MT04P – ZDP-189 Mule Update

[JacksonKnives]

Mastiff is only taking the 67Rc knives, I want the ones that test at 68Rc!
Or anything above normal.

Knives tested individually for hardness, ohh this is gonna be good.

Dibs on the hardest one they find. :D

[yowzer]

I think this might be the first Spyderco product where the factory seconds are going to be valued more than the ones that pass the rockwell QC checks (Assuming the too-hard ones are going to be made available). :)

[Cheygriz]

I'd like one of the harder ones too! :p

I don't use my knives as substitutes for axes, prybars, screwdrivers, etc. I use them to cut things with! :) :)

Rc 67,68,69 etc. would be just fine with me! :p

[Joshua J.]

While we're on the topic of hard steel, we need a Mule in CPM Rex 76 at 69 Rc (it can go higher too!).

[ChapmanPreferred]

I had a dream last night that I had my ZDP Mule Rockwell tested and it was 79 on the C scale. I woke up and wasn't sure what to think.

[JacksonKnives]

I had a dream last night that I had my ZDP Mule Rockwell tested and it was 79 on the C scale. I woke up and wasn't sure what to think.

Don't worry, those sorts of dreams are quite normal. Nothing to be ashamed of. all a part of becoming a man and so forth.

[The Mastiff]

I really hope Sal doesn't do away with these knives. The one I have is a superb thoroughbred and something you rarely see, even in the world of expensive customs. Sal can sell these with disclaimers or even waivers if he desires, just sell them.

"Mr. President, if I may speak freely, the Russkie talks big, but frankly, we think he's short of know how. I mean, you just can't expect a bunch of ignorant peons to understand a machine like some of our boys" General "Buck" Turgidson: Dr.Strangelove

:)

[Joshua J.]

Better still, if they're sold as factory seconds, we can get them for cheap. :D

Though I'd almost rather pay full price and help ensure the survival of the Mule Team program.
If this thing keeps going, we'll have an unheard of collection of steel types. Another first for both Spyderco and the human race.

[Scottie3000]

I think I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for an original run example on EBay.

[iwolf81]

Tom Krien called me yesterday to say that my ZDP-189 mule broke while he was putting scales on it. He also said it happened to two of the ten ZDP mules he's been working on. He's planning on sending all of them back to Spyderco as a 20% failure rate is unacceptable.

Regards,
Ira

[MCM]

So this will be known as the cord wrap model? LOL LOL

Have (2) NIB, What to do? What to do? .................

[stonetone]

Wrap them both, use one, and stash one?

I wrapped mine, worked out pretty well, but I still need a sheath for it.

[usmc1371]

So what you are saying is maybe I shouldn't beat my zdp mule through the pelvic bone of the mule deer I plan on shooting next week? I am bummed now. I had such great success with the S90V mule on the last deer hunt. I was all stoked to give the ZDP a real workout.

Now I have to figure out what to do with a scary sharp fixed blade... :)

I am glad I noticed this post I really would have felt like a dumbass if I broke the only zdp mule I may ever get.

[Sequimite]

So this will be known as the cord wrap model? LOL LOL

Have (2) NIB, What to do? What to do? .................

In all seriousness, if the handle breaks while in use your hand could be badly injured. I wonder if a different method of handle construction could solve this problem, like epoxying on ti scales.

edit - or how about cutting the blades off two 9Cr18Mo mules and sandwiching the ZDP mule between them.

[Blerv]

I'm not an engineer but I'd be tempted to trust Spyderco with the hardness assessment. At a point, hardness like all things in life is a diminish scale of returns trading strength for brittleness. Backing the hardness back and losing a smidgen of edge retention is much better than losing a blade or having it chip like obsidian while your trying to put an edge back on it.

Just because steel in sub-30 F temperatures becomes hard doesn't make it better. It also becomes as brittle as glass.

[Jay_Ev]

I really hope Sal doesn't do away with these knives.

Part of me kinda hopes he does. If he decides to release them back into the wild, there will always be those customers who purchase one, break it and end up with a negative opinion of Spyderco quality.

[npueppke]

Part of me kinda hopes he does. If he decides to release them back into the wild, there will always be those customers who purchase one, break it and end up with a negative opinion of Spyderco quality.

This is why they won't be sold as seconds. Seconds are knives that have blemishes or surface flaws, not knives that are too hard & stand a chance of breaking under normal use. It would be cool if they were re-released somehow for mule team steel fanatics, though.

[Padawan]

Tom Krien called me yesterday to say that my ZDP-189 mule broke while he was putting scales on it. He also said it happened to two of the ten ZDP mules he's been working on. He's planning on sending all of them back to Spyderco as a 20% failure rate is unacceptable.

Regards,
Ira

Well, we all know that the broken knives were the result of user error! If only this Tom Krein fellow knew how to properly handle a knife, they obviously never would have broken. There's no possible way it could be caused by an issue with the knives themselves. :rolleyes:

Sorry Taz, I was just attempting to highlight the absurdity of some of the unfounded comments certain members have made regarding this topic.

[MCM]

This will probably be the most sought after Mule of the run.

Collectors will be clamoring for the one that was just too hard....

:p

[JNewell]

Well, we all know that the broken knives were the result of user error! If only this Tom Krein fellow knew how to properly handle a knife, they obviously never would have broken. There's no possible way it could be caused by an issue with the knives themselves. :rolleyes:

Sorry Taz, I was just attempting to highlight the absurdity of some of the unfounded comments certain members have made regarding this topic.

This is humor, yes? I assume so and apologize for asking, but it's hard to tell sometimes, even with the little emoticons.