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Al mar sere 2000 vs emerson commander
- Thread starter AdlerYeo
- Start date
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- Apr 3, 2001
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Both expensive, but both great in their own way. I've owned both and carried/used both for an extended amount of time.
Sere 2K - a tank of a knife. Finely finished (as good as some customs), excellent ergonomics, made of great materials. Very heavy duty, and very heavy for it's size as well. Cons? It's expensive. That's all I can think of that's bad. It is a classic knife.
Commander - absolutely first rate ergonomics. The knife just melds with your hand. Made of great materials, assembled with care and pride in the USA, fit and finish is not as flawless as the Sere, but it is still what I would call very nice. You can take them apart with common tools. The wave feature is fun, and sometimes useful. I love the blade shape of this knife. It is a classic as well. Cons? Expensive. Not as nice F&F as the Sere. That's about it that's bad about the commander.
You have a tough choice! I have owned multiple Commanders, but I have only had one Sere. I still have the Sere, but that's no knock against the Commander. I just carried the Sere more than anything else.
Good luck with whichever one you choose.
Sere 2K - a tank of a knife. Finely finished (as good as some customs), excellent ergonomics, made of great materials. Very heavy duty, and very heavy for it's size as well. Cons? It's expensive. That's all I can think of that's bad. It is a classic knife.
Commander - absolutely first rate ergonomics. The knife just melds with your hand. Made of great materials, assembled with care and pride in the USA, fit and finish is not as flawless as the Sere, but it is still what I would call very nice. You can take them apart with common tools. The wave feature is fun, and sometimes useful. I love the blade shape of this knife. It is a classic as well. Cons? Expensive. Not as nice F&F as the Sere. That's about it that's bad about the commander.
You have a tough choice! I have owned multiple Commanders, but I have only had one Sere. I still have the Sere, but that's no knock against the Commander. I just carried the Sere more than anything else.
Good luck with whichever one you choose.
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- Apr 3, 2001
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No. None of my Emersons had ANY problems whatsoever. I think a lot of people over exaggerate everything when it comes to Emersons. They are great knives. I have nothing bad to say about them at all.
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I beg to differ.... I've had BOTH, and can tell from years and years of experience that the lock on the Sere 2K is much tougher than the lock on the Commander. The liners are about twice as thick, and steel instead of titanium. I could get the lock on the Commander to flex just by pushing down on the blade. The Sere wouldn't budge with the same amount of pressure. Plus with that big steel block at the end of the Sere it feels like the tougher knife. Great heft, feels like a brick sh!thouse. That is no knock on the Commander. It is plenty tough, but the Sere is tougher.
I was trying to be fair, equal, etc., and just let the guy make his own choice, but I'll go ahead and be the voice of dissention and recommend the Sere 2K. It's not that it's better, just that I liked it more than the commander. I've had a few commanders and only had one Sere. I still have the Sere. The commanders are long gone.
I've owned both in the past and sold them, but regret selling in both cases.
The SERE, like mentioned above, is custom quality from Moki, Japan. I didn't like the crappy white nylon washers or the weight, but the thing opened like it was on ball bearings and I couldn't find a single imperfect seam in the whole knife.
The Commander is tougher and more durable in my opinion, but a vastly different knife in every way.
If the world were ending, I'd prefer the Commander, but a collector should own both as they're classic and functional designs.
The SERE, like mentioned above, is custom quality from Moki, Japan. I didn't like the crappy white nylon washers or the weight, but the thing opened like it was on ball bearings and I couldn't find a single imperfect seam in the whole knife.
The Commander is tougher and more durable in my opinion, but a vastly different knife in every way.
If the world were ending, I'd prefer the Commander, but a collector should own both as they're classic and functional designs.
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- Dec 6, 2009
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I don't think the SERE 2000 is any stronger that the commander. I've had some SERE's that have a late lock up right out of the box. I never saw that problem with the commander. Liner thickness is not a big deal between these two knives. I've had huge folders with very thick liners that would disengage in a tight grip. I'd go with the commander over the SERE.
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2005
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- 2,892
They are both excellent, price is a bit high on both considering what you can get from other brands for the same amount of money.
The Commander is fantastic, the only thing I dislike about it (and ALL Emersons) is the chisel edge. If that's not an issue for you, then go for it. I love the wave and the ergonomics are just amazing. Fit and finish on my Emersons is OK, not outstanding but neither is it too sloppy (they could improve a bit considering the price point, though).
The SERE 2000 is really nice, very well built. But since I like a bit more belly on my knives (and enjoy recurves) if forced to choose between these two I'll take the Commander and have it reground to a proper symmetrical edge.
The Commander is fantastic, the only thing I dislike about it (and ALL Emersons) is the chisel edge. If that's not an issue for you, then go for it. I love the wave and the ergonomics are just amazing. Fit and finish on my Emersons is OK, not outstanding but neither is it too sloppy (they could improve a bit considering the price point, though).
