MT Mule Team

In 2007 Spyderco created the Mule Team for steel junkies. It's a series of small fixed blade only (no handle material, no sheath, both for do-it-yourself).

Appearance in catalogs

N/A

Designer

Sal Glesser

History, mentionings from the forums, etc.

From the Spyderco-Forum:

If you are a Collector, the Mule Team is included as a new model and the first offering (MT01 in 52100) will be sent to the Dealer that you normally purchase your Collector knives through. Your Dealer will receive a letter explaining the program, its purpose and how we envision it moving forward. We have asked our Dealers to honor the spirit of the program and if they are unable to, we've asked that they return the knife to us so you will be able to purchase your numbered knife through SFO.

If you are a Collector who receives all variants, you will be given the option to sign up for all or none of the future Mule Team variants when you receive the first model (MT01). If you choose to sign up for all variations of the Mule Team, all future models of the Mule Team will be handled directly through SFO. This is to not place a burden on our Dealers and maintain our vision of this program.

If you are not a Collector and would like to purchase a Mule Team knife, you will be able to do so through our site. As originally stated, there will only be a Net Price. This will guarantee that you are able to acquire the models in this program at the most affordable price. We will offer these through our normal distribution chain of Distributors and Dealers in lots of 2 each at the same price. Pricing will vary from one variation to another and will primarily be dependent on the steel used.

If you are not a Collector who chooses to receive all variants of the Mule Team, purchases will be one model at a time with no commitment to future models. You purchase only those that interest you. Sales are on a first come first served basis. Once the quantity made is sold out, that variation will be gone. We will initially set a maximum allowed of 2 pieces per person/address, but we do reserve the right to change this limit at any time. If you are a collector these 2 pieces are in addition to your collector numbered piece.

Information from the Spyderco catalog on the web

"What is a Mule?

In the English language the term mule has multiple definitions: There’s the obvious equine reference being the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. It can be a coin minted from two dies by mistake and the auto industry refers to their test vehicles as a mules. Spyderco also calls knife models designed and built for testing and evaluation Mules. When a group of these are brought together they make a team of mules, thus the name of our new knife release: The Mule Team.

Knife and steel-devotees love trying out new blade steels. Spyderco leads the industry in offering, testing and manufacturing knives using new and exotic blade steels. Taking that idea a step up, why not offer a series (team) of blades using different, exotic and freshly unveiled steels? In doing this steel-obsessed knife knuts can try, test and use something normally not offered to the industry.

What is the Spyderco Mule Team?

Spyderco’s Mule Team officially launches with a single-piece fixed blade pattern. The blade is leaf-shaped with a sharpened and finished PlainEdge blade but with an unfinished handle providing some a do-it-yourself opportunity. The unfinished handle has a series of holes for attaching a custom handle or for wrapping in cord. All Mule Team Pieces are sold without handle scales or a carry sheath focusing the project on the blade steel and opening the door for the owner to create his/her own handle scale and carry options.

How many and how often will they be released?

Our plan is to release several variations per year using the same fixed blade pattern produced with different exotic steels. Each steel offering is limited to approximately 600 pieces and engraved indicating the steel used. Variations are priced accordingly with the only cost variable being the steel itself. Prices will be announced prior to the release of the upcoming model.

How can I buy them?

All purchases are handled through Spyderco Factory Outlet (SFO)." MT01 MT02 MT03 MT04 MT05 MT06 MT07 MT08 MT09 MT10 MT11 MT12 MT13 MT15 MT16 MT16 (blemished) MT17 MT18 MT19

From Spyderco's Edge-U-Cation section:

"Dear Spyderco Customer,

Welcome to the Mule Team Project by Spyderco. In the English language the term mule has multiple definitions: There's the obvious equine reference being the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. It can be a coin minted from two dies by mistake and the auto industry refers to their test vehicles as a mules. Spyderco also calls knife models designed and built for testing and evaluation Mules. When a group of these are brought together they make a team of mules, thus the name of our new knife release: The Mule Team.

Knife and steel-devotees love trying out new blade steels. Spyderco leads the industry in offering, testing and manufacturing knives using new and exotic blade steels. Taking that idea a step up, why not offer a series (team) of blades using different, exotic and freshly unveiled steels? In doing this steel-obsessed knife knuts can try, test and use something normally not offered to the industry.

