Bring It: TNT vs. Sebenza

Welcome one2gofst
:D.
Tom grinds all blades by hand, so these sizes are approxiamate.

small-2.75 inches
medium-3.25 inches
large-3.75 inches
X large 4.25 inches

Each size adds approx. .5 inches to the blade length.

Here is a link to his site, but you won't find the above information there:)

http://www.mayoknives.com/
 
THis topic comes up like every month.... Ah well, in my opinion the TNT would obviously be better then the Sebenza because it is CUSTOM, unlike the Sebenza which is Semi-production. Custom knives will almost always be better then production knives, and in this case i do think the TNT is better
 
Well....its time to head out for my yearly overeating contest with all my friends...........SO HAPPY NEW YEAR and be safe...please.
especially you russell!!!!!!!! :):p:):p:):p:)
 
I would think that with all of the buisness that russ gives you Tom that you would have a insurance policy out on him!;)
 
Ok people...everyone has their own opinions. I'm NOT saying anythig bad or against the TnT. Hell, I want one!

RL, you prefer the TnT. I prefer the Sebenza, at least at this time. Maybe that will change, probably not. I like straight handles. To each his own.

I find it kind of funny how imperfections are are a bad thing on a production knife, but they seem to be ok on a custom? Again, to each his own.

I'll take this time to wish everyone a happy, healthy, and safe New Year.:)

Paul
 
The Sebenza is a take it like it is knife and I happen to like it the way it is. The TNT can be customized to your liking except for the pocket clip. IMHO, Tom should also give that option to the customer. I would definitely be more inclined to start saving for a TNT if I could get one TIP UP.
 
Jeff, I'm sure Tom would make the straight handle. If and when I go for a TnT, that will be a must. BTW, I wouldn't want a clip on it either.

Paul
 
I thought it strange that no one addressed my price question as part of their comparison. I see that the TNTs listed on Tom's site are considerably more expensive than their correspondingly sized Sebenzas. Even the smallest starts at $100+ higher!

Kind of makes the whole thing a little unfair don't you think? Sebenzas are expensive knives. Many people have objected to them, and certainly many can not own them, for that reason alone. Now you come along and say well looky here, a hand made of even superior quality! But we forgot to tell you its anywhere from 30-60% more expensive!
 
Talonite ain't cheap, brother! Even by the crateload slow-boated to the Aloha State ;)
 
Originally posted by Paul Work

RL, you prefer the TnT. I prefer the Sebenza, at least at this time.
Click to expand...

Just to clarify, I prefer customs to production knives in general. The frustration in my post was based on your statement that "most 'hand-mades' can't compare with the Sebenza"...not that I want to be guilty of beating a dead horse myself, but I can't tell you how many times I have seen people respond to "should I buy Custom X or Custom Y?" with "forget both, buy a Sebenza...it is better than any custom"...anyway, this isn't a personal attack on you (it certainly isn't meant to be).

Originally posted by Paul Work


I find it kind of funny how imperfections are are a bad thing on a production knife, but they seem to be ok on a custom? Again, to each his own.
Click to expand...

Well, one might be less inclined to expect "imperfections" when several hundred or even thousand identical copies of a specific knife are made by machines compared to a "work of art" that is individually made by hand...for me, a production knife is a tool and I EXPECT it to be perfect...to me, a custom knife is much more than a tool...imperfections are "character"...of course, I am not talking about FLAWS, rather I am referring to the imperceptible (I read that Reeve "improved" the tolerances of the Sebenza by 20 thousandths of an inch one year...can ANYONE see that??????)

Originally posted by Paul Work


I'll take this time to wish everyone a happy, healthy, and safe New Year.:)
Click to expand...

Yes, Happy New Year everyone!

RL
 
Hoss,

Thanks for the history on my Mayo re-finished small Sebenza. Small world... Copfish sold me my first CRK (an Umfaan, now long gone...) when I had about 10 posts.... The sale of the Mayo finished Sebenza caused me to call Tom to check up on you and the knife you were selling, and started my jones for a TNT... (Tom may owe you a commission for the knives I've bought since the introduction...:))


one2gofst,

I don't know if there is an EXACT size to any of Tom's knives!! The LARGE TNTs listed on his site are 8.625": My LARGE TNT is 8.75". There are also two MEDIUM TNTs listed on his site. One MEDIUM is 7.375" and one is 7.125" OAL (I bought the 7.125" one... because that is what I wanted...:) ). I think his knives fall into a general "range". When he stops making each one by hand and they all come out exactly the same size, we will all have to wonder if he has finally gotten a CNC....:D

Check out his SALE page for sizes:

http://www.mayoknives.com/sale.htm

Michael
 
I think a lot depends on what you are looking for in a knife as to what is acceptable. I've had a few custom knives by some of the top tactical makers out there. I liked each one of them but it seemed like I would always end up finding something that I didn't like. It was usually just a minor thing; it may be with the lock, bladeplay, or just something that took the "luster" off the knife for me. I finally figured out that what I was looking for all along was PERFECTION! I no longer own any customs, but do have several Sebenza's and would like to add more. I have yet to find a flaw in the knife that Chris Reeve pioneered many years ago.

