Al Mar SERE 2000 vs Emerson P-SARK

Do any of you SERE 2000 owners have any reservations about the lock type? I normally avoid liner locks, but most of what I have read indicate that the lock is very sturdy.
 
mksql, about the lock:

so far: lockup is very tight, no vertical or horizontal blade play, no accidental disengaging of lock with tight grip, medium spine whack test OK.

However: knife is relatively new, I keep it clean and well lubed so about wear and tear I cannot speak but for now, no complaints whatsoever.
 
Now that you are starting to question the lock, I feel justified in coming on here and asking, "I suppose you have already considered and discounted Benchmade?"

I have, well, most of their axis lock knives, and have never had a problem with a single one. I am a big fan of VG10, but not to the point of settling for a lesser lock. Plus, at the size you're looking at, you also have the Axis AFCK or the 710, in D2 and M2 steels, respectively.

Just a thought. Not trying to change you mind in any way, since you had already said you had narrowed down to the PSARK and the SERE 2000. But, if you have NOT considered the two above, you might want to take a look.
 
The SERE. Every day when I pick out that day's knife from the drawer, I seem to pick the SERE over all the Benchmades, and over the Sebenza. I actually bought it sort of on a lark, and had no idea just how good the quality would be. Most excellent knife.
 
Hi.

We've had our SERE for about a year now , as well as the al mar Shrike.

The SERE is indeed built like a tank, excelent blade.

The Only drawback we can see is that it's a liner lock type.

Liner locks are not as realiable and safe as a lockback.

As for a quick tool the SERE is great. The Shrike is more flexable as
there is basicaly no tang on the blade and no hilt on the handle. This makes the Shrike are more useful tool for every day or more precise work.

Thanks for the chat.
 
Interesting review. I had read it before, and it almost persuaded me to buy the SERE at the time. And does again. But I remember looking at the locking liner at a recent knife show, and I just can't reconcile the thinness of it. The liner was thinner that the liner on, say, a MT LCC or my Military. Thinner than the LCC by a good margin. I can't understand Mr. Randall's statement about the locking bar being so robust, when to me it looked flimsier than most liner locks I've seen. It makes me wonder if I was looking at a pre-pro, or prototype, or something. In any case, that is all it took for me to say, "No way am I trusting that lock."
 
The SERE is undoubtedly a quality knife; you get a lot for your money. My only reservation regards the liner lock. My SERE repeatedly failed a light - to - moderate spine whack test administered with the palm of my hand. It was strange. The lock held up fine if I hit the knife hard, but yielded immediately to a moderate tap of my hand. Go figure. I couldn't trust the SERE after that, so I gave it away (with a heavy heart, since it was, after the Sebenza, the best made production knife I'd seen).

Life is strange, though. I got a chance about a month ago to handle the SERE I'd given away. I thought I'd give it the spine whack test again, just to see what would happen. You know what? I could not get the lock to fail! It held up fine under light, medium and hard taps.

Has anyone else had an experience like this?
 
Sere 2k is an excellent knife. I'd trust its liner lock as much as any liner lock I've ever seen. A friend now owns it and he continually beats the crap out of it and it comes back asking for more. Definitely more heavy duty than an Emerson. The liner was thicker than my Military's liner, though I can't comment on the LCC, never having owned one. The stainless liners on the Sere wear much, much slower than the titanium ones on the Emerson.
 
rockspyder,

I'm not sure what knife you were looking at, but the SERE2K has thicker liners than perhaps any other production liner locking knife. It's certainly at the very top in terms of robustness.
 
Originally posted by komondor
rockspyder,
I'm not sure what knife you were looking at, but the SERE2K has thicker liners than perhaps any other production liner locking knife. It's certainly at the very top in terms of robustness.
Click to expand...

I'll take another look next chance I get. Like I said, may have been a pre-pro or something. But after that look, I'm hesitant to try to order one off the 'net.
 
It would be nice to see the picture of S2K liner together with Military and/or LCC for comparison ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top