Mayo

[Kohai999]

HAHA...if its a apples to apples comparison please do give us reasons for your statements....leaving us hanging is so nutless! BTW, Tom and I are really good friends and I have nothing but good things to say about his work..if you want to learn more about the XM-18 and what it can do as a tactical folder go to my website and look at the tests I've put it through...including using it as a throwing knife...anyway, I really dont need to post hear to defend my work..I just thought your statement was amusing..

Rick

Ok, "Mr I dont need to post hear to defend my work"

1. Blade to handle ratio on every knive that I have handled by you has suffered. In other words, too much handle, not enough blade.
2. Tom's knives have a very "organic" feel. They may indeed be "gray turds", but they "feel" right in the hand. Hinderer knives by comparison feel blocky and uncomfortable.
3. FinishTom hand satin finishes his blades, you do some degree of belt satin which is more difficult to maintain, and less time intensive to produce.

These are just three glaring examples to me. I know that a lot of people love your work, and that is good for them/good for you. I am not trying to drive a wedge between your friendship with Tom. Tom is friends with a great many people, and he is a super dude. This subject came up, and I ran with it. You can say whatever you want, but it appears that I hurt your feelings. That was not my intent. We can talk about it face to face in Huntington Beach. Maybe you can bring a replacement adjustment wrench for my kubaton at that point.

Best Regards,

Steven Garsson

 

[Rhind64]

HAHA I never said I was the greatest at spelling I guess what I ment was that other people who own my knives posted about them...but anyway yes, please do stop by the table at the Huntington Beach show,and I would love to discuss knives with you and anyone else who stops by..and I will have those wrenches.
Not to hijack runger's thread, which I dont think I am because he did order a XM-18 from me. But I would like to address a couple of your observations about my knives, and I really am glad you brought them up because its something I wanted to talk about on my work that I really have never had a chance to before...

1)nothing to say about this one except that this is a perception thing..some people think so and some dont ...

2)hhmmm, not as ergonomic?..again, I can say that mine are all day long, but I think it better that my customers that have them say....for instance the Gen II Flame and the XM-18 have a few curves in them

3)..This is what I really wanted to address...yes, Tom hand rubs each blade,and they look great..$600.00...I machine satin some of mine, blast others,and even hand rub the flats on others..XM-18 price $385.00..Thats the difference..I CAN hand rub my blades and I have ( I made art knives for 13 years)..but I choose not to on these because I want people to be able to afford them and use them! You just cant hand rub a blade and be able to sell them at a machine satin price...does it diminish the working value of a blade (ie, ability to cut, strength, and so forth) NO..The knives I am making now are made to be used and used by a lot more people due to the lower cost...I was able to lower the cost by not doing the things that only pretty up the knife...if you want a knife by me with the hand rubbed blade, I can do that,but it will cost more...maybe the best way to sum up Tom's way of making knives and mine is that it truely is apples and oranges...we make a totally different knife...and no way something like this would ever come in between Tom and I's friendship..this is just a little difference of opinion,Tom and I's friendship is more than that.
Looking forward to seeing you in a few months!

Rick

 

[T.K.C.]

Rick: Nice picture of you, Tom Mayo, and Ken Onion!! Rick's knives are wicked tough!! If I needed to, I KNOW that I could rely on it with my very life! Yes, I trust Rick's work that much!! I also happen to be a a Mayo fan. I have NOT been able to afford one of his knives. I DO have a Buck/Mayo TNT that I love. BUT, I DO want a Mayo; TMX, TNT, Dr. Death......

 

[xuesheng]

Some comments on two of my favorite custom makers. It appears that the purpose of the original post is now moot so I don't feel like a hijacker, too much...
I own two Hinderer spearpoint Firetacs and two Mayo TNTs, medium, and large Timascus, currently (I've owned a Dr. Death and Gen 2 Flame as well) . My impression is that the feel of the knives is very different. Their actions feel like oil and butter, respectively, to me. I think both make fabulous "user" knives and I carry them all. All have great edges and lock up. They are stylistically different. For lack of a better word, Tom's seem a bit more elegant and restrained and Rick's a bit more rustic and funky (in the best sense of the words). Both handle chores equally well. I probably carry the medium TNT the most simply because it's the lowest profile of the four and I like the thumb hole.
I'd also like to comment on the comparison points Steven brought up:
1. Blade/handle ratio - The Firetacs have always felt to me like they had more blade/handle than the TNT's so I'm about to measure them... drum roll....
Firetacs - Blade 3.5625" / Handle 4.750" Ratio = 0.750
Medium TNT - 3.125 / 4.1875 = 0.746
Large TNT - 3.75 / 4.75 = 0.789
Pretty damn close except the large TNT's a bit more bladey
2. They all feel extremely comfortable in my hand - could anything be more subjective?
3. Each maker chooses their preferred finish for their spec knives and most will do whatever finish you ask for if you're lucky enough to be on their list. A machined finished knife costs less than a hand finished knife but you can make more and do so faster. It doesn't look as nice (depending on the makers skill of course) yet functions identically.
IMO the differences in the makers' work is much more significant from a stylistic point of view than a functional or quality point of view. I'd be hard pressed to say one is "better" than the other.
You guys are both at the top of the custom tactical folder food chain IMO!!! Oh, and BTW, for those of you who haven't had the pleasure, both stand behind their products 100%. I once asked Tom for help with a TNT and he took care of it for nothing but shipping costs for me (and I hadn't even bought the knife from him directly!). I once contacted Rick about a Firetac issue and he generously offered to do the same. I can't say that about all makers. Thanks guys!!!
PS Have I kissed enough butt to get on your lists guys???
Just kidding LOL
PSS I don't have an Onion yet but it would be fun to compare all three - maybe one day...

 

[Megalobyte]

Well, all I can say is that I am a huge fan of Tom's, have long felt he makes about the finest, most precise tactical/utility folder available, but, I would also add that I look forward to one day picking up a large Tanto Firetac with CF inlays, since I have heard nothing but great things about Rick's work.

I should be in politics.

But seriously, having sold off most of my tactical/utility knives in favor of fancier stuff, when it came down to my TnT's, I just couldn't part with them. :thumbup:

 

[severedthumbs]

Please let us know which knives you consider to be superior. Making a statement like that serves no purpose whatsoever. I'm not saying there aren't knives better than the TNT, but if you are going to make a statement like that, back it up with examples.

one example, any Blackwood folder.

 

[severedthumbs]

I made a direct apples to apples comparision of two knives being discussed. If you have a differering opinion, than highjack this thread, or start a new one.

Just don't leave it dangle though, that is so nutless.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

Wrong, you made a comparision to ALL other tactical knives. It appears you attempted to hijack this thread with this quote and I just replied to it, I quote

I can confidently say that Tom is at the top of the food chain with the TNT's in the tactical market, with a few peers, but no superiors.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[LaBella]

severedthumbs, play nice!