MT36P – K294 MICROCLEAN Mule Team Dropping Soon!

[Bolster]

So what do we know about K294?
My notes (of unknown quality, just internet gleanings) say:

- It's the European equivalent of 10V but Bohler claims a bit purer with no sulfur content. Larrin says Bohler increased the Mo compared to 10V, and added W and Co.
- Phil Wilson works with K294 at 64 Rc, and in 2012 wrote nothing he knew of at the time beat it for edge holding, saying it beat S110V in edge retention by 17%. Wilson also said it doesn't so much rust, as it discolors to a dark patina. Also, that the steel is very difficult to finish nicely.
- Larrin notes just a few steels, S125V, 15V, Z-Max, and Rex 121, having more retention.
- If equivalent to 10V, then we can assume (Larrin-measured) toughness of maybe 7-8 ft lbs with little fall-off as it gets harder, maybe a Catra of 740-760. Some sources say "same toughness as S35VN and CPM-154," but with much higher edge retention.
- Has only vanadium carbides. When heat treated, has around 17% vanadium carbide volume (these carbides are approx Rc 85).
- According to Creely, while not tough, it’s one of the tougher steels in the extreme ER range (along with S90V, though S90V has better corrosion resistance).
- Similar formulas include: Carpenter Micro-Melt A11, Dorrenberg PMD10, Erasteel ASP2011, Latrobe DuraTech A11, and Zapp Z-A11. But NOT equivalent to A11-LVC.
- K294 is one of the few steels that beats Larrin's orange Toughness x Edge-Retention line.

So...those are my notes, for better or worse. Please chime in if I'm 'talking through my hat' and notice the important caveat in my sig line.

[kennbr34]

Ouch... The MT36P and a set of scales is ONE dollar short of free shipping.

[CLOK]

Nice and smooth transaction. Looking forward to testing it out and seeing the edge retention.

[legOFwhat?]

Easy peasy. Got my 2.

[Bolster]

One of the easiest fastest transactions ever with Spyderco. Either Spyderco upgraded servers or demand is low for the K294. I prefer to believe option one.

[avmackey]

That was easy. Less than a minute to complete my order. Two on the way.

[standy99]

Easy peasy. Got my 2.

Peasy easy. Got my 2 also.

[MrMayhem]

My first post, my first mule ordered. Ready for the next

[standy99]

Seconds sale would have slowed the wallets

Only 942 left so my guess 1000 made

[legOFwhat?]

Easy peasy. Got my 2.

Peasy easy. Got my 2 also.

Betcha mine arrives sooner

[legOFwhat?]

My first post, my first mule ordered. Ready for the next

Welcome MrMayhem!

[kennbr34]

Seconds sale would have slowed the wallets

Only 942 left so my guess 1000 made

Where do you see how many are left?

I got one. Was thinking about getting two and flipping it on eBay to cover shipping, but decided against it.

[CLOK]

Seconds sale would have slowed the wallets

Only 942 left so my guess 1000 made

Where do you see how many are left?

I got one. Was thinking about getting two and flipping it on eBay to cover shipping, but decided against it.

You can put some in your cart, then when in your cart you can put in a crazy number and update your cart. After it updates, it will correct your cart to how many are left and give a prompt at the top in red that says something along the lines of "You cannot order that many, we have XXXX many in stock".

[kennbr34]

Seconds sale would have slowed the wallets

Only 942 left so my guess 1000 made

Where do you see how many are left?

I got one. Was thinking about getting two and flipping it on eBay to cover shipping, but decided against it.

You can put some in your cart, then when in your cart you can put in a crazy number and update your cart. After it updates, it will correct your cart to how many are left and give a prompt at the top in red that says something along the lines of "You cannot order that many, we have XXXX many in stock".

Neat tip, thanks.

[ramblinwreck]

Ordered one with scales and sheath. 836 left.

[tcarltonw]

Dos para mi

[ramblinwreck]

Do these usually sell out? I see a few others from earlier this year still available.

[bobartig]

in for two! can't wait to try them out.

[Bolster]

Do these usually sell out? I see a few others from earlier this year still available.

Eventually, yes. The amount of time it takes for a mule to sell out varies widely, based in large part on desirability of the steel, which is in turn affected by hype and buzz. The Magnacut sold out almost immediately. The K294 looks to be a true winner of a steel with its excellent balance of toughness for its very high edge retention range...but nobody's been out there recently, promoting K294 (though Phil Wilson likes it). Given its high initial price and remarkable properties, I think it's going to be a bit of a sleeper steel, probably highly valued once the stock is gone. That the K294 comes quickly on the heels of several previous mules may also slow its sales somewhat.

I've seen other forumites opine that the AEB-L mule is similar...a sleeper steel that will become quite desirable when the stock is depleted.

Of course, this is all conjecture on our parts. But just try to purchase some of the well-regarded steels in by-gone mules and you'll be shocked at how much you have to spend to get one.

[yablanowitz]

One of the easiest fastest transactions ever with Spyderco. Either Spyderco upgraded servers or demand is low for the K294. I prefer to believe option one.

I suspect the "no purchase limit" scared off a lot of the flippers that count on exclusivity to drive up price.