View Full Version : Al Mar Knives
The Reaper
02-27-2004, 20:00
Anyone else in here a fan of old Al Mar Knives?
If so, I have a couple I will post pics of.
TR
Smokin Joe
02-27-2004, 22:13
I have always wanted to buy one, but have been told that there quality has dramatically decreased in recent years.
To answer your question: YES, I am a fan of the older Al Mar knives.
The Reaper
02-27-2004, 22:23
A large Kukri configuration, great steel, very sharp, an excellent chopper. This one is mine, what more can I say?
TR
Smokin Joe
02-27-2004, 22:34
Hold on while I wipe the drool off of my monitor.
Damn nice knife.
How long have you had it?
What is your expericence with Al Mar's quality?
Thanks for the pic TR
The Reaper
02-27-2004, 22:51
Thank you.
14 years or so.
Used to be among the best.
I have met the new owners at the SHOT Show, but have have not tried one.
One of the knife experts on here may have more info.
Another teaser for you.
Fixed blade SERE, great balance, cuts very well, love the grip shape.
TR
Now I see what you meant in an earlier post when you said that stain resistance wasn't an issue. :D
The Reaper
02-28-2004, 10:26
Originally posted by Air.177
Now I see what you meant in an earlier post when you said that stain resistance wasn't an issue. :D
Cuts just as well like that as it did clean.
Already had professional instruction on how to remove that if I choose to.
I have no comments on what the stains are or where they came from.
TR
I think it adds Character myself.
How do you like the smooth grip scales?
The Reaper
03-01-2004, 14:58
Originally posted by Razor
How do you like the smooth grip scales?
Can get slippery when very wet or dirty, but the holes help with the grip.
Since Al passed on, there don't get out much anymore.
I am sure that Mr. Harsey could do better, if it were a redesign job.
TR
brianksain
12-15-2005, 20:57
I have an original SERE from back in the day.
Nice.
longrange1947
12-15-2005, 21:11
A large Kukri configuration, great steel, very sharp, an excellent chopper. This one is mine, what more can I say?
TR
That's the knife my last team gave me when I retired. Except they engraved "Mother Hen" on the blade. :D
Guess I acted too concerned about them during Just Cause. :)
It's hanging on the wall right next to me as I type.
The Reaper
12-15-2005, 21:32
That's the knife my last team gave me when I retired. Except they engraved "Mother Hen" on the blade. :D
Guess I acted too concerned about them during Just Cause. :)
It's hanging on the wall right next to me as I type.
The ones who were having fun with frags?
TR
longrange1947
12-15-2005, 21:44
Yep, they concerned me, especially the 'O'. And the ones that went on patrol in the hinter lands and didn't make commo on time.
Guess I was a little anal about that. :D
Trip_Wire (RIP)
12-16-2005, 01:46
Anyone else in here a fan of old Al Mar Knives?
If so, I have a couple I will post pics of.
TR
Yes, TR I am a fan of Al's knifes. I thought I posted a pictures of some of my collection, of his (3) knives that I have. Al Marr, was a friend and teammate of mine when we both served in the 17th & 12 SFG(A)s. He always brought homemade rice cakes to supplement our rations when we were in the field. They were really good compared to most C-Rats!
I'd order a knife from him, such as the Sere knife and he would put stuff like my Master Wings, SCUBA Badge and the Regimental crest on them. So, I have a matching set of SEREs like yours, and the SERE folder with the badges on them. I also have his "Eagle" folder with my initals and the Regimental Crest on the bolsters. Shown below.:
A large Kukri configuration, great steel, very sharp, an excellent chopper. This one is mine, what more can I say?
TR
Love it!! If I ever found one at a show I'd snap it up in a heartbeat!!
one-zero
12-16-2005, 16:32
had the SERE w/SF crest presented to me instead of Buck knife when I was HG of Q course...still have it.
1-0
Trip_Wire (RIP)
12-16-2005, 16:59
Yes, TR I am a fan of Al's knifes. I thought I posted a pictures of some of my collection, of his (3) knives that I have. Al Marr, was a friend and teammate of mine when we both served in the 17th & 12 SFG(A)s. He always brought homemade rice cakes to supplement our rations when we were in the field. They were really good compared to most C-Rats!
