Ls left.

Available for just over 2 years now, with 99 left in stock per the Spyderco website, as of this posting.

I am not at all surprised to see this Mule still around. I believe VG-XEOS will befall this same fate, too, which IMO is ultimately a death knell for steels within this class, to be introduced within this format.

I've just been hesitant to pull the trigger on AEB-L because I feel like I will be disappointed in it. There's sort of... Well, I don't know how to put it, but I'll call it a conflict of terminology that makes me uncertain that it will have the characteristics that I want.

For example, Larrin's article about AEB-L says...

Thin edges sharpened to acute angles cut much better than thick edges. This is called “cutting ability” which is the energy required to cut through something. This is different than sharpness. An axe can be sharpened to very high sharpness but the energy required for cutting remains relatively high. A knife with high cutting ability, even while dull, will keep on cutting depending on the material being cut. You can read about the differences between sharpness and cutting ability in this article. Thin edges with acute angles need very high strength (hardness) to avoid rolling and deformation, and high toughness to avoid chipping. This combination of strength and toughness is called “edge stability,” which you can read about here. AEB-L with its high toughness has very good “edge stability” meaning it is very well suited for high cutting ability edges. Thin edges do not just cut better, however, they also have much better edge retention. That means that when AEB-L is used in knives with thin, acute edges where it excels relative to the more wear resistant steels that have poor toughness, the edge retention will match or exceed those more wear resistant steels. So AEB-L knives can have both better cutting ability and edge retention than more wear resistant steels when used with an edge geometry where it excels.

https://knifesteelnerds.com/2019/03/04/all-about-aeb-l/

Essentially my worry is that the ability of AEB-L to hold a very acute and stable edge which increases its cutting ability, won't actually grant it the ability to retain keenness (to borrow Todd Simpson's term for what Larrin refers to as sharpness).

In other words, I'm not really interested in an an edge that will retain its ability to wedge its way through cardboard longer by merit of its geometry, as much as I want an edge that retains a very keen apex after cutting the cardboard.

So far, I have found high hardness to be the ticket to where I wanna go. T15 and Rex45 have been the best for me in this aspect, and as far as I can glean, both are well over 65 HRC. When I saw a video from Shawn Houston stating the batch hardness for the AEB-L Mule run was around 62-63 HRC, that sort of made me doubt it will have the characteristics of T15 and Rex45 that I like.

Of course, I may be completely misunderstanding, but without someone informing me otherwise, that's why I'm abstaining from grabbing one. I figured I'd leave them around for people who are more interested in "cutting ability" than maximizing the retention of keenness.

[weeping minora]

Can't believe there are any AEB-Ls left.

Available for just over 2 years now, with 99 left in stock per the Spyderco website, as of this posting.

I am not at all surprised to see this Mule still around. I believe VG-XEOS will befall this same fate, too, which IMO is ultimately a death knell for steels within this class, to be introduced within this format.

I've just been hesitant to pull the trigger on AEB-L because I feel like I will be disappointed in it. There's sort of... Well, I don't know how to put it, but I'll call it a conflict of terminology that makes me uncertain that it will have the characteristics that I want.

For example, Larrin's article about AEB-L says...

Thin edges sharpened to acute angles cut much better than thick edges. This is called “cutting ability” which is the energy required to cut through something. This is different than sharpness. An axe can be sharpened to very high sharpness but the energy required for cutting remains relatively high. A knife with high cutting ability, even while dull, will keep on cutting depending on the material being cut. You can read about the differences between sharpness and cutting ability in this article. Thin edges with acute angles need very high strength (hardness) to avoid rolling and deformation, and high toughness to avoid chipping. This combination of strength and toughness is called “edge stability,” which you can read about here. AEB-L with its high toughness has very good “edge stability” meaning it is very well suited for high cutting ability edges. Thin edges do not just cut better, however, they also have much better edge retention. That means that when AEB-L is used in knives with thin, acute edges where it excels relative to the more wear resistant steels that have poor toughness, the edge retention will match or exceed those more wear resistant steels. So AEB-L knives can have both better cutting ability and edge retention than more wear resistant steels when used with an edge geometry where it excels.

https://knifesteelnerds.com/2019/03/04/all-about-aeb-l/

Essentially my worry is that the ability of AEB-L to hold a very acute and stable edge which increases its cutting ability, won't actually grant it the ability to retain keenness (to borrow Todd Simpson's term for what Larrin refers to as sharpness).