Spyderco's Mule Team is a single-piece fixed blade pattern. The blade is leaf-shaped with a sharpened and finished PlainEdge blade but with an unfinished handle providing some a do-it-yourself opportunity. The unfinished handle has a series of holes for attaching a custom handle or for wrapping in cord. All Mule Team Pieces are sold without handle scales or a carry sheath focusing the project on the blade steel and opening the door for the owner to create his/her own handle scale and carry options.

The Mule team project was created as a simple, inexpensive venue for "steel junkies" to have an opportunity to test different blade steels themselves. Each run will have different interesting steel. Each run will have the same pattern, a fixed blade with a full tang. Each run will have the same thickness, grind, edge and will be heat treated to the optimal hardness for that steel. No handle, scales or sheath are provided. This not only saves you funds, but gives you the opportunity to make (or have made) custom handles and sheaths.

Thanx much and our appreciation for your interest and patronage of Spyderco products.

Yours truly,

Sal Glesser

President Spyderco Knives & Accessories"

Variations

SKU	Edge	Steel	Rc hardness	Release date	MSRP	Note	Number made	Grind	Collectors club
MT01P	PE	52100	62	Nov. 2007	39.95$	23 pieces are factory stonewashed. Made in Golden, CO. First Spyderco offered in this steel.	~600	Full Flat grind	Main
MT2ND	PE	52100	62	Nov. 2007	36.00$	Factory Seconds. Made in Golden, CO. First Spyderco offered in this steel.	N/A	Full Flat grind	/
MT02P	PE	CPM-M4	62.5	Sep. 2008	69.95$	Suffered from minor blade warping. Made in Golden, CO. First Spyderco offered in this steel (followed by the Bradley folder about a year later).	~600	Full Flat grind	Variant
MT2ND	PE	CPM-M4	62.5	Sep. 2008	64.95$	Factory Seconds. Made in Golden, CO. First Spyderco offered in this steel (followed by the Bradley folder about a year later).	N/A	Full Flat grind	/
MT03P	PE	CPM-S90V	59	Feb. 2009	69.95$	Made in Golden, CO. Not the first appearance of this steel in a Spyderco knife (used in a Military sprint in 2008).	~600	Full Flat grind	Variant
MT3ND	PE	CPM-S90V	59	Feb. 2009	64.95$	Factory Seconds. Made in Golden, CO. Not the first appearance of this steel in a Spyderco knife (used in a Military sprint in 2008).	N/A	Full Flat grind	/
MT04P	PE	ZDP-189	65-67	Jul. 2009	79.95$	Recalled due to cracking. Analysis of the ZDP-189 Mule discovered that it was not fixable with a re-temper. Made in Seki-City, Japan. Not the first time this steel has been used in a Spyderco knife.	~600 (maybe 1000)	Full Flat grind	Variant
MT05P	PE	9Cr18Mo	59	Oct. 2009	20.00$	Reports of blade warping. Made in China. First Spyderco offered in this steel (was used later in a Catbyrd Ti sprint).	1000	Full Flat grind	Variant
MT06P	PE	CPM-S35VN	~59	Jan. 2010	64.95$	Made in Golden, CO. First Spyderco offered in this steel (would be used as the base steel in the Native 5 the following year).	N/A	Full Flat grind	Variant
MT07P	PE	D.P.S. 15 Damascus / VG-10	N/A	Oct. 2010	84.95$	Made in Seki-City, Japan. First Spyderco offered in this steel (though would appear in subsequent Delica/Endura/Caly3 variations).	N/A	Full Flat grind	Variant
MT08P	PE	Aogami Super Blue	~62	Dec. 2010	79.95$	Made in Seki-City, Japan. First Spyderco offered in this steel (later offered in solid SB Caly 3/3.5 sprints, and clad sprints of the Ladybug/Manbug/Dragonfly 2/Delica/Endura/Stretch).	~600	Full Flat grind	Variant
MT09P	PE	Cobalt Special SUS420J2	N/A	Mar. 2011	84.95$	The Cobalt steel is clad between two layers of 420J. This "san mai" (three-layer) construction provides great strength because the outer layers provide support for the hard core. Made in Japan. First Spyderco offered in this steel.	600-1000	Full Flat grind	Variant
MT10P	PE	CTS-BD1	~57	Jun. 2010	69.95$	Made in Golden, CO. The UK Penknife came out in this steel the same year, but I'm not sure if they were released before or after the Mule.	~500	Full Flat grind	Variant
