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Muela

Muela Hunting and Fixed Blade Knives in South Africa

Muela is Spanish and has been making knives in Albacete since 1983, in a region with a knife-making tradition going back centuries. The range is almost entirely fixed blades built for hunting and field work, with handle materials that lean traditional: stag, olive wood, coral and micarta. NeonSales carries 52 Muela knives, from R1,039 for an Ibex up to R4,014 for a Safari Series Buffalo.

What Muela products does NeonSales stock?

  • Bowie: BW-14, BW-18 and BW-24 in ascending blade length
  • Hunting: Ibex, Bisonte, Kodiak, Pioneer
  • Skinners: Colibri, Grizzly, Sioux
  • Tactical: Sarrio, Phantom
  • Safari Series: Buffalo, the premium line
  • Outdoor: machete

Which blade shape for which job?

Type Profile Best suited to
Skinner Deep curved belly, rounded tip Separating hide without puncturing what is underneath
Hunting Drop point, moderate belly The all-rounder, from field dressing through to camp use
Bowie Long blade with clip point Heavier work, chopping and reach
Tactical Stronger tip, synthetic handle Utility and hard use rather than game processing

Reading the model codes

Muela codes combine the model with a handle material suffix. On the knives here, R generally indicates a synthetic or rubberised handle, OL olive wood, and A, CO, M, G and W denote other materials and finishes. So an Ibex 8R and an Ibex 8M are the same blade with different handles. If you know the model you want, the suffix tells you the handle rather than a different knife.

Handle material matters in the field

Natural materials such as stag and olive wood look considerably better and are why several of these knives sit where they do on price. Synthetic and rubberised handles grip better with wet or bloody hands and need no maintenance. For a knife that will be used hard on game, synthetic is the practical choice. For one that will be looked at as much as used, the natural handles are the reason to buy Muela.

Common questions

Are sheaths included? Muela fixed blades are generally supplied with a leather sheath. Check the individual listing to confirm for the model you want.

Bowie length, which one? The BW-14, BW-18 and BW-24 ascend in blade length. Longer gives reach and chopping ability, shorter gives control and easier carry.

Do they arrive sharp? With a working factory edge. A touch up on a stone before serious use is worthwhile, as with any production knife.

How should natural handles be cared for? Keep wood and stag dry, wipe down after use, and treat wood occasionally with an appropriate oil. Do not leave a natural-handled knife in a damp sheath.

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