Al Mar Shadow IV

K

Kalaghoda

Joined
May 31, 2007
Messages
16
Hello All -

I'm a new member and I just bought my first knife - An Al Mar Shadow IV NIB, made over 15 years ago i think. It hasn't arrived yet and I'm impatient as the pics looked outstanding:D . I did a BIN on Ebay and most likely paid too much but its rare so what's a few bucks here or there.

So my question is: how good are these Al Mar knives In terms of quality of construction, finish, detail and material etc. compared to others in the 200 to $500 price range? Mine was made in Seki Japan.. A buddy tells me that the quality of steel that came out of Japan is second to none..

I have a feeling I'm going to end up buying more knives..:o appears to be a bit addictive; I've already been scouting the web for more!

Any thoughts would be appreciated, Thanks!
 
True, back when the late Al Mar was running the show he single handedly did the impossible - that is, to import factory made Japanese knives and marketed them at a premium price under his exclusive chinese stamp mark.
They were for the most part, very well made indeed. And the choice of blade steel was the then "high tech" steel AUS6! In all few complaints, but for the PRICE.
 
I have two current Al Mar's that I EDC... a mini-SERE that rides IWB and a Nomad in LFP. Both are primo in every category.

F&F on both is the equivalent of any of my Benchmades (black / blue class) or Spydercos. Both blades lock up perfectly with no blade play at all and both blades are centered when closed. Both knives are VG-10 and they came with excellent blade finish (no scratches on the flats or chips in the blades), and both came "lethal sharp" as STR likes to say. The two AL Mars that I have came with OOB sharpness equal to any of my Spydercos.

The G-10 scales are perfectly fitted to the liners and all sharp edges have been beveled or rounded enough to be comfortable to hold.

Both are liner locks, but these are two liner locks that I'm willing to trust more than I would most other companies' offerings. I've not been able to get them to fail under the normal spine whack / tight grip tests that I usually do to check a lock. The lock bar moves just to left of the halfway point of the blade tang and stays there, same as the first time I opened them. Both locks take a good bit of pressure to move the bar back so the blade can be closed, but I can work both with my left hand (my usual knife hand). The ball detent on both knives is pretty substantial. I can close the blade one-handed and feel when the blade stops to let me move my thumb.

For the life of me, I can't figure out why Al Mars don't get more press on the forums. Their variety is not as great as the two superstar companies and nobody has the track record for being innovators that Spyderco has, but what Al Mar offers is solidly in the same class as Benchmade and Spyderco IMAO.

Anyways... it will be interesting to see what an older Al Mar looks like and to get your opinions about the knife. Hope you post some pix and a review when you get him.
 
Here goes -

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So what do you think?
 
Dang! That's so cool.
You can almost see Mr Mar taking the Gerber MkII design a little further with the Shadow. Very nice score, Kalaghoda.
BTW, if you come by the now discontinued SOG Knives Desert dagger, you would see the same thin fuller/"blood groove" on the spine, with additional partial dual edge serrations. Both US blade companies probably sourced from the same OEM in Seki, Japan.
 
Thanks guys! Like I said - I got the bug and I got another one!!

Al Mar SERE VIII-A - 20+ years old but NIB! Supposedly the Top-of-the-line AL MAR

:D
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78c6_1.jpg
 
SERE fixed blades were it then, alright.
Though the folders were more popular.
To me at least the best fixed blade was the hollow handle/saw backed Al Mar SF 10
Drives me insane whenever I think about all those wonderful fixed blade Mar's I couldn't afford.
-http://users.adelphia.net/~wccarte/almar.htm
 
Al Mar Knives were at one time just about the best factory knives that money could buy. I don't know about now days. Not that they are bad. I just don't hear them mentioned here much. And I can't help but wonder why.
 
Michael Lovett said:
Al Mar Knives were at one time just about the best factory knives that money could buy. I don't know about now days. Not that they are bad. I just don't hear them mentioned here much. And I can't help but wonder why.
Click to expand...


Not sure why but it may have a lot to do with Al Mar - a major force I hear - being in the netherworld and the firm not actively promoting their stuff anymore.
 
GIRLYmann said:
SERE fixed blades were it then, alright.
Though the folders were more popular.
To me at least the best fixed blade was the hollow handle/saw backed Al Mar SF 10
Drives me insane whenever I think about all those wonderful fixed blade Mar's I couldn't afford.
-http://users.adelphia.net/~wccarte/almar.htm
Click to expand...

I like the SF-10 also. There was one available (NIB!) just last week but I had already spent way too much on the three Al Mar's I bought in the last two weeks. Yes! I got the Shadow I also - kinda like the IV's small brother! Will post when it's here.
 
Nothing is finer than a vintage AlMar. I own a Jumbo Quicksilver...awesome folder. I also had the distinct priviledge to hold an Alaskan Bowie. I had to wipe the drool from my mouth afterwards.

Even though AlMars were not made from the highest grade steel, they can rival anything made by even the finest custom makers.



Curiosity yields evolution...satiety yields extinction.
 
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