In other words, I'm not really interested in an an edge that will retain its ability to wedge its way through cardboard longer by merit of its geometry, as much as I want an edge that retains a very keen apex after cutting the cardboard.

So far, I have found high hardness to be the ticket to where I wanna go. T15 and Rex45 have been the best for me in this aspect, and as far as I can glean, both are well over 65 HRC. When I saw a video from Shawn Houston stating the batch hardness for the AEB-L Mule run was around 62-63 HRC, that sort of made me doubt it will have the characteristics of T15 and Rex45 that I like.

Of course, I may be completely misunderstanding, but without someone informing me otherwise, that's why I'm abstaining from grabbing one. I figured I'd leave them around for people who are more interested in "cutting ability" than maximizing the retention of keenness.

What you are experiencing is the massive increase in wear resistance and aggressive cutting characteristics of T15 and REX45, as it's the increase in type, volume, and hardness, of the carbide content in T15 and REX45 to resist the abrasive wear that gives the perception of retained sharpness/keenness, versus a steel like AEB-L, which does not have the compositional content to form carbides with the ability to compete in this regard (to resist abrasive wear) no matter the hardness range.

AEB-L holds stainless and toughness advantages over T15 and REX45, with the ability to hold a much more acute edge geometry without catastrophic failure (much greater edge stability). This is majorly due to the incredibly small percentage, size, and distribution of carbides in AEB-L, which is both its advantage, and disadvantage (when compared directly to 'super steels').

Due to the ability of AEB-L to hold lower angles in overall geometry, less actual force is required for the user to cut material, thusly increasing the cutting performance of the steel. This does not increase the overall wear resistance, but it will noticably increase the perception of such, meaning that the overall loss of sharpness isn't quite as detrimental due to AEB-L's ability to retain shape at such low geometries. Larrin is describing the actual perceivable force loads that would be required to cut material via differing geometries. To display his point, a freshly sharpened axe will still require more force to separate materials than a dull razor blade, due to the large difference in their physical geometries.

AEB-L at a hardness of 62-63 offers much greater wear resistance (which is very respectable, IMO) than the more typical 58-60 hardness range of production knives, whilst still retaining incredible toughness. Of course, whilst the wear resistance is increased between these two hardness ranges for AEB-L, it will still be considered mediocre for those who are used to the K390 class of steel being a baseline for their steel 'requirements'.

Greater cutting performance is something more appreciable to those who require ultra precision in their work, like cutting proteins, fruits, veggies, etc. in kitchen work. Conversly, greater abrasive wear resistance will be appreciated by those who value longevity via repetitive cutting applications. Different knives for different lives.

[Mage7]

Can't believe there are any AEB-Ls left.

Available for just over 2 years now, with 99 left in stock per the Spyderco website, as of this posting.

I am not at all surprised to see this Mule still around. I believe VG-XEOS will befall this same fate, too, which IMO is ultimately a death knell for steels within this class, to be introduced within this format.

I've just been hesitant to pull the trigger on AEB-L because I feel like I will be disappointed in it. There's sort of... Well, I don't know how to put it, but I'll call it a conflict of terminology that makes me uncertain that it will have the characteristics that I want.

For example, Larrin's article about AEB-L says...

