What's the story behind Regular Sebenza w. "Mayo holes" ??

[kidcongo]

I love the fact that some people actually think the holes are what adds the most value to Tom's knives. I suppose those same people look at a talon hole in a Busse and figure that's where the real value in Busse knives lies.

Oh well. What are you going to do . . .

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...o-knives-so-expensive?p=13259531#post13259531

Hey bld522, I'm not sure that's fair comment to the detractors here. We are not discussing the value of a Tom Mayo knife, we are talking about a Chris Reeve knife that Mayo drilled holes in. In the case of a Mayo knife, the holes are part of his vision, and the value is attached to the entire Mayo knife based on you liking the Mayo design and workmanship.

In the case of this thread, we are having a pretty honest and respectful discussion of whether Mayo holes add or detract value from a Chris Reeve product, not a Mayo product.

I know there's a lot of talk of some custom tuning to the Sebenzas by Mayo, but let's face it, other than drilling the slab holes, and the changes to the blade (sharpening and polished flats?), what can you really do to a Sebenza? The Sebenza is a very, very simple mechanism. He could polish the washers, but the pivot itself cannot be sanded or reduced in size without introducing blade play. In the case of the lock face, I don't want Mayo, Loveless, Gayle Bradley, Jim Bowie or even Jesus adjusting that......

Anyways, my best guess, and personal opinion, is that taking a mint Large Regular, in 2015, and sending it to Tom Mayo to have a 'Minute of Angle' pattern drilled in the slabs instantly devalues that knife by hundreds of dollars. I believe collectors hold pristeen examples of the older CRK work in higher regard than the simple drill-hole mods done by Mayo. I personally would not send any CRK regular to him to have it perforated to add monetary value. It wouldn't from what I see.

Interesting discussion everyone! Nice to have something to chat about.

 

[bld522]

Any design can be improved upon if you've got the skill and the desire to do it . . . particularly in the hands of a master craftsman like Tom Mayo. But if you don't already know that, nothing I say is going to convince you.

For my part, I'll leave it right here:

". . . it's a Mayo thing, you wouldn't understand . . . "

 

[Lone_Wolfe]

I love the fact that some people actually think the holes are what adds the most value to Tom's knives. I suppose those same people look at a Busse and figure the talon hole is where the real value in Busse knives lies.

Oh well. What are you going to do?

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...o-knives-so-expensive?p=13259531#post13259531

I don't think anyone is denying that he tuned the knives, along with adding the holes. But if someone doesn't like the added holes, they're probably not going to want the knife even with the fine-tuning.

 

[bld522]

No doubt about that. No doubt at all. The Busse choil springs to mind . . .

For my purposes, lightening up a Large Sebenza is a wonderful idea. In fact, the only Large Sebenza I'd be willing to carry is the KACF 21 . . . and possibly a Large Mayo if I were able to get my hands on one.

 

[Bluecoffee31]

Tom Mayo is one of the finest custom makers out there. It's his fit and finish is what sets him apart from any other knife maker. Besides the hole patterns he does, it's the sliding glass action that you get w a mayo is unlike anything else.

Forget the holes!!

I'd like to see a covert conversion kit for the large sebenza!!!

My goodness I would love to have a dream sebenza with 6k blade and covert hardware!!!!

Who's w me

 

[bld522]

Dream on, my friend.

 

[Ken44]

I love the fact that some people actually think the holes are what adds the most value to Tom's knives. I suppose those same people look at a Busse and figure the talon hole is where the real value in Busse knives lies.

Oh well. What are you going to do?

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...o-knives-so-expensive?p=13259531#post13259531

I don't think anyone is denying that he tuned the knives, along with adding the holes. But if someone doesn't like the added holes, they're probably not going to want the knife even with the fine-tuning.

Exactly, LW.

 

[bld522]

I just love it when we all agree to agree!

 

[Peter Hartwig]

Found this quote by DaveH-He also said the process had cost about $85

"Besides the holes, the scales are colorized, hard to tell in the pix but they are kind of a blued gray.

