Al Mar Sere 2000...Skeletonized lock???

There's no mention of a skeletonized lock on that page. Are you referencing the "open frame liner lock design"? That means it's a liner lock, and the frame doesn't have a full backspacer (i.e., the frame itself is open).

VG-10 is great steel for an EDC folder, I like it better than 154CM, and it'll be a bit less wear resistant (remembering that wear resistance != edge holding) than S30V.
 
Maybe OT, but check BF for recent posts about bestknives before you buy anything from them.

VG-10 is great steel, generally comparable as an extremely high quality stainless to the other two you mentioned. Of course, there are many, many opinions on the specifics of the three steels relative to each other.

As to the skeletonized lock, I would be guessing.
 
Oh, does anyone know if they updated this, or is anyone has recently had problems with the locking system on the al mar 2000?

I really like this knife
 
jimmy123 said:
Oh, does anyone know if they updated this, or is anyone has recently had problems with the locking system on the al mar 2000?

I really like this knife
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There's no reason not to buy it, I had one and it was a great knife. Top notch fit and finish. I don't know if they've changed the cut-out portion on the lock, but I don't think it was that much of an issue for most folks. Cliff Stamp gave it his usual treatment and it failed. You will notice that Cliff often succeeds in breaking whatever knife he is testing, so figure that into the equation. If you're planning to beat the daylights out of it, maybe consider a fixed blade instead.
 
There is a huge hole in the part of the liner that pops out as the lock. It's probably there to help the lock pop out but it looks very much like it weakens the piece that locks up the knife. I was suprised to see a hole like that in the liner lock. :eek:
 
Joe-Dirt said:
There is a huge hole in the part of the liner that pops out as the lock. It's probably there to help the lock pop out but it looks very much like it weakens the piece that locks up the knife. I was suprised to see a hole like that in the liner lock. :eek:
Click to expand...

is there a pic?
 
Yes, the lock is skeletonized, but in my experience their lock is quite poorly designed even beyond that. I personally don't think the skeletonized lock has much to do with my problems either.

The tang where the lock touches is very rough, has a very concave grind and the lockbar just seems to wear much too quickly (maybe they don't harden it very much?). This has resulted in vertical bladeplay in my SERE with just one strong flick my friend gave it when he looked at it :mad: . I had only flicked it maybe 10 times tops before that, very lightly I might add (just enough to get the blade out and locked). There is now very visible compression of the lockbar where it meets the tang and pressing down on the blade spine makes the lockbar slide a little (due to the concavity and wear). Before that the lockup was "perfect" with absolutely no detectable play in any direction, which was great while it lasted.

Other than that, their fit and finish is good at best. The handles and liners seem to be finished after they are assembled and thus fit gorgeously, but their blade grinds were not to my satisfaction on two of their knives (one sent back, the second is the replacement). I'm a perfectionist though, so YMMV.

Which brings me to my next point. Their customer service (in my experience) was absolutely miserable. They gave me quite an attitude from the moment I called them.

Picture of the skeletonized lockbar:
http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/2046/almarsere2000110oz.jpg
 
ehhh said:
Yes, the lock is skeletonized, but in my experience their lock is quite poorly designed even beyond that. I personally don't think the skeletonized lock has much to do with my problems either.

The tang where the lock touches is very rough, has a very concave grind and the lockbar just seems to wear much too quickly (maybe they don't harden it very much?). This has resulted in vertical bladeplay in my SERE with just one strong flick my friend gave it when he looked at it :mad: . I had only flicked it maybe 10 times tops before that, very lightly I might add (just enough to get the blade out and locked). There is now very visible compression of the lockbar where it meets the tang and pressing down on the blade spine makes the lockbar slide a little (due to the concavity and wear). Before that the lockup was "perfect" with absolutely no detectable play in any direction, which was great while it lasted.

Other than that, their fit and finish is good at best. The handles and liners seem to be finished after they are assembled and thus fit gorgeously, but their blade grinds were not to my satisfaction on two of their knives (one sent back, the second is the replacement). I'm a perfectionist though, so YMMV.

Which brings me to my next point. Their customer service (in my experience) was absolutely miserable. They gave me quite an attitude from the moment I called them.

Picture of the skeletonized lockbar:
http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/2046/almarsere2000110oz.jpg
Click to expand...


sorry to hear that, so it seems like blade play develops quickly and the knife isn't worth buying....

How come you don't complain and get a refund from them?

Thanks by the way for the info
 
I did an exchange with them once. After that I decided I didn't want to deal with them anymore. I don't think the warranty would cover that sort of wear either, since flicking is somewhat abusive (even if it weren't considered abusive, I have a feeling they would say it's "normal" wear).

