Sold Out Dates for Mules?

[CLOK]

MT28 - Steel: CPM SPY27 | Released: Feb 2021 | Quantity: Approximately 500
Released 2/12/2021. Sold out in 1 hour. People were shocked how quick it sold out as the previous few took a long time and website ran smooth. Though MT01 and MT03 sold out same day, this one up to this point sold out the fastest. Could have been due to excitement of the program being revived and only having around 500 or maybe due to what was going on in the world at that time.

MT29 - Steel: Z-Max PM | Released Jun 2021 | Quantity: Approximately 550
Released 6/8/2021. Went out of stock in 12 minutes. Website had a hard time but went OOS quick.

MT30 - Steel: Z-Wear PM | Released Aug 2021 | Quantity: Approximately 500
Released 8/18/2021. Went out of stock in 13 minutes.

MT31 - Steel: CPM S45VN | Released: Apr 2021 | Quantity: Approximately 500
Released 4/22/2021. Went out of stock in 11 minutes. The new record holder at this point. The FOMO train was born.

MT32 - Steel: SRS13/SUS405 | Released: Feb 2022 | Quantity: Approximately 700
Released 2/17/2022. Went out of stock 2/19/2022. Spyderco limited purchase to one per household to allow more customers to have a chance. Seems it worked. First one to last more than a day since the revival.

MT33 - Steel: CPM REX 76 | Released Sep 2022 | Quantity: Approximately 1000
Released 9/20/2022. Went out of stock on 9/22/2022.

MT34 - Steel: CPM REX T15 | Released Jun 2023 | Quantity: Approximately 1100
Released 6/27/2023. Still in stock.

MT35 - Steel: CPM MagnaCut | Released: Dec 2021 | Quantity: Approximately 2000
Released 12/3/2021. Out of stock in 1 hour and 20 minutes. People were frustrated about the lack of limits for this one.

MT36 - Steel: Bohler K294 | Released: Aug 2023 | Quantity: Approximately 1000 | $95
Released 8/22/23. Still in stock.

MT37 - Steel: AEB-L | Released April 2023 | Quantity: Approx. 1200 | $8
Released 4/18/2023. Still in stock.

MT38 - Steel: M398 MICROCLEAN | Released: Nov 2022 | Quantity: Approximately 1800 | $80
Released 11/15/2022. Sold out mid 4/2023.

MT39 - Steel: CPM 15V | Released: May 2023 | Quantity: Approx. 1300 | $75
Released 5/23/2023. Went out of stock 2 hours 26 minutes later. Website ran smoother than the Magnacut release, but still brought some frustration.

Looks like that’s it for now. Learned a lot reading back through the threads. Wish I would have took some extra notes of questions that people somewhat frequently ask but maybe I will some other time!

[Bolster]

With all the praise showered on 10V & K390, I'm gobsmacked on how MT26 in A11 took over 4 years to sell out. Same issue with PD#1...everybody loves Cru-wear...but over 3 years to sell out? It just doesn't make any sense. I can see why Spyderco shelved the program, if such good steels at such low prices were not being purchased.

I regularly kick myself for not tuning in during that time. I got one mule in 2012 (Cru-wear) and just stopped paying attention after that. 'Course, back then, there was no sub-forum devoted to mules, so they were a little easier to overlook. But smart people like Yablanowitz weren't distracted and now have a treasure trove of to-die-for steels.

[yablanowitz]

Found this also

The SPY-27 is the only one that sold out in under a week, I can tell you that much.

Not quite. Sorry to disagree, but the early Mules (probably the first 10) sold out quickly. Most within 15 minutes to an hour. It was only later that they started to slow down.

Kristi

I didn't argue, but CLOK's research points more toward my memory than hers. MT01P did sell out quickly, so I was wrong there. My memory says MT02P had an initial purchse limit of one which was lifted after a couple of days and I was able to order another, so they still hadn't sold out yet. The MT04P re-heat treatment release that CLOK didn't find any mention of happening was probably the batch released at the Seconds Sale last year, lost in a corner of the factory for years.

All I can say for certain is in spite of purchase limits of one per household on some of them, I purchased two of each from the SFO before the hiatus, so they lasted long enough for those limits to be lifted. I've had to settle for factory seconds a couple of times since the restart to fill out the collection, but I still have two of each.

