Why are Al Mar knives SO EXPENSIVE?

I have wondered that too...they use AUS6 and AUS8 which is nothing special at all.
 
Part of it is the name. However, they are very high quality knives, similar to Moki (I believe some are made by them). Fit and finish is excellent. Also, they are made in Japan which has has high labor costs and an exchange rate not in our favor.
 
The fit and finish are superb and they are exceptionally sharp...get one and see.
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The same reason Chris Reeve knives are so expensive. Both give you a great deal more than just the materials used. Exceptional fit and finish, very tight tolerances and exquisite attention to detail. My Al Mar is the only lockback I own on which it is just about impossible to tell where the lockbar ends and the tang begins.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
The same reason Chris Reeve knives are so expensive. Both give you a great deal more than just the materials used. Exceptional fit and finish, very tight tolerances and exquisite attention to detail. My Al Mar is the only lockback I own on which it is just about impossible to tell where the lockbar ends and the tang begins.
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show us.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
The same reason Chris Reeve knives are so expensive. Both give you a great deal more than just the materials used. Exceptional fit and finish, very tight tolerances and exquisite attention to detail. My Al Mar is the only lockback I own on which it is just about impossible to tell where the lockbar ends and the tang begins.
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MOKI knives in japan sure knows how to make lockbacks. It's that same on the spyderco caly 3. I'm pretty sure both were made by moki.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
The same reason Chris Reeve knives are so expensive. Both give you a great deal more than just the materials used. Exceptional fit and finish, very tight tolerances and exquisite attention to detail. My Al Mar is the only lockback I own on which it is just about impossible to tell where the lockbar ends and the tang begins.
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I agree. And while my Al Mar knife only has the lowly AUS8 steel, it is important to keep in mind that not all AUS8 treatments are the same. I have a RAT1 in AUS8, and it is an acceptable work knife. Steel is pretty soft but very easy to sharpen.

I have a Cold Steel American Lawman (bought after a suggestion by a maker on this site!) and that steel is really, really hard and tough. Same steel, AUS8, but huge difference in performance.

My little Al Mar Osprey is about 20 years old, and while it hasn't been carried that much it is like a little Swiss watch. Fit/finish is perfect, and it clicks when locking with precision, and hasn't developed a bit of movement. You feel like you have a folding scalpel in your pocket.

I think at this point some of the price might be due to the name, but it got the name recognition from being a fine product, not just be higher than other similar knives. They have been at it a long time.

Robert
 
sideways said:
MOKI knives in japan sure knows how to make lockbacks. It's that same on the spyderco caly 3. I'm pretty sure both were made by moki.
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I could easily be wrong, but I think G Sakai makes Spyderco's Japanese line. Definitely not sure, though.
 
Moki has made some Spydercos in the past and I believe the Calypso being an older model was one of them.

For the ultralights sure seems that the Blakiston Fish Owl would be a great substitute for half the price or less. And the Ares gets VG10 for the same money with bone.
 
midnight flyer said:
I agree. And while my Al Mar knife only has the lowly AUS8 steel, it is important to keep in mind that not all AUS8 treatments are the same. I have a RAT1 in AUS8, and it is an acceptable work knife. Steel is pretty soft but very easy to sharpen.

I have a Cold Steel American Lawman (bought after a suggestion by a maker on this site!) and that steel is really, really hard and tough. Same steel, AUS8, but huge difference in performance.

My little Al Mar Osprey is about 20 years old, and while it hasn't been carried that much it is like a little Swiss watch. Fit/finish is perfect, and it clicks when locking with precision, and hasn't developed a bit of movement. You feel like you have a folding scalpel in your pocket.

I think at this point some of the price might be due to the name, but it got the name recognition from being a fine product, not just be higher than other similar knives. They have been at it a long time.

Robert
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That's right. AUS8 can be a very fine steel when developed to its full potential. Al Mar does this. All AUS8 is not the same, neither is all S30V or any other steel for that matter.

Al Mars are some of the finest production folders made in their price range. The F&F is impeccable and the actions are about as smooth as it gets.

I basically compare all other folders to Al Mar. Few measure up to their standards.

I used to get hung up on the latest and greatest blade steels. Now, I care more about the design and craftsmanship, the blade steel comes in second. A well built exciting knife is more fun than a mediocre folder with a "super steel".

If you've never owned an Al Mar, try a Mini SERE. You will be hooked.
 
Well it all depends on how you look at it, knives are a product and anyone will sell a item for the highest possible price that market is willing to pay for it. There may be other factors involved such as production cost and product development.
 
I have a mini SERE fixed blade and the fit and finish is impeccable. It is quite impressive for a production knife. It handles very nice, no sharp edges or extra weight. My tang is marked VG-10 FM Co/Japan.
 
I agree they are expensive, but the exclusive Eagle with orange G10 and ZDP-189 is priced very fairly, though shame they are only running it 57-59 hardness.
 
Stelth said:
The fit and finish are superb and they are exceptionally sharp...get one and see.
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Those are two very important aspects that I can agree, about any manufacturer. The problem comes in when you need something from their customer service department. There are dozens of horror stories about unanswered phone calls, emails, lack of follow through on repair and such. I don't mind too much paying a premium for fit and finish, but if you don't do much to take care of your customers afterwards, then you are only half in the game. If a manufacturer won't take care of a legitimate issue for me, the customer then I take my money elsewhere. Simple.
 
I have one of the very large Al Mar lockbacks from 20+ years ago. It came ith a sheath that also included a sharpening stone in its own compartment in the sheath. A beautiful knife but the frame is warped enough so that the blade is not even close to centered any more. I cannot remember if it has always been that way but doubt it. Not sure it is fixable and seeing as how it is no longer in production I am nervous about sending it in for repair or replacement. Particularly so after reading the customer service comments here.
 
Strength of the yen. That's why spydercos Japanese models are expensive for the materials you get.
 
I absolutely love my Al Mar Eagle HD. Its thin, its light, super sharp, and very attractive. It is probably one of my all time favorite lock back folders. I think a lot of people get wrapped up in blade steel. One of the best examples of taking a simple steel and taking it to its full potential are the knives of Frank J. Richtig. In the early 1900s Richtig was able to take a simple 1095 carbon steel to the point where he could chop up bolts, horseshoes, and railroad spikes then cleanly slice newspaper. This is once again where heat treat is one of the most important parts of a blade and steels performance. I have never once looked at my Al Mar and wished I wouldnt have bought it, even with its AUS8...
 
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