There dual different thumb studs, handles relieved on the lock side. Mayo edge, and probably most importantly he does some kinda magic on the action and lock, probably 2X more smooth."

This was posted sometime in 2005(I didn't note the exact date) and Mr. Mayo had already stoped doing Sebenza modifications, so the earlier poster's(this thread) estimate that he stopped in 2004 sounds pretty close if not totally correct.

 

[James Longstreet]

I love the fact that some people actually think the holes are what adds the most value to Tom's knives. I suppose those same people look at a Busse and figure the talon hole is where the real value in Busse knives lies.

Oh well. What are you going to do?

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...o-knives-so-expensive?p=13259531#post13259531

I think Cody did already a good reply on this statement. This provocant reduction of other peoples opinion to a minimum as such above means in other words that we are not able to appreciate the work of Mr. Mayo and that is simply not correct. During this discussion it was never a point whether Mr. Mayo is an excellent knife maker, craftsman whatsoever or not. Even my introduction was meant as a joke and not as a disrespect of Mr. Mayo.

Some of us were just addressing that holes in the slab - PARTICULARELY AT THEIR SEBENZA - is not their cup of tea. Turning the discussion into a direction of "its not about the holes, its about the complete re-finish as a package" doesnt change anything. I am pretty sure that not a single CR collector would pay an extra dollar for a pimped Sebenza with some handrubbed blade and extra thumb pin, done by Mr. Mayo. Its all about the holes because that is his signature. Some like them on a Sebenza. Some don't. It is as simple as that.

 

[unit]

There is a certain irony here in that a well respected knife maker modified CRKs and the work is being deemed a devaluation by the same person that defended the work of a virtual unknown that was very poor quality work (visible chatter marks, etc.)

The bottom line is, people like what they like and value is up to the buyer/collector...stick with that and we can all agree

 

[Bluecoffee31]

I am pretty sure that not a single CR collector would pay an extra dollar for a pimped Sebenza with some handrubbed blade and extra thumb pin, done by Mr. Mayo. Its all about the holes because that is his signature. Some like them on a Sebenza. Some don't. It is as simple as that.

I am pretty sure there are several people who would pay a extra dollar or two for a mayonized sebenza!

 

[ice_man]

I am pretty sure there are several people who would pay a extra dollar or two for a mayonized sebenza!

I'd probably pay the actual market price of the said Sebenza at this current moment + the cost of shipping + what Mr. Mayo charged for the custom job...

 

[Ken44]

I am pretty sure there are several people who would pay a extra dollar or two for a mayonized sebenza!

James meant one that had been done by him, but without the holes.
Wasn't sure if you knew that.

Or at least I think that's what he meant

 

[James Longstreet]

Exactly. Thanks. I was trying to say that the holes are his signature. So a Sebenza "just" with the mentioned adjustments, but without the holes is probably not that attractive. But this is just my guess.

 

[bld522]

Its all about the holes because that is his signature. Some like them on a Sebenza. Some don't. It is as simple as that.

OK. I guess agreeing twice wasn't enough, so once more for the record . . . I agree! If you don't like the holes, don't buy the knife . . . assuming you ever have an opportunity to buy one, that is. But if you do see one come up for sale, please PM me and let me know. Thanks.

 

[blade man]

I'd probably pay the actual market price of the said Sebenza at this current moment + the cost of shipping + what Mr. Mayo charged for the custom job...

Ha! I think it's also interesting that people are debating this when most have never held a Mayo modded Sebenza to know if there's any difference or improvement.

Myself, I can take them or leave them, but the two I handled were smooooooth. I'm guessing most sebenza owners would love theirs to feel the same. 😉

 

[sgbeskin]

I had a large Mayo Sebenza. I lost it, with just about everything else during Hurricane Katrina. It was a lot smoother than a stock Sebenza. Also, the lockbar was easier to disengage. I ended up getting a small Regular after everything settled. But I still miss my old Mayonized Sebenza!!

 

[red mag]

@ sgbeskin: I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[brownshoe]

I think a $85 tune up, sharpening, extra thummlugs by Mayo is great. A knife tuned by Mayo w/o holes is still the product of a master.