[CLOK]

Revision:
MT03: CPM S90V • Feb 2009 • Q: ~700 • $69.95 • SO: several hours
Was released on 2/2/2009. Was still available on 2/13. On 4/10/2009 Kristi posted that the removed the limit of 2 and released a batch of seconds. People thought they were sold out but seems it was just buried on the website back then.

Sal chimed in on the limit lift and seconds post saying:

As the models get more expensive, the immediate sales numbers decrease.

There are however, a few people that like to purchase a largerer number of them for resale. They fit them with scales and sheaths. We limit initial sales so the "steel-heads" can get theirs first.

The Mule Team design is a very practical design at a good size. With exotic handle materials and nice sheaths, they become a nice fixed blade knife with exceptional steel and a personal touch.

sal

[CLOK]

Revision:
MT04 - Steel: ZDP-189 | Released: July 2009 | Quantity: Approximately 500 | $79.95
Released 7/10/2009
This was the weird one with the heat treat issues. Kristi posted on 10/1/2009 that they found the heat treat issues and they were testing the remaining stock and removing them for sale on the website a this time. Kristi posted on 11/30/2009 that they knew of the heat treatment issues and a good batch (not seconds) was to be posted on the website in a window between 11/30/2009 - 12/14/2009 unless sold out before 12/14. She then went on to say a 2nd batch of HT would be performed and those would be released 4-8 weeks later, but cannot find posts on that later occurring.

MT04P – Mule Team Fixed Blade featuring ZDP-189

MT04P will be available for sale on Friday, 10-Jul-2009 at 1000 (10:00 a.m.) MDT.

As most everyone knows, the Mule Team project was created to give more people access to various steels using a standard pattern for a fixed blade knife. The hope of the project was to find out what these steels can do by making them available at an affordable price for our Knife Knuts and Steel Junkies. We test our products constantly, but we’ve always maintained that no amount of “testing” can provide the information that real-world use can.

With the ZDP-189 Mule our goal was to reach the optimal hardness that we have presently in our folders. It appears that the optimal hardness is different for a fixed blade. We are in the process now of testing the Rc on every MT04P remaining on our shelves. We anticipate some will be over, under or right at the threshold. Anything over the threshold will be held back. We’ve removed the MT04P from our site until the testing is complete and we can adjust the available quantity. This particular run was more than 600 pieces, each Mule Team could be a different quantity based upon the minimums required to obtain specific steels.

For those of you, who have experienced the issues of fractures, breaks, etc. with your MT04P, please contact our W&R Department and we will replace yours with one that has an acceptable Rc. W&R can be reached via e-mail at customerservice@spyderco.com.

The thread that was started by yuraelektra is welcomed feedback. Feedback is one of the primary reasons for doing the Mule Team. It is through all of us sharing information that we will all learn more about these steels (performance, limitations, etc.). Thank you yuraelektra and everyone else who participated in the thread; we’d love to hear more feedback about the steels we’re using in this project.

Kristi

After testing the inventory of the MT04P we have determined the Rc is roughly the same on all of them. We will be reheat treating the MT04P to a lower, more optimal Rc.

We realize that several of you have shown an interest in the higher Rc ZDP-189 Mules, so we will make them available again online for a limited time starting today, through 14-Dec.

Following that the MT04P will be temporarily taken down again and the process to reheat treat will take approximately 4-8 weeks. As soon as we have them back in stock, I'll make another announcement.

Thanx Much!

Kristi

[CLOK]

Accurate date:
MT10: CTS BD1 • June 2010 • Q: ~500 • $69.95 • SO: > 143 days
Released 6/24/2010

More info:
MT13: Elmax • Feb 2012 • Q: ~500 • $64.95 • SO: Unknown
The Elmax release info thread seems to be missing from the site. Kristi posted a link to it on 2/15/2012. Besides that I cannot find further information.

Accurate date:
MT39: CPM 15V • May 2023 • Q: ~1300 • $75 • SO: 146 minutes.
Released 5/23/2023

Accurate date:
MT28P2: CPM SPY27 Straight Spine • Feb 2023 • $60
Released 2/2/2023

[CLOK]

Found this also

The SPY-27 is the only one that sold out in under a week, I can tell you that much.

Not quite. Sorry to disagree, but the early Mules (probably the first 10) sold out quickly. Most within 15 minutes to an hour. It was only later that they started to slow down.

