I've no no luck removing the spots with Flitz or any other standard metal polish. Not a major issue as far as I'm concerned. I knew that it wasn't a stainless steel when I ordered it and will keep a light coat of oil on the blade.
Although I had considered making a set of scales myself, at $20 for Halpern titanium scales, it doesn't seem worth the effort. I may make a set anyway, but for now the Halpern's will do the job.
Great service too. Shipped the same day ordered and are due to arrive today.
Now for a sheath.
This is where I got my custom sheath:
http://spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51960
Great service and high quality!
Will
The best way to get a hold of them is by phone.
For best fit/function, yes, it is best to send them the knife (which in the case of the mules, it fits great in a flat-rate small USPS Priority Box for $5). They can make you a sheath without having your knife if you are using "standard" scales that they have (like the ones from Halpern), but there are always small variances, so fit might not be as "perfect" as if they had your knife to start with.
Will
I haven't scaled my Mule or used it once and I already want a folder with Cruwear.
I've been threatening to chop up my Christmas tree (which is still in the house, and hasn't been watered for a month) with the Mule, perhaps that'll be my project for tomorrow. It's supposed to be 58 degrees here tomorrow. I'm pretty excited.![]()
Went down to the Spyderco outlet and picked up this cruwear mule. The girl opened 3 of the boxes and they all had the spots on the blade; about 10 little spots. The mule I choose seems to only have a couple. I can live with it!
Also, handled the boltron sheath for the mule by Christina Gere, they are top notch and she also does scales with unique screws I have never seen before. Will email her to see if she has a photo gallery online of previous work.
I see that everyone that has gotten one of these has the Cruwear on the blade underlined. I just received mine today, and my knife does not have the cruwear underlined...did I manage to get one that slipped through the 2nd heat treat?
Just got the Cru-wear back in the mail last night. Very nice.
I saw a few people asking about custom sheaths. And just to be clear I run Bayou Custom Sheaths. If anyone has an request I'll be happy to help them with custom sheath setup.
Sending one of mine off Monday to have a maker put some sweet handles on it.
Sooo Elmax should be out this month?? Very very exciting for that one! Sounds like its almost as good as M390 with a proper HT?
Cheers!
here is mine strider wrapped. thinking about scales.. after using it for food.
very happy with the blade.
Hey all!
How is the patina developing on the blade? Does it stain quickly like the Super Blue / M4 or is it harder to stain?
Thanks!
* Ladybug VG-10 Hawkbill Black FRN (x2)
* Cricket VG-10 SS
* Dragonfly VG-10 F-Green G-10
* Delica 4 PE VG-10 F-Green G-10
* Calypso Jr. AUS-8 Micarta
* Caly 3 ZDP189/420J2 CF
* Salt-I PE H1 Black FRN
* Spyderhawk SE H1 Yellow FRN
* Mule MT12 Cru-Wear
Non-
* Leatherman Wave (x2)
* Gerber Flik
* Leatherman Squirt PS4 Red
* Opinel Nr. 8 Wallnut 12C27M
* Gerber EZ-out Combo edge 450
* Fällkniven F1-3G (25yr Edition, #0234)
* Gerber F-Green LMF II
Received it yesterday.
Great blade but Customs slapped it with a €26 surcharge (about $35) and that sucks.
Any news on the patina?
* Ladybug VG-10 Hawkbill Black FRN (x2)
* Cricket VG-10 SS
* Dragonfly VG-10 F-Green G-10
* Delica 4 PE VG-10 F-Green G-10
* Calypso Jr. AUS-8 Micarta
* Caly 3 ZDP189/420J2 CF
* Salt-I PE H1 Black FRN
* Spyderhawk SE H1 Yellow FRN
* Mule MT12 Cru-Wear
Non-
* Leatherman Wave (x2)
* Gerber Flik
* Leatherman Squirt PS4 Red
* Opinel Nr. 8 Wallnut 12C27M
* Gerber EZ-out Combo edge 450
* Fällkniven F1-3G (25yr Edition, #0234)
* Gerber F-Green LMF II
I would care for the Cruwear like M4 steel. Wipe down more often with tuf-glide. So far my M4 done this way is still shinny like day I bought it.
Would also cover 100% of the handle of the cruwear with epoxy if putting on scales to help prevent rusting.
Thanks
Last edited by Zencowboy; 02-14-2012 at 09:46 PM. Reason: darn spelling
For the Cruware (bottom one), since it is not stainless, I also gave it a blueing treatment, which darkens the steels (much like with firearms):
Will
Got my two just the other day. Neither one seems to have the spotting shown in a couple of the pictures here.
-Kyle
On the Fence: Tuff, Techno, LionSpy
Perpetually backordered: Fluted Ti Millie
Latest arrivals: CTS-204P Para 2, Kris, CTS-XHP Mule
If you really let Cruware go it will eventually pit in an ugly way. Don't confuse this with light surface rust or discoloration. With any kind of care at all you will never see bad pitting like I used to see on old scrap pieces of Vascowear that some knifemakers had put away years before and forgotten. Knives put away in the leather sheath wet and left that way for a long time likewise can see some pitting.
It's nothing like steels like W2, Hitachi white, and some other simple carbon steels, but it's not as easy to keep stainfree as the sort of stainless D2
"A Mastiff is to a dog what a Lion is to a housecat. He stands alone and all others sink before him. His courage does not exceed temper and generosity, and in attachment he equals the kindest of his race" Cynographia Britannic 1800
"Unless you're the lead dog the view is pretty much gonna stay the same!"
So has anybody come up with a solid answer for this yet? Mine is covered with small pits. Nothing major, but certainly not just surface spots and not what I would expect on a new knife. I know it isn't stainless, but my primary hunting knives are a couple of Bark Rivers made of A2 and even after ten years of use they don't have any corrosion. Looking like it has chicken pox when you first open the box is really not right. It may not affect how well it cuts, but it makes me a bit nervous about it being a user when it starts out with small pits everywhere just waiting to trap moisture.