I'd order a knife from him, such as the Sere knife and he would put stuff like my Master Wings, SCUBA Badge and the Regimental crest on them. So, I have a matching set of SEREs like yours, and the SERE folder with the badges on them. I also have his "Eagle" folder with my initals and the Regimental Crest on the bolsters. Shown below.:
Heres the Eagle folder with case below. Also a Kramer right hand pocket holster with S&W 442 .38 Cal Pistol w/wood grips for size comparison... :D
Bill Harsey
12-16-2005, 18:58
Have I told you guys the story about how the very first Al Mar SERE knives got finished?
Smokin Joe
12-17-2005, 14:58
I forgot to post these sooner.
I received this Al Mar SERE last year. It is made of s30v.
well even these aren't great but...
mumbleypeg
12-18-2005, 11:04
Have I told you guys the story about how the very first Al Mar SERE knives got finished?
Does it involve bleeding and duct tape?
Hey Mr. Harsey, I have one of the knives you are talking about, I believe we discussed it at one time. There weren't many of them with serial numbers and no markings. When some one wants to talk about the original Al Mar SERE this is it, Al gave them to Col. Rowe to give to the instructors on the SERE comittee.
As soon as I can get Shark Bait to help me I will post a picture. Brianksain, yours is probably not as original as this one, I don't think it was ever offered for sale, Mr. Harsey can correct me if I am wrong.
Bill Harsey
12-19-2005, 14:08
Hey Mr. Harsey, I have one of the knives you are talking about, I believe we discussed it at one time. There weren't many of them with serial numbers and no markings. When some one wants to talk about the original Al Mar SERE this is it, Al gave them to Col. Rowe to give to the instructors on the SERE comittee.
As soon as I can get Shark Bait to help me I will post a picture. Brianksain, yours is probably not as original as this one, I don't think it was ever offered for sale, Mr. Harsey can correct me if I am wrong.
Yep, You have a model of what I'm talking about.
To the best of my knowledge it was never offered for sale nor have I ever seen one for sale.
I'll post my part of the story and some about Al Mar after the work day is over.
Here it is serial # 009, this is the way Al Mar presented them to the SERE committee. Case Lanyard everything is original. I plan on the grandson owning this one of these days.
Bill Harsey
12-20-2005, 12:15
BamBam,
Thank you for posting the pictures of one of the "black" knives which is of the original prototype group of Al Mar Knives SERE Folders that went thru this shop (in October 1984) to have the black rubber handles epoxied on the frames, shaped and finished by me, under a rather tight schedule for Col. Nick Rowe.
This is public knowledge but I want to take the time to say it again for the younger men and women reading here.
Al Mar was First Group Special Forces and served in Vietnam prior to 1960.
After serving in the Army, Al earned a Masters in Industrial Design from the Art Center in Pasadena, California.
His masters project was building and launching a working 2 man submarine.
Al went on to be the head of knife design for Gerber Blades spending 10 years at that job until he broke out and founded his own company that continues to this day even after Al has passed on.
It was Al who introduced me to Col. Rex Applegate of O.S.S. fame.
With the founding of Al Mar Knives, Al is considered the father of specialty custom/production cutlery and lead the way for the worlds industry in doing custom quality and design in a production knife.
Al Mar did all his knives very well and considered the military and law enforcement projects to be of highest priority.
It was by making prototypes to Al's exacting standards that I started to learn something about the craft of knife design.
The pictures of those black rubber handled SERE knives brings back many work memories. This is the first time I've seen any of them since they left my shop in October 1984.
mumbleypeg
12-20-2005, 15:58
Bill, with utmost respect, you are a badass that hangs with heavy company. You and the members here are a constant inspiration to me as to what acceptable performance levels are.
I have said it before but damn, you do nice work.
The Reaper
12-20-2005, 19:39
Sniff, sniff.
I just love it when long lost family members reunite!:D
TR
Bill Harsey
12-20-2005, 19:51
Bill, with utmost respect, you are a badass that hangs with heavy company. You and the members here are a constant insiration to me as to what acceptable performance levels are.
I have said it before but damn, you do nice work.
Mumbleypeg,
Your privvy to the remaining part of this story as involved me and a plastic reconstructive hand surgeon, because you've met the Doc.
Will write it soon.
Reaper, go to your room. Wait, your already in it...
NousDefionsDoc
12-20-2005, 19:52
This is a helluva of a discussion forum.
Bill Harsey
12-21-2005, 10:20
The very first black handled Al Mar SERE folding knife prototypes were an interesting project when they came thru the shop here in 1984.
Al had all of his production done in Seki, Japan which is the 1000 year old steel making and edged weapon capitol of that country and the leader in modern high quality cutlery then.