Kristi

I didn't argue, but CLOK's research points more toward my memory than hers. MT01P did sell out quickly, so I was wrong there. My memory says MT02P had an initial purchse limit of one which was lifted after a couple of days and I was able to order another, so they still hadn't sold out yet. The MT04P re-heat treatment release that CLOK didn't find any mention of happening was probably the batch released at the Seconds Sale last year, lost in a corner of the factory for years.

All I can say for certain is in spite of purchase limits of one per household on some of them, I purchased two of each from the SFO before the hiatus, so they lasted long enough for those limits to be lifted. I've had to settle for factory seconds a couple of times since the restart to fill out the collection, but I still have two of each.

I went through all the release announcement threads that are still on this site (Elmax seems to be a dead link) and that’s where I gathered 90% of the information from. You were definitely present in the majority of them, I wish I was active on the forum back then and knew of the program.

Most of the releases had limits put in after the first few as Sal wanted to make sure people were at least able to get one. He said in a thread something along the lines of “if there is 600, either 200 people get them if they buy multiples or 600 people can get them if there’s a limit.” He wanted/wants them in the most hands as possible. If they were still around after some time the limit got lifted and in one thread he stated he knew people bought them to put custom scales and sheath on to resell and he still wanted them to operate their business.

Some releases had a limit of one, some a limit of two, and a few a limit of four.

And yeah, that 4-8 weeks later second batch on ZDP-189 I am guessing ended up being the seconds sale last year, but that is speculation as I just can’t find anything 1-3 months after that post on them.

It was also interesting to see that hardness testing used to be communicated more, but seems around a certain time people started becoming more “metal experts/metal snobs/metal curious” and appears that information started to not be shared as it raised a bunch of critiques and some criticism. Some users though frequently posted their testing results and people can find those in depth threads if they want where a ton of information on hrc was posted.

[RustyIron]

This is an interesting in that it provides a little insight into what flavors of steel are most appealing to the most folks. One of the more intriguing Mules to come along in a while was the T15 model, but it's still available. Either Spyderco cranked out a bazillion of these, or my tastes differ dramatically from others. I guess that's why IHOP has a dozen different kinds of pancakes on the menu.

[yablanowitz]

From Bladeforums: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/mt1 ... ax.926341/

Available Monday 27 February 2012 at 9:00 Mountain Standard time. Limit 2, $64.95 each.

Edit to add: they were still in stock on March 2, so at least 3 days to sell out.

[TomAiello]

With all the praise showered on 10V & K390, I'm gobsmacked on how MT26 in A11 took over 4 years to sell out. Same issue with PD#1...everybody loves Cru-wear...but over 3 years to sell out?

I was also very surprised that they were available for so long. I laid in a supply of both the A11 and the PD#1 Mules for practice and projects. I actually have a severely beaten PD#1 Mule that I have used as a pattern for handles and sheathes.

[yablanowitz]

Here's another bit of history if you're interested.

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/ste ... ns.445613/

And if you enjoy whining, you can find some good info in this one, too.

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/spy ... ls.466131/

[Bolster]

From Bladeforums: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/mt1 ... ax.926341/

Available Monday 27 February 2012 at 9:00 Mountain Standard time. Limit 2, $64.95 each.

Thanks! Updated with:

MT13: Elmax • Feb 27 2012 • Q: ~500 • $64.95 • SO: > 4 days

Also:

Over at BF I was able to find a "still available" date of March 16 for the MT19, in PSF27, so that extends its availability date considerably, to 222 days.

[Buddafucco]

MT34: CPM REX T15 • June 27 2023 • $75 • SO: 2 mo & ongoing

Out of stock now. Not sure if that means sold out yet.

[kennbr34]

MT34: CPM REX T15 • June 27 2023 • $75 • SO: 2 mo & ongoing

Out of stock now. Not sure if that means sold out yet.

Dang I was just waiting until Friday to grab one too

[Wandering_About]

Interesting little look at Mule Team history here. I bought one of the original 52100 ones, back in ancient history, but it is long gone from my hands by some unfortunate circumstances. The next one I bought was the MagnaCut Mule. On the short list is a SPY27 Mule.

[Bolster]

MT34: CPM REX T15 • June 27 2023 • $75 • SO: 2 mo & ongoing

Out of stock now. Not sure if that means sold out yet.

Thanks for catching this. Added to the blue list at viewtopic.php?f=15&t=89168&p=1739413#p1739413.

