Who can make a handle for a Spyderco Mule?

[thom4s]

hi,
this is my first post here so please cut me some slack
if this is in the wrong area.
i just bought a Spyderco "Mule" that is the 52100 ball-bearing steel
that is very sharp and strong and rusts if you look at it too long,
as someone put it. I keep it oiled with some Breakfree and it's ok actually.

I kind of like the skeleton look, but it's not that comfortable to use.

If there is anyone who has experience doing handles with Micarta, please let me know. I want a white paper or linen Micarta handle for it. Something along the lines of a Gary Busse micarta.

let me know please if anyone can help.
i like the blade well enough, but i don't know enough about knifemaking to want to attempt making a handle on my own.

Thanks guys.

[SlideTechnik]

I know you mentioned micarta, but have you considered paracord? That's something that you could do yourself.

Just throwing it out there...

[sarguy]

Welcome! I hope you enjoy your stay here. You'll find we're a pretty supportive and laid back bunch.

Spyderco forumite Marion David Poff (that's his screen name, too) has a blog with information on mule handles. There are some companies that are producing pre-made handles that you can simply bolt on. I'm not sure if there is a white paper micarta option yet.http://muleprojects.blogspot.com/

I'd also search the forums for "mule handles", both in this section and in the pictures section. There's lots to be found.

[JNewell]

Unfortunately the MT01 is a b@$7@rd to put scales on. I'm not aware of any easy bolt-on solutions for that one. The problem is that the holes in the tang are an odd, small size. There may be "stock" hardware that will work but I never found any, and I haven't read reports from anyone else who has. That means drilling out the holes in the tang, which is very, very hard (as in Rockwell scale). I had to use a real carbide bit, and even using it carefully, the bit edge chipped.

Maybe Marion Poff, mentioned above, has come across some ideas. For any of the others in the series, the Halpern Titanium scales are a very quick and very reasonably priced way to go. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKU5BFnAjQY I later rounded off the edges so they're better looking and better feeling.

Welcome! I hope you enjoy your stay here. You'll find we're a pretty supportive and laid back bunch.

Spyderco forumite Marion David Poff (that's his screen name, too) has a blog with information on mule handles. There are some companies that are producing pre-made handles that you can simply bolt on. I'm not sure if there is a white paper micarta option yet.http://muleprojects.blogspot.com/

I'd also search the forums for "mule handles", both in this section and in the pictures section. There's lots to be found.

[dsmegst]

There's a thread in the Spyderco Picture Gallery section where folks have posted their Mule scales. Maybe one of them could help you. I do my own but my skills pale in comparison to some of the work found there. They can probably make you some scales.

[raven]

Another gent and is a member here is our Bro potterma ... Does Incredible Work . If you look at the first Mule on page 6 of the Mule Picture Thread (pic gallery) ... that's my Mule that potterma did up for me.

There are many talented members here that do custom work. Hope this helps some. Take Good Care and Be Safe Always.

God Bless :)


-raven-

[sal]

Hi Thom4s,

Welcome to the Spyderco forum.

sal

[dbcad]

Hey Thom4s, glad you came. You came to a very good forum. Sarguy's comment is 100% correct. I've only been here since January and have learned much. Folks here seem to have a very good spirit.

I'm sure a great many people here make handles. I had scales (handles, are they the same thing?) made for my Swick2 and am very happy with the result. You'll find his name on the thread I posted on Monday. Meanwhile poke around and see who else you find. I'm positive a lot of folks here do very fine work.

I'm sure you'll like it here at Spyderco Forums :)

Charlie

[ChapmanPreferred]

Tom Krein gets my vote.

[GoMeR]

+1 for Tom Krein, he did a set for me and they are really nice, sheath too, hes amazing with a grinder and a heck of a nice guy.

[MedicineMan]

Easy to find 4mm brass tubing at hobby store or hardware store then cut tubing into 1/8 inch long "bushing" that fits precisely into handle holes on this mule team. Standard handle screws then will fit snugly thru these bushings and hold any (wood, micarta, etc..) scales to blade. This is for a removable handle but other option is to use 4mm pins and epoxy any scale to mule team 1 grinding exterior to desired shape or size. Hope this helps. I put micarta scales on Mule team ones for myself and friends using the short brass bushing technique and it is easy and very solid.

[Marion David Poff]

Thanks for the mention guys!

Sir, here are a couple threads you might enjoy...

An old thread where people post their Mules...

http://spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31531


And a newer thread, where I asked who make their Mule handles...

http://spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42054



And stay tuned, now that I am starting to get caught up with my sheath business, I will be doing updates for Mule Projects again.

Thank you,
Marion

[thom4s]

thanks for all the responses.
i still have the knife here, gonna check out some of the suggestions.
thanks guys.

[bell]

Stp

[djinnzfree]

Hi,
Could also check on halpern titanium http://www.halperntitanium.com/ sites they made four option scale for Mule Team...
Welcome to Spyderco board!

[Maker]

Many scales and sheaths for mule here http://www.okknives.com/8.html

[jtoler_9]

Many scales and sheaths for mule *EDITED*

Nice looking work and great photo's. I asume you make these?