Thin edges sharpened to acute angles cut much better than thick edges. This is called “cutting ability” which is the energy required to cut through something. This is different than sharpness. An axe can be sharpened to very high sharpness but the energy required for cutting remains relatively high. A knife with high cutting ability, even while dull, will keep on cutting depending on the material being cut. You can read about the differences between sharpness and cutting ability in this article. Thin edges with acute angles need very high strength (hardness) to avoid rolling and deformation, and high toughness to avoid chipping. This combination of strength and toughness is called “edge stability,” which you can read about here. AEB-L with its high toughness has very good “edge stability” meaning it is very well suited for high cutting ability edges. Thin edges do not just cut better, however, they also have much better edge retention. That means that when AEB-L is used in knives with thin, acute edges where it excels relative to the more wear resistant steels that have poor toughness, the edge retention will match or exceed those more wear resistant steels. So AEB-L knives can have both better cutting ability and edge retention than more wear resistant steels when used with an edge geometry where it excels.

https://knifesteelnerds.com/2019/03/04/all-about-aeb-l/

Essentially my worry is that the ability of AEB-L to hold a very acute and stable edge which increases its cutting ability, won't actually grant it the ability to retain keenness (to borrow Todd Simpson's term for what Larrin refers to as sharpness).

In other words, I'm not really interested in an an edge that will retain its ability to wedge its way through cardboard longer by merit of its geometry, as much as I want an edge that retains a very keen apex after cutting the cardboard.

So far, I have found high hardness to be the ticket to where I wanna go. T15 and Rex45 have been the best for me in this aspect, and as far as I can glean, both are well over 65 HRC. When I saw a video from Shawn Houston stating the batch hardness for the AEB-L Mule run was around 62-63 HRC, that sort of made me doubt it will have the characteristics of T15 and Rex45 that I like.

Of course, I may be completely misunderstanding, but without someone informing me otherwise, that's why I'm abstaining from grabbing one. I figured I'd leave them around for people who are more interested in "cutting ability" than maximizing the retention of keenness.

What you are experiencing is the massive increase in wear resistance and aggressive cutting characteristics of T15 and REX45, as it's the increase in type, volume, and hardness, of the carbide content in T15 and REX45 to resist the abrasive wear that gives the perception of retained sharpness/keenness, versus a steel like AEB-L, which does not have the compositional content to form carbides with the ability to compete in this regard (to resist abrasive wear) no matter the hardness range.

AEB-L holds stainless and toughness advantages over T15 and REX45, with the ability to hold a much more acute edge geometry without catastrophic failure (much greater edge stability). This is majorly due to the incredibly small percentage, size, and distribution of carbides in AEB-L, which is both its advantage, and disadvantage (when compared directly to 'super steels').

Due to the ability of AEB-L to hold lower angles in overall geometry, less actual force is required for the user to cut material, thusly increasing the cutting performance of the steel. This does not increase the overall wear resistance, but it will noticably increase the perception of such, meaning that the overall loss of sharpness isn't quite as detrimental due to AEB-L's ability to retain shape at such low geometries. Larrin is describing the actual perceivable force loads that would be required to cut material via differing geometries. To display his point, a freshly sharpened axe will still require more force to separate materials than a dull razor blade, due to the large difference in their physical geometries.

AEB-L at a hardness of 62-63 offers much greater wear resistance (which is very respectable, IMO) than the more typical 58-60 hardness range of production knives, whilst still retaining incredible toughness. Of course, whilst the wear resistance is increased between these two hardness ranges for AEB-L, it will still be considered mediocre for those who are used to the K390 class of steel being a baseline for their steel 'requirements'.

Greater cutting performance is something more appreciable to those who require ultra precision in their work, like cutting proteins, fruits, veggies, etc. in kitchen work. Conversly, greater abrasive wear resistance will be appreciated by those who value longevity via repetitive cutting applications. Different knives for different lives.

The thing about that is that I have also tested K294 and 15V pretty extensively and did not find those to hold the initial keenness as well as T15 and Rex45 either, despite having similar or much higher carbide volumes respectively. If I remember correctly Rex45 has about 8%, K294 about 16%, T15 about 18% and 15V 23%. Yet in my experience Rex45 even at only about 2 points harder than 15V holds initial keenness much longer, and T15 holds its much longer than K294 despite the similar carbide volume. In other words it seems as if a harder steel with less carbides and a harder steel with nearly equal carbide did better than a softer steel with more carbide and a nearly equally hard steel with more carbide.

