Buck Mayo compared to a Sebenza

u812

u812

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Anyone have both?How does the Buck Mayo stand up in quality to the Sebenza.I know it isn't going to be right up there with it but how close for the money does it come?
 
Not really comparable. The real Mayo's obviously do but the Buck just isn't there in the fit and finish and tolerances but this is not saying the Buck Mayo isn't a nice knife because it is, You just can't compare a $180 knife with a $400 knife the standards are just not the same, CRK works hard to make a knife that is perfect in fir and finish, the tolerances the knives are made to are close as any hand fitted knife. Buck is making a considerably lower cost knife and these aspects are not even considered into it at that price range.
 
I've only handled the Buck/Mayo breifly but I would have to agree. It's a nice knife for the money, but just not in the league of the Sebenza.


Oh, and really it should probably be compared to a small regular Sebenza which is more like a $300 knife instead of a $400 one.
 
Thanks.I guess what I am really wondering is that is it better than say a 100.00 Spyderco in fit and finnish.
 
u812 said:
Thanks.I guess what I am really wondering is that is it better than say a 100.00 Spyderco in fit and finnish.
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Well, that's really a different question, isn't it? I find the Buck / Mayo to be a fine knife, not really in the Sebenza's league (no shame there, though, given the significantly lower price), but certainly superior in fit and finish to a $100 Spyderco. I don't own many production knives any more, but the Buck / Mayo is one that I'm keeping. I think Buck really did a nice job with it.
 
Thanks,so it looks like it really is what it is,a knife right in between a high end Spydie or the like and a Sebenza.
 
The Buck Mayo isn't that far behind the Sebenza. I don't own either, but I have handled a couple of Buck Mayos and several Sebenzas, large and small. The Sebenzas are a little smoother with more precise tolerances, but they better be for the price difference. Taste is also something that should be considered - the Sebenza just doesn't do anything for me. I recognize the quality, but it just doesn't talk to me. If given the choice, I would rather carry and use the Buck Mayo. The Mnandi, of course, is a different story, I wouldn't mind having one. And if edgeholding is your primary concern, maybe you should look at the Dozier folders. My father has a small Sebenza, Buck Mayo, and large and small Dozier trappers. He uses them, and says the Doziers are in a whole different league when you are talking edgeholding. When you hold them in your hands they don't shout quality like the Sebenza, but they do what they are supposed to do much better.
 
I only handled one, but I was impressed. Comparing it to a Sebenza is unfair. Compare it to a Benchmade or Spyderco and it comes out looking good. It is sleek and compact enough to serve as a gentleman's knife and strong and sharp enough to do real work. Especially considering that the street price can be very reasonable, I think you'll like it.
 
If you like the Sebenza design, it is the better one. If you like the Buck/Mayo design, it is the better one. Both are great knives.

As for absolute quality, the Sebenza is better. But the design does not do it for me. I have handled the large Sebenza, and I have carried the small Sebenza for a couple of days (borrowed), and I like the Buck better than either Sebenza (I like the small Sebenza more than the large Sebenza). Maybe that's why I carry the Buck as my EDC. That, and the price.

Size-wise, the Buck is almost half way between the small and large Sebenza.
 
I had a BUck/Mayo, my biggest complaints where:

- The little "horns" on the top of the knife, which can be filed off.
- Not much "lip" to catch and unlock with your finger.
- Slag and sharp edges in the thumb hole.

Other than that I have to say it was a very nice knife.
 
I think that you will hear many many various opinions of which knife (Buck Mayo, or Sebenza) suits differnent folks in terms of comfort etc. However, from a pure quality, manufacturing tolerances and machine work and superb manufacturing, the Sebenza is far far nicer. They are priced far apart for very obvious reasons. Both price points have a place in my collection, however.
 
Thinness is one of the differences between these two fine knives. The Buck Mayo is thinner, both in handle thickness and blade(and, maybe sharper) than the Sebenza. What I have seen though, is kind of a hit or miss in the quality control of the Buck Mayo. I looked at several of them at various dealer tables at shows, and some of them were not quite right. I have also seen some that were nicer in fit and finish than some of my Sebbies.
 
In comparing the Sebbie to the Buck Mayo, one difference that I have noticed after sharpening and using several of each is the edge holding. The Buck has outdone the Sebbies that I have used and sharpened.
 
Walt2 said:
In comparing the Sebbie to the Buck Mayo, one difference that I have noticed after sharpening and using several of each is the edge holding. The Buck has outdone the Sebbies that I have used and sharpened.
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the buck mayo has a much thinner edge, and a v-grind, which will make it sharper. the sebenza has a rather thick edge and a convex edge, thereby sacrificing "sharpness".

actually, IMHO, I've not noticed EXCEPTIONAL edgeholding properties in S30V in the field, based on the buck mayo and sebbie.
 
Discussions here center on the out-of-the-box condition between the two knives. Also consider how they fare after being opened and closed hundreds of times over a span of months of using them. You might find disparities between the two getting that much wider.
 
Boink said:
Discussions here center on the out-of-the-box condition between the two knives. Also consider how they fare after being opened and closed hundreds of times over a span of months of using them. You might find disparities between the two getting that much wider.
Click to expand...


Excellent point. Also, after reprofiling my Small Regular Sebbie to the shallowest angle on a Lansky sharpener, it has a very thin and razor sharp edge. Wasn't fun, but it needed to be done. ;) :)
 
I think Buck products are steadily improving, but imo, can't compare the two, really. I've never had trouble with my sebenzas. If you have the money, get the sebenza, if not, the buck is not a bad knife.

Bruce
 
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