410 (34%) of the AEB-L still available.
595 (60%) of the K294 still available.

These availabilities are head scratchers for me. The AEB-L with its high heat treat 62-63 Rc is a very unique item that's been testing well in use, and is something of a dream come true for those who fancy ultra low edge angles. The K294, a 10V steel which beats S110V (by 17% says Ankerson) for edge holding, is an über-steel rubbing shoulders with the likes of S125V and 15V, so how these two can stay on the shelf, I don't know!

Muleists, if you like the exotic steels and the exotic heat treats, grab a K294 and an AEB-L.

[kennbr34]

MT34: CPM REX T15 • June 27 2023 • $75 • SO: 2 mo & ongoing

Out of stock now. Not sure if that means sold out yet.

Thanks for catching this. Added to the blue list at viewtopic.php?f=15&t=89168&p=1739413#p1739413.

410 (34%) of the AEB-L still available.
595 (60%) of the K294 still available.

These availabilities are head scratchers for me. The AEB-L with its high heat treat 62-63 Rc is a very unique item that's been testing well in use, and is something of a dream come true for those who fancy ultra low edge angles. The K294, a 10V steel which beats S110V (by 17% says Ankerson) for edge holding, is an über-steel rubbing shoulders with the likes of S125V and 15V, so how these two can stay on the shelf, I don't know!

Muleists, if you like the exotic steels and the exotic heat treats, grab a K294 and an AEB-L.

The AEB-L is on my list to grab. Already got a K294.

I feel like a lot of people just aren't really aware of what you're really getting with K294. First they have to realize that it's equivalent to 10V, and then secondly need to be a little familiar with how 10V falls in comparison. From what I have seen on things like Reddit, a lot of people don't even really know what 15V is yet. Then beyond that I think a lot of people who DO know what they'd be getting might fear that the sharpen ability won't be good.

Meanwhile I think the AEB-L is also a little bit less than obvious as a steal too. The HRC isn't really advertised, and so I think a lot of people are looking at it and thinking, "Well I already have 14C28N, what do I need AEB-L for?" In fact I was kind of in that camp too before I realized what you pointed out about it allowing for extremely acute edge angles.

[Pokey]

MT34: CPM REX T15 • June 27 2023 • $75 • SO: 2 mo & ongoing

Out of stock now. Not sure if that means sold out yet.

Not really, I stopped by the SFO last Thursday and they have the CPM REX T15 in stock. (As well as the AEB-L, and SPY27 straight spine blades.) They may be keeping these on hand for walk-in sales only, though.

And, they do have one RWL-34 and one CTS B70P on display.

[Bolster]

MT34: CPM REX T15 • June 27 2023 • $75 • SO: 2 mo & ongoing

Out of stock now. Not sure if that means sold out yet.

Not really, I stopped by the SFO last Thursday and they have the CPM REX T15 in stock. (As well as the AEB-L, and SPY27 straight spine blades.) They may be keeping these on hand for walk-in sales only, though.

And, they do have one RWL-34 and one CTS B70P on display.

To keep ourselves sane, I propose we count a mule "out of stock" as well as "sold out" when it is no longer available on the website. It's easy enough to overlook the date a mule is no longer available online...how much more difficult to note the date a mule is no longer available in the SFO. So unless a mule comes back in stock online, I'm counting it "gone" when someone first notices and posts that the red "Out Of Stock" banner appears, or when the knife is simply no longer featured on Spyderco's Mules page.

PS: The T15 doesn't even show up on the Spyderco website anymore, banner or no banner, it's gone.

[David R]

MT22 - Steel: RWL 34 | Released: April 2016 | Quantity: Approximately 800 | $69.95
Released 4/8/2016. Was still in stock 7/18/2016. I could not find a solid out of stock date.

MT23 - Steel: CPM 20CV | Released: Dec 2016 | Quantity: Approximately 700
Released 12/15/2016. Looks like users still ordered some on 4/27/17. I could not find an out of stock date.

MT24 - Steel: Maxamet | Released: Aug 2016 | Quantity: Approximately 700
Released 8/4/2016. Users were still ordering them on 8/13/2016 but cannot find an out of stock date. I would say this was the first “pre release hype” mule as it had a lot of back and forth discussions before its release day. Sal also said they were heat treated to 67-68.

I ordered RWL-34 from Spyderco in January of 2019, so it was around at least that late.