MT11P	PE	Böhler Uddeholm M390	~59/61	Jun. 2011	74.95$	Made in Golden, CO. First Spyderco offered in this steel (later offered in various sprint runs beginning with the Bento Box Shop PM2).	600-1000	Full Flat grind	Variant
MT12P	PE	Cru-Wear	~62	Sept. 2011 Jan. 2012	59.95$	Recalled due to improper heat treat. Subsequent heat treat fixed problem. Of the initial run of 600, only ~450 were resold after the recall. Re-treated Mules can be recognized by the underlined word Cruwear. This is the first Mule Team made out of a tool steel. Made in Golden, CO. First Spyderco offered in this steel (a Military sprint followed two years later, and then a Manix 2 sprint after that).	~600/~450	Full Flat grind	Variant
MT13P	PE	Elmax	~58/60	Feb. 2012	64.95$	Made in Golden, CO. The LionSpy and this Mule were both released Feb 2012 and were the first Spyderco knives in this steel.		Full Flat grind	Variant
MT14P	PE	CTS-204P		CANCELLED		Was originally planned for production and announced in the Spyderbyte email, but never released. Initially 127 pieces were made, but due to quality problems the entire batch was trashed.	0	Full Flat grind	Variant
MT15P	PE	CTS-B75P	62.5	Sept. 2012	74.95$	Made in Golden, CO. First Spyderco offered in this steel.	<400	Full Flat grind	Variant
MT16P	PE	CTS-XHP	~60.3	Dec. 2012	59.95$	Made in Golden, CO. XHP was used in a Manix 2 sprint almost two years prior, a Military a year and a half prior, as well as some other models.		Full Flat grind	Variant
MTXHP	PE	CTS-XHP	~60.3	Dec. 2012	49.95$	There are some MT16P Mules that have a blemish from grinding that will also be made available at a discounted price of $49.95 each. These will NOT be notched. Blemishes vary so please be advised that the SFO crew cannot hand pick or inspect individually prior to shipment of your order. The discounted CTS-XHP Mules will be under the model # MTXHP. Made in Golden, CO. XHP was used in a Manix 2 sprint almost two years prior, a Military a year and a half prior, as well as some other models.		Full Flat grind	/
MT17P	PE	K390	62/64	Jul. 2013	69.95$	Made in Golden, CO. First Spyderco offered in this steel	just under 700	Full Flat grind	Variant
MT18P	PE	CPM-S110V	60/61	Feb. 2014	89.95$	Made in Taichung, Taiwan. The 2013 Spyderco Forum Native first used S110V about six months before this Mule.	~700	Full Flat grind	Variant
MT19P	PE	PSF27	N/A	Aug. 2014	79.95$	Made in Taichung, Taiwan. First Spyderco offered in this steel (would be used as the standard steel on the Bradley Bowie about 8 months later).	600-1000	Full Flat grind	Variant
MT20P	PE	CTS-B70P	N/A	Mar. 2015	79.95$	Made in Taichung, Taiwan. First Spyderco offered in this steel.	600-1000	Full Flat grind	Variant
MT21P	PE	CPM-4V	N/A	Oct. 2015	69.95$	Made in Taichung, Taiwan. First Spyderco offered in this steel.	600-1000	Full Flat grind	Variant
MT22P	PE	RWL34	61-62	Apr. 2016	69.95$	Made in Taichung, Taiwan. First Spyderco offered in this steel.	600-1000	Full Flat grind	Variant
MT23P	PE	CPM 20V	N/A	Dec. 2016	69.95$	First Spyderco offered in this steel.	N/A	Full Flat grind	Variant
MT24P	PE	Maxamet	67-68	Aug. 2016	109.95$	First Spyderco offered in this steel.	~600	Full Flat grind	Variant
MT25P	PE	LC200N		Apr. 2017	69.95$		600-1000	Full Flat grind	Variant
MT26P	PE	PMA11 (Micro-Melt A11)	63	Aug. 2017	69.95$	First Spyderco offered in this steel.	600-1000	Full Flat grind	Variant

Most collectible variation

Either one of the MT01P factory stonewashed or the MT01P with Collectors club markings is believed to be the most collectible.

Questions regarding collecting the Mule Team

• Who designed it?

• How many pieces of the Factory Seconds are produced?

Technical information

Typically measurements (mm and grams) of the Mule Team:

Length overall	Hole Ø	Blade length	Cutting edge	Blade thickness	Weight
194 mm	8.5 mm	84 mm	84 mm	3 mm	~76 g

Typically measurements (inches and ounces) of the Mule Team:

Length overall	Hole Ø	Blade length	Cutting edge	Blade thickness	Weight
7 5/8"	21/64"	3 5/16"	3 5/16"	1/8"	~2.7 oz.