I am not knocking custom makers. I just decided that a 100% perfect folding knife was what I wanted and now, with the Sebenza, I have it.

BTW, I have not owned any of Tom's knives, and can't remember hearing or reading ANYTHING negative about them, so they must be right at the top.

Remember, this is one man's opinion; yours may differ! And opinions are like bellybuttons, and mine ain't got no fuzz!:D ;) :D
 
That is one thing I like about all the forums I belong to. The only thing greater than the variety of opinions and tastes here, are the variety of blades from which we have to choose:D.

I am grateful for both.:)


BUT I DO LOVE MY TNT'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!:cool: :D :cool: :D :cool: :D :cool:
 
I like the TNT a lot better than either Sebenza. For me, the big Sebenza blade is too wide for all the small utility chores I like a knife to be good at, and on the small Seb, the handle is too small and rectangular to give optimum leverage to use that sweet blade. The medium TNT has just a little more handle than the small Seb, and it feels better in the hand. Tom contours his handles, and they feel lighter too. I vastly prefer the satin finish on the TNT to the stone washed sebenza blade finish. I sold off my two small Sebenzas 'cuz I just didn't like them, well made as they were. I love my medium TNT.
 
Lets see...now that a made a diplomatic post...

I prefer the fact that you can get a TNT with flat slabs OR radiused ones.
I prefer the fact there are more sizes of the TNT available.
I prefer Talonite over...any other blade material, in a folder.
I prefer the more ergonomic shape of the TNT handles.
I prefer the fact that you can actually get different handle shapes.
I prefer the fact that you can get different blade shapes.
I prefer the fact that the TNT seems to have a smoother action.
I prefer the oval hole in the blade as opposed to thumbs studs.
I prefer the fact that you CAN get either of the above if you choose to.
I prefer tip-down carry.
I prefer a handmade {sometimes custom} knife due to the fact that it is just that.This gives the knife an undeniable, intangible quality. Some call it the Soul of the knife.


I prefer the TNT...Period.

It is MY holy grail of folders.

Before I came across the TNT, I spent just over a year on the forums, doing A LOT of buying, selling, and trading. I was constantly searching for a folder that would suit my every need{folder-wise}. I knew it had to be out there. As my search progressed, my tastes evolved, and I was willing to spend more on each knife as things progressed in my quest. I was VERY fickle. I honestly probably went through 100 good quality folders in about 14 months [both on the net and locally].Often, I could not even put my finger on what it was I did not like about a particular folder. Near the end of my quest was the sebbie. I had about 5 over a period of several months.Even a "Custom" with my initials on it. Inevitably, I would grow tired of them, part with them, then get another after the realization that it was as close to perfection as I had found.I had just acquired another sebbie, a lefty, when I read a post about sebbies in which Tom Mayo posted he liked them, even took them in on trades! I was not that familiar with the TNT.But I had really been wanting a Talonite folder. I went to his site and he had one available for sale!! I proceeded to work a trade {he took my new sebbie w/cash}and that was it!

It was definitely easier for me to go from a sebbie to the more costly TNT because I had already owned a number of sebbies and knew there was still something missing for me.

I think for some {including myself} it is a natural progression. As time passes and tastes evolve, you are increasingly willing to make larger expenditures for each knife.

There will forever be ______ vs. ______ threads. We all have our own opinions as to which is better.

For me, I'm fine with whatever is chosen buy the posters of these threads. Because if they do not choose a TNT at present, that's fine. More than likely they will in the future. It's the natural progression of things.

Well...I sure was long winded was'nt I!!

Just my opinion:).And now we all know how I got started on the TNT, whether you wanted to or not:D.
 
..........you are a Mayonite, with a severe case of mayonitis!;) Don't think I've forgotten you singing Tom's praises at the Blade Show.:D

But I agree that as long as there are knives there will be this vs. that. Not a bad thing either, as everyone with one of the knives in question will readily sing that knives attributes and we all become a bit more knowledgable.

Bottom line is that both are great knives and with either you have the the finest examples of semi-production frame locks and custom framelocks! But as a great prophet once said " As for me and my house we will have the Sebenza" or something to that effect!:D ;)

BTW, you getting any snow down in Ole Miss today? Box some up and send it down to Tom so he can see what he is missing.
 
How would a Mission MPF folder compare in strength/cutting abilities to these two? The price is in that range, as is the frame-lock right? Does anyone own two or even all three of these?

JC
 
What problem Art...I don't have a problem!!

I can stop anytime I want!!:D

I CAN!!!

Really...well, I think...:D :p :cool: :p :D

As to Mission knives, they were not in the original choices, but I am not qualified to speak of their folders, never owned one.Actually that knife has never appealed to me, but they appear to be quite nice:)
 
Well Russ, you are better with words than I am.:) Hopefully I will get to handle a TnT someday. Until then, I'm perfectly happy with my Sebenza.
Bottom line here is get and carry what suits YOU the best. There's a hell of a lot of great knives out there.
I wish my Umfaan would hurry up and get here...

Paul
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top