Are Al Mar knives worth the cash?

[Akapennypincher]

I think the one area the company is lacking in is customers servicer. I had sent a e-mail to the HQ I believe it was in Oregon, or Washington State. Took also 8 weeks to get a reply, that was a turn off to me personally.

Think a great products, needs a a very minimum to be back with good customer service

 

[Czechmate]

Worth every penny. Fit, finish, lock up all top shelf.

Yep, this ^^^

I have a SERE 2K folder and it's custom knife quality... :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Also have owned two ultralight eagles and they were awesome too FWIW.

 

[larrybar]

It is definitely worth it to get one and then decide for yourself. I found a good deal on a Falcon Ultralight ($89) and am very happy with the purchase. I happen to like AUS-8 for EDC and gentleman's carry knives, so the steel is not an issue for me. I have a PM2 and a S110V Manix 2 LW if I need them. The Al Mar looks a lot like a traditional folder with all the modern innovations. It's a very beautiful, classy folder. Something my grandfather would have carried on Sunday, if he ever let his Stockman out of his pocket.

 

[craytab]

My goodness. Where the hell is antdog to post pics of his well used sere?

 

[Sonnemann]

The blue Eagle in ZDP is the only one-handed modern knife I have kept after selling off everything else. I have had vintage and new production Al Mar and they are all top notch.

 

[AntDog]

My goodness. Where the hell is antdog to post pics of his well used sere?

Lmao! You know me too well my friend! I haven't been on as much lately as tapatalk has been giving me issues...

OP: Yes, Al Mar knives are worth the money. If you hang on to one long enough, they develop a stunning amount of character. I think mine just looks better as it ages:

 

[Czechmate]

Haha, that's awesome! ^^^

Then there's mine; it's just sitting in the box looking purty... Too many users in rotation already to muck up this beaut.

 

[Bigbluefish]

I like them. I have an Eagle HD in AUS-8 with the black G10 scales. Fit and finish is excellent, lock up is bank-vault solid, and the blade came scary sharp from the dealer. I also had a Eagle Classic, and it was beautiful and all respects a fine knife. I'm hoping to pick up a Nomad to add to my EDC knives and I'd say, yes, I think Al Mars are worth the money.

 

[craytab]

Lmao! You know me too well my friend! I haven't been on as much lately as tapatalk has been giving me issues...

OP: Yes, Al Mar knives are worth the money. If you hang on to one long enough, they develop a stunning amount of character. I think mine just looks better as it ages:

Damn that thing makes me want to get into one. Side note, tapatalk or whatever never worked well for me. I just use BFC on my phone as a normal website.

 

[AntDog]

I would try that, but, errrrmm, my phone is, um, less than optimal? I guess I'll go with that. It sounds so much nicer than "a piece of crap".

It's hard enough to read stuff on tapatalk, and when I try to view it as a regular website I hate the navigation - having to swipe around and zoom in and out, and on a (relatively) small screen... It just makes it prohibitively difficult.

Just to add some content to the thread, I like Al Mar knives so much I bought the T-shirt:



Oh, and you should try a Sere 2K out if you are at all curious. They are definitely worth it. I have owned lots of "tough EDC folders" and this is the one that just couldn't be knocked out of my pocket.

 

[Indiana Joe]

Upon Mercop's recommendation years ago, I bought a new VG-10 SERE 2K folder for, I think $135 and it's been outstanding -- like buying a quality custom knife; it has been worth every penny. The deep pocket clip, solid lock up, amazing fit & finish -- everything about the knife is simply head-and-shoulders above other production knives at higher price points.

 

[cali]

Worth the money... it depends Al Mar knives are definitely top quality (hand finished I suppose), but terrible customer support is the reason that I would not recommend it to everybody.

 

[Doubletee]

Got my Eagle in ZDP-189 in yesterday!:thumbup: the closer you look the more you realize how well it's made. Fit and finish are really first class! I've heard and read for awhile how bad customer service is so I sure hope there is no issues with it!!? I have an Endura and a Stretch in ZDP and it took awhile to get them up to snuff on being really sharp but this Eagle really took some work!!! Of course I did a little re profiling so took that into account also. So far seems like a really great knife and the guys at "Cutlery Shoppe" got it here in Texas In a short time to:thumbuprdered on Wed got a shipped confirmation in about an hour and it was in my box by Fri. !!!! Fantastic service!!!

 

[ginky]

I have 5 Al mar knives: a fixed blade back-up; a lightweight Falcon; an Osprey (too cute); an SLB; and a Mini Sere 2000.The first three mentioned are safe queens. I really like the SLB and, if I felt I need a second knife, I used to carry it often. The only problem is that the blade seems to want to open if the pocket clip is used. I can assure you an open blade in the pocket cuts flesh quite cleanly. If you carry an SLB I recommend clipping it in your jean's watch pocket or carrying it w/o the clip. I've just gone to a Spyderco Dogtag as a back-up.

