Some companies make knives that should be kept in a safe, only brought out under dimmed lighting and handled with gloves. Other companies, like KA-BAR, make knives that are meant to be worked and beaten mercilessly.

The perfect example of this kind of knife is the KA-BAR MULE.

Standing for Military, Utility and Law Enforcement, the MULE is the very definition of a workhorse knife. It features a sturdy 3.875-inch black-coated blade made from functional AUS 8A stainless steel, a reliable lockback mechanism, and a nearly indestructible black Zytel handle.

But we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves. KA-BAR describes this heavy-duty tool as the folding knife’s answer to the traditional KA-BAR fixed blade. While no folder can ever compare to a fixed blade as storied as the KA-BAR, the MULE has proven time and again that it can take pretty much anything you throw at it.

The relatively thick 0.125-inch blade has a versatile clip-point profile and opens effortlessly with a dual thumb stud.

The handle is simply designed with enough texture and shape to ensure the knife stays in your hand comfortably during heavy use.

Because the knife has a backlock, dual thumb studs, and a reversible pocket clip, the MULE is a truly ambidextrous knife.

It also comes with a polyester sheath for those times you want to attach it to your belt or pack.

For more info on this Badass Knife of the Week, check out the page for the KA-BAR MULE.