We had to wait on the finished frames with fully sharpened and fitted blades to arrive from Japan before I could start the handle work. Al and I selected the grade of rubber, found and tested the "blue" epoxy that would bond the rubber to the knife frames, permanently. All this was stocked in my shop waiting for the "package' to arrive so I could start work.
By the time that batch of 50+ knives arrived here in my shop, I had seven days to do the work and to get them back to Portland and on the airplane headed out to Col. Nick Rowe.
I started epoxying the square rubber handle blanks on the handle frames and then had to grind and shape to finished dimension, all freehand of course.
The custom made hardened steel "thong tube hole cutter" I had done to drill the holes in the rubber is still in my bench top selection of tools.
On knife no. 1 some epoxy cured in the wrong place inside the frame. When I turned the knife over on the bench to pry out the hard blue epoxy I somehow caused the mechanism to release the blade which collapsed over the back of my right hand and bounced off the bones in the back of my hand.
I went to town and had the initial opening stitched closed but still had a couple severed tendons that would need attention later.
Taking no time off I got right back to work and completed 6 long days and nights to make deadline then scheduled the tendon reconnection procedure with my plastic reconstructive hand surgeon friend who had closed the initial opening.
It was 14 days since this all began and the night before the procedure I asked my doctor if I could make the scalpel that did the reopening work and he said yes and be sure to get to the day surgery unit a bit early to get it sterilized.
I went back out to the shop and found a fully hardened D-2 steel planer blade in 5/32 inch thickness and abrasive sawed it to rough size and final shaped it on the belt grinders for a full handled solid steel tool with a one inch hollow ground blade that was finished as sharp as some of the other tools I'd already produced for this same surgeon (using higher grades of stainless tool steels)
This wasn't as big a deal as you might think because I've always figured a surgeon could do the work with a broken bottle if he had to but I did stay awake to make sure he used my knife. The healing went fine after that and the hand was full function in the time expected.
It was Special Forces guys who introduced me to the world of tactical knifemaking and helped me in many ways.
You guys really are teachers and friends.
Thank you.
Roycroft201
12-21-2005, 13:16
There are so many incredible stories on this site.
Thank you for sharing that one, Mr. Harsey.
Roycroft201
I got mine around 1989 before we went to the gulf. still f@#$ sharp today.
the blade is 11 1/2 to the hilt. it came with a leather sheath. with a wood handle. The balance is 1/4 towards the blade frome the hilt. it has Al Mar on the blade next to a red squre with japanese writting in it. it tryed to post a pic but it wont go.
SERPENT5XX
12-31-2005, 15:13
I bought my first Al Mar knife at Ft Bragg sometime in the 80's. I knew nothing about knives at the time but I did know Al Mar had been in SF and that was reason enough to buy the knife. (plus I was a single SF guy just off a deployment)
I do not know what model this is or any history on it- Mr. Harsey?
SERPENT5XX
12-31-2005, 15:14
Here is my other Al Mar. I like the blade but the rubber handle is not to my liking.
Bill Harsey
12-31-2005, 22:20
SERPENT5XX,
The last knife is the fixed blade version of the SERE Folder.
That also brings back memories as Al had me make the first prototypes, exactly from his drawings, for that knife.
highspeedmdd
11-08-2006, 08:53
I can pretty much guess, but does anyone have an Al Mar SERE series fixed blade knife they may want to sell, or know someone who does?
M
I know nothing about this line of knifes but a quick Google showed this, it may or may not help.
http://www.worldwideknives.com/Almar/sere.html
Take care,
JPH
NousDefionsDoc
09-24-2009, 20:21
I can pretty much guess, but does anyone have an Al Mar SERE series fixed blade knife they may want to sell, or know someone who does?
M
http://cgi.ebay.com/AL-MAR-SERE-II-Vintage-Folding-Lockback-Knife_W0QQitemZ200381862464QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_D efaultDomain_0?hash=item2ea7b09240&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
hurry
http://cgi.ebay.com/AL-MAR-CHRIS-REEVE-KNIFE-FIGHTER-COLLABORATION-91-200_W0QQitemZ330362217860QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_0?hash=item4ceb1f6584&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14#ht_500wt_956
Better than viagra!
This my folder, my Father did the work for me as a gift.
I got this one just before I went to Pana-Jungla ( Panamanian Army Jungle School ), broke it during the course, coconut vs knife, sent is home to my Dad, Al Mar sent me a new one. carried it until I left service. I will need to do some cleaning and leather work on her.
