Spyderco Forums

I just got my first Mule.I wanted one for years,and only now the stars aligned.I'm not a steel expert,neither a steel snob,so i want ot talk only bout the size,weight,feel in hand,blade shape and edge geometry.To put it shortly,all are as near perfection as you can get in a medium fixed blade knife.
So,why not bring this gem of a knife back,as a regular in Spyderco's line up.
Make it afordable,in 8CRMOV,FRN scales in multiple colors,with a kydex sheath.And later bring out a wharncliffe edition.

You can still buy a few of them

https://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details/MT27/1079

I think if you wanted to make it inexpensive, you'd pretty much be running them in China out of 8cr13mov. Not sure how the sales and profit margin would line up on that, but it's definitely a different project from the original Mule Team idea.

This has been rehashed a few times, and the discussion was around a folder. I prefer a fixed blade, just like Spyderco's previous models.

I'd like to be able to get several of the models that have been discontinued, but right now I could not afford anything....between jobs unfortunately.

Having a fixed blade in the Mule pattern is really a separate discussion, though.

I think a lot of people who want a Temperance would like a low cost mule (under another name) as a permanent addition to the line up.

As much as I like the Mule (have several.. the Maxamet one is amazing) I understand why it's going away. Purpose was to evaluate new steels sharing Spyderco's steel geek enthusiasm with the community. Seemed to generate a lot of buzz for new steels like S110V, K390, and Maxamet. We read all the tests and looked at rankings and ran out and bought the production knives as soon as they hit the shelves. However, while I don't know, suspect it cut too deeply into sales of other fixed blade models. And steel buzz (e.g. M390) crosses company lines. Overall did it make sense for a company to do this? Probably not but certainly contributes to my view of Spyderco as a great company. Likely just not economically viable any longer.

Mules rule. Long live the mule.

A fixed blade mule in the permanent lineup is a great idea. I would honestly like to see it in a "performance steel" rather than a "budget steel". Another question would be if it would be a bare blade for the craftsmen and artisans among us, or a finished small fixed blade. I could see merit in either (or both).

I love my mules and my 4v is probably my most used knife. But I think spyderco is ahead of you. The bow river is similar and due any time now.
Other similar knives would be the enuff series or the Moran. All mostly affordable but the bow river is downright cheap. I will also throw the waterway out there as a pretty affordable blade with a nice steel that should last a long time.

SF Native wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 20, 2019 3:50 pm

I love my mules and my 4v is probably my most used knife. But I think spyderco is ahead of you. The bow river is similar and due any time now.
Other similar knives would be the enuff series or the Moran. All mostly affordable but the bow river is downright cheap. I will also throw the waterway out there as a pretty affordable blade with a nice steel that should last a long time.

The Bow River does look like the worlds cheapest Spyderco for $32.50 -- golly! But of course it is not out of the gate yet.
The Moran is an interesting knife at close to $100 with VG10 steel.

I have my Spyderco Junction (now discontinued) which is a nice small fixed blade, but a very different feel in hand than a mule.
I like the feel of the mule much better. I use my LC200N mule in the kitchen daily (and one of my tasks for today is sharpening it).

It is worth pondering that the mule is intended to be a "mule" -- i.e. a sample knife for testing purposes. But somehow they have ended up
becoming my own (and for many others) favorite little fixed blade knife.

Too late to the party as usual. I bought the b70p and pd1 ... went to order a Mt26 pma11 and they’re all gone :-(

ChrisinHove wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 20, 2019 5:14 pm

Too late to the party as usual. I bought the b70p and pd1 ... went to order a Mt26 pma11 and they’re all gone :-(

.
Not sure if you're interested, but they still have some of these also

Mule Team 22 RWL34 (stainless properties much like CPM 154CM).

http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details/MT22/978

So I see that there are still 3 Mules available:

#20 CTS B70P
#22 RWL34
#27 MICRO-MELT PD#1

Is one of these a good one for someone to get as their first Mule?

Dazen wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 20, 2019 6:37 pm

So I see that there are still 3 Mules available:

#20 CTS B70P
#22 RWL34
#27 MICRO-MELT PD#1

Is one of these a good one for someone to get as their first Mule?

Any of them. The pd1 is like cruwear. Good steel but not stainless. If you want stainless, I would get the rwl. Spyderco has made regular folders in steels similar to these. The B70p is ok, but it doesn’t shine at any one thing enough to stand out, but a good all around steel.

As a first Mule, I'd go with the RWL34.

i wish i had been around in time to pick up an lc200n mule. there aren’t many others that would interest me though.

ladybug93 wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 20, 2019 7:10 pm

i wish i had been around in time to pick up an lc200n mule. there aren’t many others that would interest me though.

I would love one as well to really test. I would also love to see another mule in Vanax SC as well.

I'm liking the Urban as a Mule platform. Lil native would be good too if and when an frn version is available.

ZrowsN1s wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 20, 2019 8:30 pm

I'm liking the Urban as a Mule platform.

Me too.

We've seen it in n690, Elmax, K390, AEB-L...what else?

Doing sprint steels in the Urban (european production) and UKPK (USA production) seems like a great alternative to the fixed blade Mules, to put various steels in the hands of a lot of people interested in trying them out, and in a format that lets them EDC to really get a feel for them.

TomAiello wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 20, 2019 10:24 pm

ZrowsN1s wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 20, 2019 8:30 pm

I'm liking the Urban as a Mule platform.

Me too.

We've seen it in n690, Elmax, K390, AEB-L...what else?

Doing sprint steels in the Urban (european production) and UKPK (USA production) seems like a great alternative to the fixed blade Mules, to put various steels in the hands of a lot of people interested in trying them out, and in a format that lets them EDC to really get a feel for them.

I came across a VG-10 wharncliffe the other day while searching for a K390.

I'd be all over Urban Mules if ithey happen.

Dazen wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 20, 2019 6:37 pm

So I see that there are still 3 Mules available:

#20 CTS B70P
#22 RWL34
#27 MICRO-MELT PD#1

Is one of these a good one for someone to get as their first Mule?

I have been using a PD1 for the last few months. Great for a first one. Not a stainless so you get to see all the characters of a non stainless.

Great initiative by Spyderco over the years. Might have to get a few more before they go

Would be Cool if they kept it in One steel. Just for the handle makers