Buck Mayo TNT vs. Bradley Alias 2

euroross

euroross

Joined
May 19, 2008
Messages
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Im trying to decide between these two Titanium frame locks for use as a EDC. I cant decide. Any thoughts or coments would be great!:)
 
I'd buy the Buck myself. Lower enough sticker price that it makes a difference and smidge longer blade and good looking. The Alias does have that cool "Alias look" though. What Nutnfancy calls the "2nd kind of cool." :D
 
Hmm that is a very tough decision! I have both and would have a hard time choosing between the two. If I could only pick one I'd probably pick the Alias 2 based SOLELY on the size. Both knives have very strong framelocks and handles that fit my hand very well. I do like the framelock on the TNT a bit better because it starts all the way down the handle and the cutout is smaller. However I like the blade on the Alias better because it has a nice useable point, an awesome flat grind and a killer swedge. I like the fact that you can put the clip either tip up or tip down on the Alias whereas the TNT is only tip down. You can fix that easily though by drilling and tapping a couple holes. I like the crowned tang on the TNT, it just looks and feels cool. I think the fit and finish is a little better on the TNT as the Alias had some mill marks on the edges of the titanium but I sanded the edges and made them a nice satin finish. I like the steel on the TNT a bit better as it has a Bo's heat treat, not that the Bradley's S30v is any slouch either. I don't know... Its your choice bro and a very hard one at that. But I can say with utmost confidence that you will love either one and as long as its not abused either will probably outlast you.

Also I haven't really looked since I bought mine but I think both are kind of hard to find. The Buck TNT has been discontinued and, last I checked, they hadn't made a run of Alias' in a looonnnng time. I think theres a TNT on the Buck exchange now but Alias' hardly ever come up on the exchange.
 
I know that the Buck is out of production but I can still find them, the Bradley is being made again. I called Bradley Cutlery and spoke to someone and they said that in a few weeks they expect alot more from Benchmade. Tuff call, I cant afford both.
 
Honestly, if you are thinking about the bradley... wait and get the sebenza. until then get the TNT. I have a sebenza and still want the tnt. if you get the alias and then the sebenza though you will regret it
 
I love and I mean love my TNT. GPKNIVES has one, I was there last week and saw it. Light, super laser sharp, Mayo design so close to the original it ain't funny. One of the best Buck knives EVER made. Chuck Buck carries one which says alot. Very high quality for a production knife. That be my choice in a heartbeat.
 
I just want to mention that in your research you may find that some people knock the Alias because they say its a sebenza look alike and you should just save another couple hundred and get a Sebenza. However just because it looks similar to the sebbie doesn't mean that its a knockoff and that it is any less quality than any of the other production Ti framelocks in that price range. I actually really like mine and don't ever plan on selling or trading it, and thats not something I can say for hardly any of the knives I have bought. But as I said before, I'm sure you will be happy with either one. Let us know what you choose.
 
This has been one of the hardest knife decisions I think I have to make in awhile. I have played with a TNT but have never seen a Bradley. I did however see a Sebenza once, and it was worth every penny Im sure. But I can have my choice for one or the other at less than $180.
 
Good luck finding the Alias in the Ti version as I do not think they are being made anymore. Might find some old stock or on the secondary market.
 
If you have trouble finding a Buck 172 Mayo TNT, consider the newer - and still in production - Buck 347 Vantage Pro. It's S30V blade is similar in size to the one with the TNT, but includes a flipper nub for easier deployment. It has SS liners and contoured G10 scales. It's liner lock is effective, but the TNT's frame lock seems more assuring, but that could be my bias. In any case, I have seen it at <$50 in chain sporting goods stores - a veritable bargain.

IMG_4128.jpg


I suggest the 347 as a possibility, saving the extra money, perhaps, to put towards a Sebenza. The TNT is super nice - I love mine - but I had to look for it for a Christmas present, as they had become scarce by then. Also, I seldom think twice about carrying the 347 Vantage Pro - or using it. That TNT, like my BM Skirmish family, is too nice for some jobs! I've cut boxes, water hose, food, etc with the Vantage Pro. Yeah, I'm one of those guys - I carry a 'good' knife as a user - and a 'really good' knife mostly as a looker.

Stainz
 
The Vantage pro is a nice knife, the only thing I do not like about it is the thin liner lock. Otherwise it is a great knife for the money and carries very well.
 
Nathan Ihrke said:
Honestly, if you are thinking about the bradley... wait and get the sebenza. until then get the TNT. I have a sebenza and still want the tnt. if you get the alias and then the sebenza though you will regret it
Click to expand...

I'll second this thought (except for the regret part. The alias 2 will resell easily enough)

Out of the Alias 2, small sebbie & tnt, I had the Alias 2 first & then quickly picked up a small reg sebenza. Although I did like the alias 2, it really served no purpose after I got the sebbie. I did not find them to complimentary to each other.

My tnt came into my possession quite a few months later. For my purposes, it definitely serves a role in my rotation. It has a much different feel than the other two knives. It's not "better" than the Alias 2, just rather different in terms of carry & blade geometry. It's blade thickness is much thinner than that of the small sebenza or alias 2.

my $0.02
-Scooby
 
scoobyaz said:
I'll second this thought (except for the regret part. The alias 2 will resell easily enough)

Out of the Alias 2, small sebbie & tnt, I had the Alias 2 first & then quickly picked up a small reg sebenza. Although I did like the alias 2, it really served no purpose after I got the sebbie. I did not find them to complimentary to each other.

My tnt came into my possession quite a few months later. For my purposes, it definitely serves a role in my rotation. It has a much different feel than the other two knives. It's not "better" than the Alias 2, just rather different in terms of carry & blade geometry. It's blade thickness is much thinner than that of the small sebenza or alias 2.

my $0.02
-Scooby
Click to expand...

I was a bit bored this morning and so decided to use a micrometer and mic nearly all of my knife blades. I recorded stock thickness and edge thickness for each. I measured edge thickness by measuring it directly behind the edge bevel so the actual edge had nothing to do with it. I found two things of interest when I compared the blade geometry of both the Bradley Alias 1 and the Buck TNT.

First both blades have a distal taper aka both of the knives thickest point is right above the handle and then they slowly taper down and are thinest near the point.

Second the Alias turned out to be to have a thinner edge geometry (so in theory should be the better slicer). Note that I measured the Alias 1 as that is the model I own, the Alias 2 may have the same blade thickness or even a little bit thinner, probably the same.

Here are my measurements.
Bradley Alias 1:
Blade thickness~
Just above handle: .124" halfway point: .098" Just before tip: .024"
Edge thickness: .017"

Buck TNT:
Blade thickness~
Just above handle: .120" halfway point: .104" Just before tip: .037"
Edge thickness: .020"

Hypothesis: The Bradley Alias with its flat grind and faster taper with thinner edge is the better slicer. They do however both slice very well.

I hope this helps in your research.
 
I prefer the Alias II. I've handled the Buck, Sebenza and Alias, the Alias just felt better in the hand.
 
The Alias II is a kick ass knife. If you find one, I recommend it without reservation. Regardless of whether you want a sebenza down the line, there is really no need to compare them. The Alias stands on its own. I have the alias II and the large seb, and I like them both.
 
Personally, I like the Bradley Alias II better, but that's mainly because I prefer tip-up & you have a choice with the Alias, but not on the TNT.
 
I'd go with the Bradley Alias. I once had someone trade a Sebenza even up for an Alias 1.
 
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