Spyderco Forums

Did anybody cut it off?
I am wondering if it is preventing you from using the part of the edge closest to the handle (heel).
Thinking about skinning and butchering mostly, but also cutting food on a board

Hi Mokele

Welcome to our forum.

sal

mokele wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 11, 2022 12:07 am

Did anybody cut it off?
I am wondering if it is preventing you from using the part of the edge closest to the handle (heel).
Thinking about skinning and butchering mostly, but also cutting food on a board

I've wondered the same thing, and wondered why it's there, or why it's so large. When I buy the production SPY27, I think I'll reduce it by about 1/2.

Two things:
It’s easier to remove/reduce the guard than it is to add one.

It’s also easier and less costly to leave the tab as it is. The Mules are not money makers so it better to keep production costs as low as possible.

Thank you for your welcoming Sal,
I have a huge respect for your work and participation in the community.
I am just wondering about real experience of Mule team users, like how many of you had that thought of cutting it off or thinking about it.
I will test mine as it is once I put a handle on, and will tell you the results.
In case I decide to cut it, how should I do it, so not ruining the blade? I have an angle grinder, worksharp tool grinder on Ken onion sharpener, files, stones. The blade I acquired recently and will test is z-wear.

If your really testing a knife you want it there. Don’t mind it and it’s never hindered any cutting.

But also quite easy with a dremel to take off.

It seems to me to be required for the boltaron sheath, but I could be wrong.

A belt grinder would remove it in a trice, if that's your desire. I've not removed one yet because I want the safety for outdoorsy knives. I have considered removing the guard for a kitchen knife, to get the heel of the blade on the board, but have not actually done it yet.

I have shortened the one on my Magnacut mule by about a 1/3-1/2. I also rounded the sharp edges that I’ve always disliked in use. It’s much more comfortable.

I also wondered about removing the tab. On my first attempt, you can see from the middle mule I trimmed it back slightly. But on the z-wear mule (top) I significantly paired back the size and shape of the tang as well. I primarily utilized an inexpensive harbor freight 1x30 belt sander, which actually works quite well.

I really like that top one in your pick jsl3!

Hi Jsl3,

Welcome to our forum.

sal

I removed the tab as well, at least for one of mine. Here's a not-quite-finished pic. I used a carbide end mill.
Cheers,
-burly

burlyspyder wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 14, 2022 8:21 am

I removed the tab as well, at least for one of mine. Here's a not-quite-finished pic. I used a carbide end mill.
Cheers,
-burly

Looks nice. I was thinking about doing something similar with my Manacut mule.

jsl3 wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 14, 2022 5:32 am

I also wondered about removing the tab. On my first attempt, you can see from the middle mule I trimmed it back slightly. But on the z-wear mule (top) I significantly paired back the size and shape of the tang as well. I primarily utilized an inexpensive harbor freight 1x30 belt sander, which actually works quite well.

Which shape works the best for you? Like what do you use each version for? Thanks

Better safe than sorry is my point of view.

I also have the Harbor Freight 1x30 belt sander, and it was an excellent purchase that I find useful for all kinds of things.

jsl3 wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 14, 2022 5:32 am

I also wondered about removing the tab. On my first attempt, you can see from the middle mule I trimmed it back slightly. But on the z-wear mule (top) I significantly paired back the size and shape of the tang as well. I primarily utilized an inexpensive harbor freight 1x30 belt sander, which actually works quite well.

Did a nice job on the top one. Really like how you changed the shape of it.

Wow, nice work.

Insert meme of a mule kicking a Mule Team Blade square on the Halpern Scales, the blade achieves a critical blur turning into any one of the above mods, then hits dead center on a target.

Tucson Tom wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 14, 2022 9:35 pm

Better safe than sorry is my point of view.

I also have the Harbor Freight 1x30 belt sander, and it was an excellent purchase that I find useful for all kinds of things.

I honestly only see the point of the tab being useful in case of stabbing. I have dealt with a lot of knives from Finland (puukkos and leukus), and none of them have any sort of guards, as they are used for slicing primarily. And for slicing things, the tab, IMHO, is very detrimental. It is the reason I don't have a flipper folder.
I also agree that it's better to have it on the blade initially in case someone wants it, as it's easier to remove it than to add it. I am happy to see use cases of removed or shortened tab, thanks to those who posted them.

It is good to see that the modifications are being well received. I went back and found a couple of pictures that show the extent of the reprofiling.... I was not sure how much to take off at first, but I'm happy with the results. My hope was to make the blade more easily used in the kitchen. It has worked out very well!