Spyderco Mule Team/2 handle scales
Spyderco Mule Team/Mule Team 2 handle scales
The Spyderco Mule Team Project is a legendary ongoing experiment in knife steel performance, created by founder Sal Glesser
Ideas first surfaced around 2001–2004, when Sal referred to test knives as "mules" and discussed producing simple, affordable blades in exotic steels for enthusiasts to evaluate. The formal Mule Team launched in 2008 as Spyderco's dedicated platform for real-world steel testing
The first release, MT01 (January 2008), used 52100 ball-bearing steel. Subsequent models introduced groundbreaking steels like CPM M4 (MT02, 2008), CPM S90V, ZDP-189, CPM S35VN (first commercial use), and later rarities including MagnaCut, REX 76, and ceramics
Each Mule is a bare fixed blade—consistent drop-point pattern, full-flat grind, Trademark Round Hole™, no scales or sheath—sold direct from Spyderco in small runs (~500–800 pieces). This standardized "mule" lets users compare toughness, edge retention, corrosion resistance, and sharpenability firsthand
Revived strongly after 2020, the project remains Spyderco's premier R&D tool for steel innovation and community-driven learning
The scales are compatible with various modifications of the Mule Team model:
- Spyderco Mule Team
- Spyderco Mule Team 2
- Spyderco Mule Team HIC