That's more or less why I have suspected hardness to be the bigger factor in retaining keenness, with carbide volume seeming to throw in a bit of a stickywicket because Maxamet didn't continue that trend in my experience, but since it had such a significantly higher amount of carbides it kind of seemed like that might also explain why 15V didn't really hold keenness as well either even though it's quite up there in hardness too.

I've never really found a steel with much lower carbide volume than Rex45's but at similar hardness to see how that might change things and that's why AEB-L does intrigue me, but it's hard to know what to expect since it seems like that at around 63 HRC I shouldn't expect it to hold keenness better than Rex45, but on the other hand it sort of seems like carbide volume can actually have a detrimental effect and like it might surprise me.

[carter]

It looks like there’s more k294 in stock!

[standy99]

Can't believe there are any AEB-Ls left.

Available for just over 2 years now, with 99 left in stock per the Spyderco website, as of this posting.

I am not at all surprised to see this Mule still around. I believe VG-XEOS will befall this same fate, too, which IMO is ultimately a death knell for steels within this class, to be introduced within this format.

Both AEB-L and VC-XEOS are good to have on hand for new handle makers and newbies to pick up to start their collection.

It was having PD-1 and CPM 20CV sit around that made it possible for me to start putting handles on Mules and kick off the collection.

I have picked up an extra one or two of the Mules that have sat around for a bit to make knives for friends and a few customers. (Probably 8-10 in total)

One thing I try not to do is give a newbie to knives, a 64-65 heat treated knife that they will have trouble sharpening. So I don’t think everyone needs a high hardness steel like most steel AFIs like people here want. So there is still favour for 60-62 heat treat steels.

It’s also hard for Sal, he makes 500 (like the old days) they sell out quick and we pork chop….He makes 1000 they sell out in a few hours. He makes 1200 and stock sits around. Then they have to judge 2000 for a Magnacut.

Tough job when he is judging 1-2 years before a steel is released

[ykspydiefan]

Can't believe there are any AEB-Ls left.

Available for just over 2 years now, with 99 left in stock per the Spyderco website, as of this posting.

I am not at all surprised to see this Mule still around. I believe VG-XEOS will befall this same fate, too, which IMO is ultimately a death knell for steels within this class, to be introduced within this format.

Both AEB-L and VC-XEOS are good to have on hand for new handle makers and newbies to pick up to start their collection.

It was having PD-1 and CPM 20CV sit around that made it possible for me to start putting handles on Mules and kick off the collection.

I have picked up an extra one or two of the Mules that have sat around for a bit to make knives for friends and a few customers. (Probably 8-10 in total)

One thing I try not to do is give a newbie to knives, a 64-65 heat treated knife that they will have trouble sharpening. So I don’t think everyone needs a high hardness steel like most steel AFIs like people here want. So there is still favour for 60-62 heat treat steels.

It’s also hard for Sal, he makes 500 (like the old days) they sell out quick and we pork chop….He makes 1000 they sell out in a few hours. He makes 1200 and stock sits around. Then they have to judge 2000 for a Magnacut.

Tough job when he is judging 1-2 years before a steel is released

Not to speak for Spyderco. I just believe that this is a plan and not a fate that befalls Mules that are still in stock. Like Standy99, I joined up buying one of the last Pd-1 Mules, so some time after, but in the ballpark.

And after being hooked I did not appreciate having money and desire and not being able to buy a Mule. FOMO. And, I can't pay over retail. User with family vs collector with cash. Not a judgement, acknowledgement there are lots of ways to play the Mule Team game.

Now, I appreciate being able to buy a Mule because there are Mules in stock. I can send a friend and they do not have to wait. Also, like Standy pointed out, a beginner can buy a Mule and not necessarily have to buy a new diamond setup to sharpen it.

As fate happens Spyderco has treated us to availability while still maintaining the integrity of high performance and newly developed wonder-steels. Feeling like a fanboy is better for me than fomo.

Thanks Team

[standy99]

Definitely fanboy for me also





Have 3 more handles since the above shot