Kabar's Desert Mule

RIKA · 09-13-2005, 03:43 PM

I bought this Kabar Mule today as a gift for Jack. I'm so impressed that I want to talk a little for anyone who isn't familiar with it. Its a big hand filling knife weighing in at 8oz and has a Rockwell 57-58 AUS8A steel blade. The blade is hair flinging sharp out of the box. It comes in either the desert color or all black with the steel parts black powder coated. I really like it that the blade lock on the back of the knife is curved and lowered so the blade can't be accidentally unlatched. There are nice little indents cut into the blade where your thumb fits to aid control and the dual thumbstud openers are knurled. The knife locks up solidly and the contoured grip feels good and natural in the hand. That drop point blade should be handy for all types of camp and field tasks too.

The one thing I don't like is the web sheath. IMO its cheap and cheesy and the flap closes with both velcro and a snap. The fixed belt loop for vertical carry is too small to fit most men's belts and the loops for horizontal carry fasten with velcro making it very possible to lose the knife and case during rough movement. I'll make him a Rostov type web case in the near future.

I haven't tested it because I didn't want to mess it up for Jack's gift. As I said, I am impressed and may even get one for myself at a later date.

The photos below show the Mule along with a Buck 110 for size reference.

RIKA

krept · 09-13-2005, 04:12 PM

Dang, that's awesome. Wish my wife would get me something like that... heck, even a chunk of steel would be nice! You rock..

cheers

Mad Mike · 09-13-2005, 05:12 PM

That's one nice knife you got there RIKA, Jack is one lucky guy...!

41mag · 09-13-2005, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Mike

Jack is one lucky guy...!

Rifles,ammo,sharp pointy things.He he,that we were all that lucky.

Nice knife RIKA.

John in AR · 09-14-2005, 09:14 AM

Can't say about the quality of this particular sheath, but the 'velcro & snap' combination is a more secure retainer than either one alone, and that's a good thing in a sheath. The velcro on the belt loops is a bad idea, imo.

I like Rostov's approach with velcro & fastex buckle, but have never tried it myself.

Kabars are awfully good knives, but I'm enough of an old fart at heart to prefer the Buck in the picture, though.

mrostov · 09-17-2005, 02:19 AM

The more I use it, the more I like my
Ka-Bar Mule. It's everything that the
Buck 110 needs to be.

While, technically, AUS-8 doesn't hold
an edge quite like the hottest new
steels such as S30V, AUS-8 takes and
holds an edge very well, far better than
the 420HC that a standard Buck knife
uses, while AUS-8 is also very easy to
sharpen compared to other stainless
steels that hold edges well.

AUS-8 also has a reputation for being
extremely tough. With it's steel liners,
a Buck 110 style locking system, and a
really ergonomic handle the Mule can
take a lot of abuse and do things that
you wouldn't dare put to most other
folding knives. For instance, whacking
the back of the knife blade with a stick
to split wood.

The handle is one of the things that
really gives this knife appeal the first
time you handle it. The one-hand opening
is also a very nice feature.

RIKA · 09-17-2005, 07:17 AM

Mike, how do you like the knife's sheath? Are you planning on modifying or making a new one for your Mule?

RIKA

mrostov · 09-17-2005, 07:28 AM

Currently I am using the original sheath, mainly because I haven't had the time to make a new one for it yet. The Mule is a bit tight for the Buck 110 sheath I built.

The original sheath is better than many I've seen but there are some things about it that I think could be done differently or simply better and I still plan on making myself a new sheath as soon as I have the time to do so.