Spyderco Forums

Casper, I like this one a lot. Throw some nice contoured Micarta scales on there and charge me $200, please. ;-)

Looks great ! Great ingenuity and hard work. Please,update in future . MG2

That’s awesome!!

I decided on OD Green Terotuf for the scales. There is still some work to do with final touches and making the clip, but I am already loving this knife. I’ve contoured the scales to where it feels really nice in my hand and with the flipper tab it is pretty fun to fidget with (not typically something you think of in a Mule).

So, this was my first time making a compression lock, and I have to say that for me it is superior to any other lock blade mechanism that I’ve ever made. It just feels stronger and operates so smoothly, all with less effort than I was expecting. I know this probably isn’t news to anyone on this forum, but Spyderco really knocked it out of the park with this design! If I were allowed to make custom knives to sell with this lock it is all I would chose to make.

Here is a gif of the action on this Mule, along with a link in case the gif doesn’t play for you-

https://i.imgur.com/aF3BnfL.mp4

Brilliant! I also like how you moved the lock cut out further back where it (IMO) belongs.

Killer.

CasperFatone wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 02, 2023 11:40 pm

I decided on OD Green Terotuf for the scales. There is still some work to do with final touches and making the clip, but I am already loving this knife. I’ve contoured the scales to where it feels really nice in my hand and with the flipper tab it is pretty fun to fidget with (not typically something you think of in a Mule).

So, this was my first time making a compression lock, and I have to say that for me it is superior to any other lock blade mechanism that I’ve ever made. It just feels stronger and operates so smoothly, all with less effort than I was expecting. I know this probably isn’t news to anyone on this forum, but Spyderco really knocked it out of the park with this design! If I were allowed to make custom knives to sell with this lock it is all I would chose to make.

Here is a gif of the action on this Mule, along with a link in case the gif doesn’t play for you-

https://i.imgur.com/aF3BnfL.mp4

Pretty dang sweet... again

CasperFatone wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 02, 2023 11:40 pm

So, this was my first time making a compression lock, and I have to say that for me it is superior to any other lock blade mechanism that I’ve ever made. It just feels stronger and operates so smoothly, all with less effort than I was expecting. I know this probably isn’t news to anyone on this forum, but Spyderco really knocked it out of the park with this design! If I were allowed to make custom knives to sell with this lock it is all I would chose to make.

Hi Casper,

Project is looking good.

thanx for the kind words on our compression Lock. I guess we have come up with a few good ideas.

sal

Long time no see everyone. Great first thread to come back and find. Terrific looking work Casper. If you need more Mules to experiment on, let me know as I can send some sharp little volunteers your way.

xceptnl wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 03, 2023 9:43 pm

Long time no see everyone. Great first thread to come back and find. Terrific looking work Casper. If you need more Mules to experiment on, let me know as I can send some sharp little volunteers your way.

Hey Landon! Welcome back!

Staring at my Magnacut Mule (that I over-paid for on the secondary market just to get one), I was fantasizing on what an amazing knife it would be as a folder... and here it is! What an absolutely amazing piece of work this is!

If the Arachna Magna Magus is listening (cough, cough, hint hint), give this man a hefty design fee and put this baby into production tomorrow! Magnacut, of course.

Even an old left-handed dog can learn a new trick. Looking at the GIF of how Casperfatone unlocks his knife was a revelation! Especially with the lowered release.

As a lefty, it's been a long and hard road to find knives for our ilk. Hats off to you Sal for being one of the few back in the day to fill that gap. I still have my original lefty Police clip-its (both serrated and plain) and the skinny red boxes they came in.

A plea and nudge for any modification on the production run compression lock knives to accommodate us lefties would certainly be a Godsend! Yes, I have a Manix, no, I don't own a Smock but like the concept, just not the blade design.

SPYDERCO - the second most expensive hole in my life!

Dear Sudarshan Chakra:

Welcome to the Spyderco Forum.

Stay safe,

Mike

Thank you sir!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/yXVEwnCCQ5vhv4qT9

Amazing work! Now I want to make a lefty mule folder or maybe a CBBL??

* cbbl definitely won't work without new pivot hole and some edge loss, probably not worth it.

Bolster wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 31, 2022 3:31 pm

...I suspect your work will bring a chorus of requests down on Spyderco to start making folding mules...

Sudarshan Chakra wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 04, 2023 4:44 am

...put this baby into production tomorrow! ...

Not forgetting, of course, that the purpose of the Mule program is to get new steels into the hands of users in the least expensive way possible; ie, fixed blades. It would be disappointing to see the Mule program forego affordable fixed-blades and morph into only high-dollar folders. I don't think that's a possibility, but I think it's worth reviewing the original intent.

xceptnl wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 03, 2023 9:43 pm

Long time no see everyone. Great first thread to come back and find. Terrific looking work Casper. If you need more Mules to experiment on, let me know as I can send some sharp little volunteers your way.

If you’re serious about this I’m definitely interested! My preference is Mules that are made in Golden because the hole that I use for a pivot is 3/16”, which works with the pivot bushings and other hardware I typically use. I already have one more Mule to mod (in RWL-34) until I will need another to play with.

sal wrote: Project is looking good.

Thanks Sal! It might sound silly but your approval really does mean a lot to me. I absolutely love knives and your designs are some of my favorites :)

Bolster wrote: Not forgetting, of course, that the purpose of the Mule program is to get new steels into the hands of users in the least expensive way possible; ie, fixed blades. It would be disappointing to see the Mule program forego affordable fixed-blades and morph into only high-dollar folders. I don't think that's a possibility, but I think it's worth reviewing the original intent.

Just so you know, my reason for this project is to put my Mules to everyday use. Since I don’t ever carry fixed blade knives, and really enjoy making custom folders when I can, this seemed like the perfect way to go. I do not plan to turn my hobby into any sort of a Mule modding production.

I don't think you need to explain yourself. You're doing some awesome things and luckily sharing them with us. Thank you for letting us in on your project(s).

Small update on the Rex76 compression lock Mule. I made a titanium deep carry clip and enlarged the Spydiehole since my last post. This one is pretty much done, other than some cosmetic things I might do like bead blasting and anodizing.

I’m still not sure what I’m going to do for the next one. Current ideas include a compression/button lock similar to the shape of v1. I also have a design for one that would be shaped similar to the Autonomy 2. Before I do anything. I’m probably going to make a small folder or two out of my handle offcuts, which I will post here :)

This thread ended up breaking my jaw

Absolutely stellar work, Casper. I am in awe.