I bougth a Al Mar Sere six sheath knife at B and B pawn in the mid 80s when I was in the 82nd and carried it on my web the rest of my time in the military, including the Q and multiple overseas deployments. Bougth it for 175.Still looks great and holds a razors edge, although the sheath is thrashed. Recently got the old style sere folder for a great price on ebay. Great knives.
Actually, Al Mar was quite instrumental in the creation of the Spyderco knife.
He hand caried me through the maze and introduced me to the people that would be capable of making our knives to what was known as "Al Mar Quality". This was the highest standard of quality in Seki City in the early 80's.
He also gave us permission to use his then new "front-lock".
His Inauguration into the Cutlery Hall of Fame last year was long overdue.
sal
Bill Harsey
05-03-2010, 09:25
I got this one just before I went to Pana-Jungla ( Panamanian Army Jungle School ), broke it during the course, coconut vs knife, sent is home to my Dad, Al Mar sent me a new one. carried it until I left service. I will need to do some cleaning and leather work on her.
As per Al Mar's exact prints and instruction I remember making the prototype for that knife that was sent to the manufacturer as the "template".
Al said that 3-D models were important because it was understood better by the makers in Japan than words and drawings.
This applies just as well here in the United States too.
Sal,
Looks like we both have plenty to blame on Al Mar. ;)
I have never seen another one like it, do you recall the name of the blade, the markings are "SOF" on it.
I have never seen another one like it, do you recall the name of the blade, the markings are "SOF" on it.
You've never seen that style knife before? Google images for "MACV SOG bowie".
Bill Harsey
05-08-2010, 18:32
You've never seen that style knife before? Google images for "MACV SOG bowie".
Correct.
Anyone else in here a fan of old Al Mar Knives?
If so, I have a couple I will post pics of.
TR
Here's mine Al Mar/ benchmade prototype General Pourpose Automatic(GPA) came with a note signed by Al Mar. I was told at one time Al Mar was the first to start the whole prototype thing. He would basically send a proto to each one of his dealers to assess the level of interest. Before starting a major production run. this model is serial numbered, I'm not positive but I believe there to be 100 out there.
the GPA went on to become the benchmade 9050, and was issued as part of the pilot survival vests. This is the first model that actually has both the Al mar chop stamp and the old BM bali-song logo on it. very few changes were done to this knife over the years, most noticeable being the addition of pocket clip.
A couple of years ago my son-in-law was the honor grad of his police academy class. I dug out my safe a new-in-box Al Mar SERE 2000 folder that I came by in a decade old trade. When I came by the knife, I recognized the heft and quality of the knife. However it was too valuable for me to carry and abuse on a daily basis.
I reversed the clip on it so it could be carried in the left(weak hand) hand front pocket of his uniform trousers. I got it in the hands of the chief so he could present it to my son in law along with the other swag that the top cop graduate got.
In this department there is an unwritten but universally held protocol that the best form of gun retention is to maim or kill anyone attempting to grab your gun. Most believe that a couple of stab wounds to the eyes of your attacker will end a gun grab very quickly. However, most cops carry their pocket clip folders in the strong side front trouser pocket. I can't imagine getting the knife into action if your strong hand is protecting your weapon.
I digress, my experience with Al Mar products is long but thin. My impression is that they are(or were, as the case may be) well made sturdy knives with a keen edge.
AL Mar SOG blades (http://sogknives.com/documents/SOG-FightingKnives.pdf)
I have #3 of this set.
I believe either #1 or #2 is at SFA Headquarters in Fayetteville.
#3 went to SGM Dan Pitzer. It was passed down to me when Dan died.
One of the rarest of the rare AMK project knives.
I do not know what model this is or any history on it . . . . ?
Fang II around 1986 or so. Tex Shoemaker sheath. All the Al Mar stuff was quality!!
Bill, did you work on this design?
The Fang I and II were evolutions of the Gerber MK I that Al designed for Gerber.
But the way he wanted to do it;)
Later on, early 90s before he passed, he brought out a less expensive alternative set titled the Shadow I and II.
Double edgedd and Zytel molded grip.
Two shots of my Nick Rowe commeorative set.
Left to me by SGM Dan Pitzer.
Set #3 of fewer than perhaps 25 completed and presented by Al.
I was honored to write the bio for Colonel Rowe which was placed under a copy of his book in each set.