The mini SERE is incredible. The fit and finish is impeccable; the VG-10 blade is frighteningly sharp; and I absolutely guarantee than the sound the liner lock makes when it locks is addictive. The only production knives I can compare it to are the Spyderco Taiwanese knives. As close to a custom made knife as possible. The only cons are the fact that it is very difficult to flip open, and, although I love the pocket clip and how low the knife rides, it can be a little rough on the pocket. I really like this knife. The only ones that get more pocket time are my Surefire Dart, and especially my Emerson Mini A-100. For very different reasons, every knife guy should have at least one Al Mar and one Emerson

 

[ragnerok]

I am a huge fan of most of Al Mar fixed blades, but be advised a few of them have handle designs that I consider completely non-ergonomic, most notably this deceptively proportioned 6 3/4" SOG blade, whose handle is bad to the point of making the knife totally unuseable imho, even for someone with giant hands: The first time I have come accross such an extreme and unusual handle issue:

This one has a significant handle design problem as well, just not as bad, and is less deceptive if you look at the depth of the handle near the guard (Al Mar Pathfinders have a similar issue apparently):

I have the large Special Warfare, and this also does have a strangely oversized handle, but here in that case the handle feels quite right, and the knife is probably the best fixed blade I have ever owned, and I have had most of them:

The extremely large handle (an incredible 5.6 inch long guard not included, just the wood part) is actually mostly large in length, and its size seems to enhance the grip for me, while allowing an extreme rearward grip that is still secure, due to the shape.

The best designed dagger I have seen is probably the Al Mar Shadow IV, but one side of the center grinds were badly off-centered on mine (very badly), even though it was one of the mirror-polished first 200 run. Despite this, the mirror finish still ranks in my mind as one of the most incredible I have ever seen, just very flawed in shape. The finish on the Special Warfare is a beautifully smooth satin, and the best such finish of any knife I have ever owned... Blade finishes on Al Mars are really second to none.

The Eagle sheaths they typically come in will never scratch those blades even after 25 years, which is unique to those "fuzzy inside" Eagle sheath inserts: Unlike Spec-Ops, the inserts are custom-made to fit tightly each Al Mar blade designs, and these sheaths generally are one of the true highlights of these knives: Even the leather ones often display an exceptional attention to detail, appearance and function (but often not quite as good as the Eagle nylon sheaths) and, barring exceptions, Al Mar is in my opinion the premier maker to look at for sheath-knife interaction. One that leaves the blades rattle-free yet scratch-free, even after decades...

Gaston

I`m a huge fan of Al Mar knives, specially the fixed blade ones, like the 4003 (dont remember its name, Utility?), sharpest knife i ever had. BTW, whats the name of the knife in your pic., the one next to the Sidekick?

4003:

 

[lreed]

The blue Eagle in ZDP is the only one-handed modern knife I have kept after selling off everything else. I have had vintage and new production Al Mar and they are all top notch.

Sonnemann, I have seen a few pictures of the blue eagle, and I am confused about the color:

which one appears to be more true to you?


I also bought a earth brown zdp eagle but the action was super tight and the edge wasn't shaving sharp like my other Al Mar (sere 2000). Some folks said it's because the edge profile is kind of steep. Do you find the same with yours?

Thanks!

 

[Sonnemann]

Sonnemann, I have seen a few pictures of the blue eagle, and I am confused about the color...I also bought a earth brown zdp eagle but the action was super tight and the edge wasn't shaving sharp like my other Al Mar (sere 2000). Some folks said it's because the edge profile is kind of steep. Do you find the same with yours?

Thanks!

The first, darker color is more true to life. The edge angle is indeed rather steep; the bayonet/dagger grind nature of the knife and its very thin height do not lend it to be the best slicing edge compared to say the FFG Eagles. So, I had to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon reprofiling the ZDP which was not so much fun without diamonds. But let me tell you, it was worth it putting a slightly wider, thinner bevel (18 dps) on the knife. The HT they have on that steel must be spot on because it is hard as anything I have encountered.

 

[lreed]

The first, darker color is more true to life. The edge angle is indeed rather steep; the bayonet/dagger grind nature of the knife and its very thin height does not lend it to be the best slicing edge compared to say the FFG Eagles. So, I had to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon reprofiling the ZDP which was not so much fun without diamonds. But let me tell you, it was worth it putting a slightly wider, thinner bevel (18 dps) on the knife. The HT they have on that steel must be spot on because it is hard as anything I have encountered.

Thank you very much sir!

 

[Gaston444]

Quote: "I`m a huge fan of Al Mar knives, specially the fixed blade ones, like the 4003 (dont remember its name, Utility?), sharpest knife i ever had. BTW, whats the name of the knife in your pic., the one next to the Sidekick?"

Unfortunately I don't know. I'm always stunned by how many new Al Mar fixed blades I never even knew existed. The "Special Warfare II" was something I had never heard of until I ordered mine...

Gaston

 

[ASBOB]

Let's put it this way:

after my small insigno sebenza, my Mini-Sere is my favorite knife.