Production Buck/Mayo

C

cut finger

Joined
Sep 20, 1999
Messages
178
I just picked up a production Buck/Mayo from Knifecenter the other day. I have not put it through any hard use, but I am very impressed with this knife's level of fit and finish. Having owned a real TNT (I'll never forgive myself for selling it!)I can say with authority that the Buck's finish compares very favorably. I think that the bead blast finish on the Buck/Mayo will be tough like the finish on a TNT by Tom Mayo himself.

This knife also has a killer lockup. I feel no blade play at all. The blade is very well finished and plenty sharp. This is a very light and thin knife that will not drag in one's pocket. By my stanards, this is a medium sized folder, its overall length is around 7 3/8". For comparison, this knife is shade longer overall than my Charles Marlowe Gent's Hunter and is just a bit shorter than my BM 921. It's profile, however, is closer to the 921 than the Marlowe. In other words, this is a pretty slim and light knife, not an overbuilt knife like a Marlowe, Strider, or Obenauf.

The light build of the Buck/Mayo will probably keep Sebenzanistas from regarding this knife as the equal of the Sebenza, however, I think that the Buck/Mayo would be very comparable to a larger Mnandi, if such a knife existed. I really glad that a larger company like Buck is making such a high quality framelock. Buck is providing a cutting edge design and cutting edge materials at 66% of the price of a small Sebenza. I think that this is good. The Sebenza will always have its followers because it is a great knife. The Buck/Mayo, however, will provide lots of knife nuts with a high quality alternative at a much lower price. I just hope that this knife is a success so that Buck will produce an under 3" bladed version and a 3.5 -4" bladed version also.
 
Nice review. The Buck/Mayo is on my short list of must haves.

I am also hoping for a Buck/Mayo with a 3.5" to 4" blade as I find that is my ideal pocket knife size.
 
Thanks Shootist, I wanted to post something about a production Buck/Mayo because there were a number of posts about problems with pre-production Buck/Mayos. As Sebenza people note, the framelock design is much harder to perfect than it would appear, so I'm not surprised that it took a minute for Buck to get the fit right. That said, I think now that they are getting it down, it is great that S30V, titanium framelocks will be made available for under $200!
 
Have to agree, the Buck/Mayo is a really great knife.

I think the frame lock is especially well done, I like the way that it just "smacks" in with authority and then there is no movement of lock or blade at all.
 
The Buck/Mayo knife might be nice but there is no chance of a left hand version so that leaves me out of the market for one. I guess I'll just have to live with my sebbies. If you want something from Tom, send him your sebbie and he will work his magic on it. He did a large left hand model for me and did a wonderful job. And about the price thing, you get what you pay for, end of story.:) ;) :p :cool: :rolleyes: :eek:
 
I do not that think "you get what you pay for" is the end of the story. It is simple economics to state that a larger company with more resources can produce an item of similar quality to one produced by a smaller company with fewer resources for a lower price. Obviously, a more mass produced item will probably lack some of the special touches that a smaller company can easily add and a bigger company's product will not have the same snob appeal, but that does not mean that in the basic areas of lockup and fit and finish that
Buck, Camillus, Schrade or any other larger company could not produce a knife of a value similar to that of the Sebenza for a lower price.

A good example of this would be the Schrade Kious
damascus pen knife. A one off knife with the same features and finish would easily run around $500-$800. The Lone Wolf Tighe Tac, which can be had new for under $240 if one looks, compares very favorably to a custom from Brian Tighe himself. I don't see why titanium framelocks would be any different. As I said earlier, I don't expect true Sebenza lovers to see the Buck/Mayo as an equal. I expect that others, who are not keen Sebenza lovers, will quickly appreciate its value.
 
Well no matter how much I pay I won't get a left hand Buck/Mayo. Most of the time but not always you get what you pay for. Value of course is highly subjective. Strong arguements can be made that Benchmade is a much better value than any Sebenza. I guess that it boils down to get what you like and what you can afford.;) :p
 
I don't own the collaboration knife, but have handled two new ones. One of the sharpest knives out of the box I've ever seen bar none!
 
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