MT36P – K294 MICROCLEAN Mule Team Dropping Soon!

[AtomicWoodworks]

Thanks for the welcome! I will certainly be making some nice handles for it early on, as woodworking is my business. I'm not a "tester" of knives so to speak, but I do use them and don't baby a tool that is designed to be a tool. I will make sure to include any results I obtain. Stay sharp everyone.

[AtomicWoodworks]

Hi everyone

Quick update on my initial mule team knife. Initial edge from the box leaves a lot to be desired. It was sharp, but looked terrible. The bevels were not even and the grind not what I have usually experienced from a Spyderco. But with me that's usually not an issue because I like to put my own edges on a knife as soon as I can. I put it on my Jende and ran it out to .1 micron strops. The steel does sharpen well, although getting the grind even at 17.5 degrees took more work than most other steels. That could be caused by one edge being quite a bit off from the other and having to remove a much more material than the other. but once I got burr's established it went quickly. K294 absolutely takes a keen edge! The blade geometry of the mules (something I'm sure all of you already know) is fantastic. I haven't put the edge through much heavy use yet, but initial results seem very similar to what I have experienced from 15V and a well hardened D2. It just bites where it needs too and seems to cut. From my efforts to even out the edge, I'm sure it's plenty hard and should hold the edge well. But time will tell if it is up to the task of getting beat on.

[tcarltonw]

Screenshot_20240522_083100_Gallery.jpg

I cut off the factory edge, and put 1 of my own. The burr cut off very easily from what I saw. The result was only 190 however I usually see a performance increase in more testing. I believe my 10V pm2 and Para 3 both hit 375 when it hit their peak. The magnacut I tested hits 350/360 so I'd like to see this k294 hit higher.

Yo Toez, from what I remember k294 was a bit of a pain to deburr after each progression(compared to the T15 & 15V mules I did around the same time). Could have a cpl multiple factors that went in to it but figured I'd just toss it out there. Also, hope the lady is recovering well.

My lady is with God now. She was too eager to start being much more independent than she was capable of. She slipped in the bathroom and hit her head. She fought back for almost 2 weeks but it was too much. I dont dwell on the tragedy, I focus on the extra time I got to have her.

I only used the shaman and the manix in 15V for my testing. I never experienced any issue with burr removal with k390, k294, or 15V. I haven't gotten to the T15 mule yet. Been shopping for cars with my daughter. After 1k I don't form any burrs. I would refine further on a loaded leather strop alternating passes at that point. Plus I only remove the burr on my final stone. Removing it at every stone is not a routine I personally do.

Damnit man I'm sorry to hear that and sounds like you've got a pma about it.

Don't know if it was info I saw out there when I was initially learning or my compulsive need to be thorough but I always form/deburr on each progression

[Steeltoez83]

Screenshot_20240522_083100_Gallery.jpg

I cut off the factory edge, and put 1 of my own. The burr cut off very easily from what I saw. The result was only 190 however I usually see a performance increase in more testing. I believe my 10V pm2 and Para 3 both hit 375 when it hit their peak. The magnacut I tested hits 350/360 so I'd like to see this k294 hit higher.

Yo Toez, from what I remember k294 was a bit of a pain to deburr after each progression(compared to the T15 & 15V mules I did around the same time). Could have a cpl multiple factors that went in to it but figured I'd just toss it out there. Also, hope the lady is recovering well.

My lady is with God now. She was too eager to start being much more independent than she was capable of. She slipped in the bathroom and hit her head. She fought back for almost 2 weeks but it was too much. I dont dwell on the tragedy, I focus on the extra time I got to have her.

I only used the shaman and the manix in 15V for my testing. I never experienced any issue with burr removal with k390, k294, or 15V. I haven't gotten to the T15 mule yet. Been shopping for cars with my daughter. After 1k I don't form any burrs. I would refine further on a loaded leather strop alternating passes at that point. Plus I only remove the burr on my final stone. Removing it at every stone is not a routine I personally do.

Damnit man I'm sorry to hear that and sounds like you've got a pma about it.

Don't know if it was info I saw out there when I was initially learning or my compulsive need to be thorough but I always form/deburr on each progression

If your finding success with your methods there is no need to change. Appreciate the kindness bro.

[Cid]

I'm so happy with this Mule, and been loving the performance since I got it. I really hope we get to see more of K294 in future Spyderco models like the Shaman, Manix 2/LWT, PM2, Para 3, and also hopefully in the popular Japanese models like the Stretch 2, Delica and so on. We know K294 (A11) is a quality performance steel through CPM 10V, which to me seems like the most available A11 PM steel at least in the Knife world. And of course A11 Modifications like K390 from Bohler (I'm not sure if calling K390 an A11 modification or A11 type steel is the correct term, but it's the steel type that seems to be the most fitting, so I'm gonna stick with it for now). I heard that Erasteel won't be able to produce steel like15V and possibly 10V, but hopefully they can come to an agreement with Bohler-Uddeholm. As far as I understand Erasteel and Uddeholm have some partnership, even though they are not under the same umbrella as Uddeholm,Bohler,Assab,Voestalpine. But as far as I understand Erasteel produces N11X for Damasteel under license from Uddeholm, and not produced by Uddeholm themselves and sold/marketed as Vanax. So considering there already seem to be some sort of business partnership already, perhaps the Bohler-Uddeholm umbrella can produce 15V for them. I don't see a point of making 10V when there are already K294 from Bohler and PM11 from Carpenter and such. But it will be interesting to see what comes in the future and how available these steel will be for the knife world. I hope A11 steel is here to stay in the knife world no matter who makes it and what name it carries. It's proven itself tough as nails with the right heat treatment and edge retention above what most will ever truly "need". Thank you Spyderco for giving us a chance to experience and put these steels to the test. And the more people start learning and experimenting with HT protocols I suspect we will just keep seeing increased performance in both old and new high alloy tool steel.

[Bladeops]

I noticed that the MULE TEAM™ K294 is still in the webshop. This one is already from August 2023, right? The "Notify me when available" button is still there but it also says "Sold out." Why is this Mule still in the shop? Is there any chance of some more becoming available?

[TazKristi]

I noticed that the MULE TEAM™ K294 is still in the webshop. This one is already from August 2023, right? The "Notify me when available" button is still there but it also says "Sold out." Why is this Mule still in the shop? Is there any chance of some more becoming available?

Hi, Bladeops:
The K294 Mule is "still available," but the remaining inventory is currently in orders waiting to be processed. A lot of people added the MT36 to their order for the MagnaMax Mule. Once those orders are processed, we'll change the page's status to archive it.

Sorry for any confusion.

Kristi

[weeping minora]

I noticed that the MULE TEAM™ K294 is still in the webshop. This one is already from August 2023, right? The "Notify me when available" button is still there but it also says "Sold out." Why is this Mule still in the shop? Is there any chance of some more becoming available?

Incredibly hard to believe that this Mule has been out for two years now !!

Typically the page exists as a placemarker of sorts, though occasionally some of the Mule Teams have seen an additional handful of units become available after being "sold out", for whatever that reason may be (additional stock found, returns, etc? We won't know as laymen). It seems to happen most often around new MT releases. Occasionally you'll see a post, or reply within an existing thread indicating a "re stock", but you need extreme diligence. After being out for over two years now, I believe it finally officially "sold out" about one year ago, so I wouldn't quite hold my breath that any additional stock will find their way into the Spyderco store. That's just my perspective. The secondary market will be your better bet at this point.

[Mrj]

Wrong thread