how do you like your mule?

[ChapmanPreferred]

I would be very curious to know what the rockwell was on that Mule.

[Sithus1966]

Send it back to Spyderco, see what they think of it. :D

[angusW]

Stick it on a pedestal and call it art. Can't be any worse than the hard drive art.

[Minibear453]

I really don't think that's supposed to happen.... you're talking about just twisting a blade... embedded in like an inch of wood? I've never thought steel was that soft.... I do that with my endura sometimes... and it's still here. I've never seen a knife bend like that... and after all the abuse some people give their knives.... it probably should happen a lot more... or there's something wrong with yours? Like it isn't heat treated or something.... I just don't think a knife is supposed to bend like that. Wouldn't the blade snap before that happens?

[Dr. Snubnose]

I've been having a problem with my mule as well.....
[img][IMG]http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af33 ... mal039.jpg[/img][/IMG]
Doc :p
Personally I don't think your mule should have bent like a bendy straw after what you did...Just my 2 cents....Doc :D

[Jordan]

Wow... that has got to be a lemon. No way that is supposed to happen, I'm sure spyderco will resolve the situation and appreciate the info they get from the knife though... after all, the whole idea behind the mule series is that Spyderco gets to test new steels before they decide to use them in a regular model. Nice pic though... got a rather wincing smile out of me at least.

[jabba359]

Wow... that has got to be a lemon. No way that is supposed to happen, I'm sure spyderco will resolve the situation and appreciate the info they get from the knife though... after all, the whole idea behind the mule series is that <s>Spyderco</s> we get to test new steels before they decide to use them in a regular model. Nice pic though... got a rather wincing smile out of me at least.

There, fixed it for ya... :D

[Bill1170]

I would be very curious to know what the rockwell was on that Mule.

My first thought, also.

It is amazing that a mere human hand could bend a Spyderco mule at the thickest part of the blade, and equally amazing that a cutlery steel would bend that far and stay bent without either snapping or springing back. I don't know beans about cruwear (sp?) but it might be helpful to the company to send it back for hardness testing. It looks like the behavior of an annealed piece of steel, not one hardened and tempered.

[cosmo7809]

It would be nice to see the OP post in this thread again.

[freeman7]

In response to the original question that started this thread; the only mule of mine that has scales is the M-4 and I like it quite a lot. As to the bending of the OP's Mule while cutting wood, well....?

[Jordan]

There, fixed it for ya... :D

Heh, preciate it jab... you are correct, they are here so WE can try out new steels before they are included in the product line.

[sal]

Hi Wingman,

If you send it in, call it to my attention, I'll send you a new one.

sal

[dbcad]

Hi Wingman,

If you send it in, call it to my attention, I'll send you a new one.

sal

This is one of the many reasons why I choose to buy Spyderco :)

[wquiles]

this is one of the many reasons why i choose to buy spyderco :)

+1

[Wolverine666]

What does "mule" mean ?

[wquiles]

What does "mule" mean ?

good link with a summary

What is a Mule?

In the English language the term mule has multiple definitions: There’s the obvious equine reference being the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. It can be a coin minted from two dies by mistake and the auto industry refers to their test vehicles as a mules. Spyderco also calls knife models designed and built for testing and evaluation Mules. When a group of these are brought together they make a team of mules, thus the name of our new knife release: The Mule Team.

Knife and steel-devotees love trying out new blade steels. Spyderco leads the industry in offering, testing and manufacturing knives using new and exotic blade steels. Taking that idea a step up, why not offer a series (team) of blades using different, exotic and freshly unveiled steels? In doing this steel-obsessed knife knuts can try, test and use something normally not offered to the industry.

What is the Spyderco Mule Team?

Spyderco’s Mule Team officially launches with a single-piece fixed blade pattern. The blade is leaf-shaped with a sharpened and finished PlainEdge blade but with an unfinished handle providing some a do-it-yourself opportunity. The unfinished handle has a series of holes for attaching a custom handle or for wrapping in cord. All Mule Team Pieces are sold without handle scales or a carry sheath focusing the project on the blade steel and opening the door for the owner to create his/her own handle scale and carry options.

The Mule team project was created as a simple, inexpensive venue for "steel junkys" to have an opportunity to test different blade steels themselves. Each run will have a different interesting steel. Each run will have the same pattern, a fixed blade with a full tang. Each run will have the same thickness, grind, edge and will be heat treated to the optimal hardness for that steel. No handle, scales or sheath are provided. This not only saves you funds, but gives you the opportunity to make (or have made) custom handles and sheaths.

How many and how often will they be released?

Our plan is to release several variations per year using the same fixed blade pattern produced with different exotic steels. Each steel offering is limited to approximately 600 pieces and engraved indicating the steel used. Variations are priced accordingly with the only cost variable being the steel itself. Prices will be announced prior to the release of the upcoming model.

How can I buy them?

All purchases are handled through Spyderco Factory Outlet (SFO).

[jabba359]

What does "mule" mean ?

From Spyderco's Mule Team page:

In the English language the term mule has multiple definitions: There's the obvious equine reference being the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. It can be a coin minted from two dies by mistake and the auto industry refers to their test vehicles as a mules. Spyderco also calls knife models designed and built for testing and evaluation Mules. When a group of these are brought together they make a team of mules, thus the name of our new knife release: The Mule Team.

edit: wquiles beat me to it!

[datoudaw]

Hi Wingman,

If you send it in, call it to my attention, I'll send you a new one.

sal

Sal,

Do you mind sharing you thoughts about what happened with this bent MT?

I hope people not discouraged by this one incident. To me, this incident makes me more curious about the whole MT experiment. And love it. I wonder if I will be brave enough to bend my new Cru-Wear with a vise tomorrow.

Thanks,

Jerome

[sal]

Sal,
Do you mind sharing you thoughts about what happened with this bent MT?

I hope people not discouraged by this one incident. To me, this incident makes me more curious about the whole MT experiment. And love it. I wonder if I will be brave enough to bend my new Cru-Wear with a vise tomorrow.
Thanks,
Jerome

Hi Jerome,

I have no problem sharing info. The goal is to be as consistent as the sun and transparent as the air. That's how one builds trust.

My guess it's a heat treat issue, but I hate to pre-guess. :o

sal

[xavierdoc]

Mules aren't made for batoning wood. Preparing the dinner, yes. Preparing the fire, no. Just my 2 cents.

I'd certainly agree that a knife is meant for cutting and other actions may constitute abuse (prying, batonning). However, I regard the mules slightly differently, as they are specifically intended to be test vehicles for the various steels.

I have batonned every mule I possess apart from the overbaked ZDP189. It's a pretty stern test for a slicing-orientated FFG but so far I've encountered no problems.

Of course, it's nice to know that you have that spare copy for if you do find the limit.

As to this bent blade, I'm intrigued as to how the OP achieved it. I've got two 12's on their way across the pond but no mesquite round here.