The SERE 2000 is really nice, very well built. But since I like a bit more belly on my knives (and enjoy recurves) if forced to choose between these two I'll take the Commander and have it reground to a proper symmetrical edge.
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Al Mar knives are superb.Thats just my opinion.
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- Apr 3, 2001
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Finally! I was beginning to feel like the odd man out.
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The Ontario Hossum 1 was a huge folder with a very thick liner. When grasping as you would a hunting knife, the thumb pressure would disengage the lock.
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Was your thumb on the lock?
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If I had the $$ for either, I would try the SERE. I haven't handled one yet but it looks like such an amazing knife
I've only had experience with the SERE 2000 so I can't make a comparison. I carried the Al Mar for a few years and I still have it. The only reason I stopped carrying it was due to the fact that I could not afford to replace it should I lose it--the prices increased substantially over the years. It also pushed the legal blade length limits of some of the places I visited. I wish now I had bought a second one to keep in reserve so, at least, I wouldn't worry about loss while carrying.
The SERE is the smoothest knife I've ever owned. Opening and closing is like skating on buttery ice. The balance is, in my opinion, perfect. I love a long grip that puts the weight in my hand while leaving the blade light and responsive. I'm not a steel snob and the VG10 used by Al Mar was more than satisfactory. It sharpened easily and it sharpened sharp. I never let it get dull so I don't know how it handled reprofiling or resharpening from dull or damaged. The knife got used a lot but used responsibly and never abused. It picked up a few scratches and scrapes on the blade and grips but it remained tight for the total period of use. I really loved that knife as a user and I always thought it looked good as well.
Unless the SERE 2000 has changed for the worse since I bought mine, I can highly recommend it to anyone willing to pay the rather steep current price. If the Emerson surpasses the current Al Mar in quality, fit, style and finish, it will be a superb knife indeed.
The SERE is the smoothest knife I've ever owned. Opening and closing is like skating on buttery ice. The balance is, in my opinion, perfect. I love a long grip that puts the weight in my hand while leaving the blade light and responsive. I'm not a steel snob and the VG10 used by Al Mar was more than satisfactory. It sharpened easily and it sharpened sharp. I never let it get dull so I don't know how it handled reprofiling or resharpening from dull or damaged. The knife got used a lot but used responsibly and never abused. It picked up a few scratches and scrapes on the blade and grips but it remained tight for the total period of use. I really loved that knife as a user and I always thought it looked good as well.
Unless the SERE 2000 has changed for the worse since I bought mine, I can highly recommend it to anyone willing to pay the rather steep current price. If the Emerson surpasses the current Al Mar in quality, fit, style and finish, it will be a superb knife indeed.
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- Feb 2, 2005
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- 4,271
I would also rate the choice as a toss up. Both models the OP mentioned are too big for my taste and needs, but I've had the mini-versions of both and either one would satisfy any cutting needs I have. My preferences are for the ergos and belly of the Commander, and the V ground double beveled blade profile of the Al Mar. I can sharpen a chisel edge, I just prefer a lot of standardization between my tools and I do better with double bevels than single bevels. It's probably mental. I have been accused of that several times in the past 
.
I have full confidence in both brands' liner locks if they're right coming out of the box. Both have nylatron washers (or some such name) and I like them that way. Self-lubricating and just flexible enough to give a nice hydraulic feel to the opening and closing processes. The Al Mar does have a better balance to me... weighted a bit toward the handle which makes the blade light and responsive, as already mentioned. The steel is pretty much a toss up to me. I like VG10, I like 154CM maybe a little better, just because it looks "rougher", more tool-like, to me. VG10 is often polished into a "pretty" steel. Maybe it has to be done that way. 154CM that I've seen is more often a satin or "machined" finish. I like industrial looking tools. Don't want nothing around that's prettier than I am.
I regret selling my mini-SERE, but if I were buying one or the other today, I'd buy the mini-Commander first.
. I have full confidence in both brands' liner locks if they're right coming out of the box. Both have nylatron washers (or some such name) and I like them that way. Self-lubricating and just flexible enough to give a nice hydraulic feel to the opening and closing processes. The Al Mar does have a better balance to me... weighted a bit toward the handle which makes the blade light and responsive, as already mentioned. The steel is pretty much a toss up to me. I like VG10, I like 154CM maybe a little better, just because it looks "rougher", more tool-like, to me. VG10 is often polished into a "pretty" steel. Maybe it has to be done that way. 154CM that I've seen is more often a satin or "machined" finish. I like industrial looking tools. Don't want nothing around that's prettier than I am.
I regret selling my mini-SERE, but if I were buying one or the other today, I'd buy the mini-Commander first.
- Joined
- May 17, 2012
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This is 100% true. Don't believe the F&F rumors, they have been fixed for a while. Get a Commander, they are my favorite knives for a reason.