Don't get me wrong, it's a lovely little knife and if I had unlimited money I would buy another one to replace it. I don't use it often because I can't stand the bladeplay (it locks up safely, but it's just a big "turn off"), but it is a nice knife. I particularly like the low ride clip and ergonomics, though I feel it could use some jimping.

My personal advice to anyone looking at any Al Mar is to look elsewhere first. They are a little more expensive than Spydercos or Benchmades, offer similar quality and, from what I read, worse service (since I've read Spyderco and BM have outstanding customer service, and my experience with AMK was a long shot from outstanding). But if you really want it, I say take the chance and go for it. There are plenty others on this forum who praise the SERE.
 
yeah i see that..thank for your input.

The seach for a knife like the almar with the thicker steel and something in s30v or 10-vg is making me angry. I can't find anthing around 180.00 that have good opinions about it. The only one i can find good opinions is the manix but its maybe bigger then I want. Thats why i was looking at the al mar
 
The seach for a knife like the almar with the thicker steel and something in s30v or 10-vg is making me angry. I can't find anthing around 180.00 that have good opinions about it. The only one i can find good opinions is the manix but its maybe bigger then I want. Thats why i was looking at the al mar
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You're not really going to find it. The sere 2000 is a great knife and one heck of a slicer. It came sharper than any other pocket knife I've had, spyderco included. It is also one of the smoothest liner lock without ikbs that I've held. Mine is not skeletonized, but it does have a small hole in it? Both of mine have zero blade play and are on the level of many customs I've held. I'm not sure there was a post a while ago where someone was bashing this knife, but it's a good medium duty knife, that slices and cuts as well out of the box as almost any more "lightweight" knife does. The pocket clip is probably one of the best one any folder and I'm not sure why more companies don't have one similar. It vanishes inside your pocket. If you want a powerhouse of a knife, which that sounds like what you're looking for you'll have to spend a lot more than you want and get something like an extrema ratio, or airkat, or even strider. Another option might be the CQC-13 which has a thicker liner lock, but that isn't vg-10 or s30v. I like VG-10 a lot better than 154cm, but not as well as s30v.
 
Get yourself a Spyderco Paramilitary and call it a day.

If you want VG-10 and a liner lock get a Spyderco Impala.
 
I posted about this awhile ago and included pictures. The liner lock is skeletonized (has a hole in it). Not only that, but where the hole is the metal is also thinned out. Basically there are 2 thin metal pieces that connect the lock to the rest of the liner.
 
I also recommend agaianst the knife. Bought one because everyone said it was a great knife. And, while I wont say that the sere isn't a great knife, I will say that I was dissappointed with mine personally. Great fit and finish, but the handle is a bit bulky. -Especially for the size of the blade. Clip was nice, and the knife was very sharp- comparable to an average spyderco in my opinion. Then one day I stabbed it into a phone book along with a few other knives I had at the time. Seemingly, from that act, the knife developed slight blade play. -That was the killer blow for me and my judgement of the knife. -Might of just been mine. Over all, the negitives outway the positives. But, if you don't stab with it, or even if you do, you might be very happy with the sere. As others have suggested, the cqc-13 is a great knife, but I haven't stabbed a phone book with it, yet. And I've always admired the para milli, though it too, isn't known for great blade to handle ratio, it will be much thinner than the the al mar. -Just my opinions.
 
but I haven't stabbed a phone book with it, yet
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Of course the true test of a great knife is whether or not you can deanimate a phonebook with it!! I almost got jumped by a few today so decided to see if the SERE and a few knives were up to it. Also, good therapy I hate ACS! I stabbed the phonebook around 17 times and then noticed no difference. Maybe if I had spent an afternoon violently trying to destroy I would have, but also put a strider SMF and Lil temp through the ordeal. All of them passed with no lock failure, no play, no tip or edge deformation. The SERE went through page 296 I can't remember the others. I think the SERE is just a slight step ahead in finish from most of my other spydercos, but a military or manix, or paramilitary would be on the same level I'm sure. My lil temperance from them certainly is. Also, my lock isn't skeletonized. It has 1 little hole, but my stupid self didn't realize that's for the lanyard, duh.:o
100_0299.jpg

and the lock
100_0300.jpg
 
Wow. I just must be crazy I guess. Didn't think it was unrealistic to have a knife of the price withstand one (1) stab into a phone book. You must not of been hitting the right spot it it took you 17 to kill your book. -Nice to see yours held up, and that you like it.
 
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