Al Mar Shrike and SERE 2000 Pictures

[Rev. Pete]

Here is my new Al Mar Shrike alongside my Al Mar SERE 2000. The scales on the Shrike are smooth. The curve of the handle is perfect for my hand and seems to give my thumb more leverage on the thumbstud. The action of the Shrike is much smoother than that of my SERE 2000. To me the most interesting thing about the Shrike is that the clip is on the pivot end, making it tip down, the opposite of the SERE 2000. The blade is stamped "VG 10" on the front and "Moki Japan" on the reverse. Mine says 115 of 200 on the reverse. Whatever. It was shaving sharp out of the box. The Shrike is longer and very slightly thicker than the SERE. The SERE is a bit heavier and beefier, has a wider, thicker blade, a wider handle, and has a more pronounced guard. I can see the Shrike being favored as an EDC piece due to the narrower blade and handle. I am very pleased with my new Al Mark Shrike. It was well worth the price. Anyway, enough talk, on with the pictures. Here is the front view. Top is the SERE 2000, bottom is the Shrike:

 

[Rev. Pete]

Here is the reverse view. Top is the SERE 2000, bottom is the Shrike:

 

[Rev. Pete]

Here is a side-by-side comparison of thickness looking down the spine of the knives. The Shrike, on the left, is very slightly wider than the SERE 2000 (at the scales; the liners seem to the the same width). Note the big spacer on the SERE. This makes it heavier:

 

[Rev. Pete]

Here is the beauty shot. No reason for this picture . Left is the Shrike, right is the SERE 2000.

 

[komondor]

Thanks for the pics, Pete. I might just have to get one of those, since I love the S2K.

Which one do you like better, overall?

 

[Big D1]

Pete, thanks for the pics. The pics are high quality. If you do not mind me asking, are those scans or did you use a digital scanner, and what brand name and model did you use?

If that Shrike is smoother than a SERE 2000, it's definitely got to be one of the smoothest factory folders in this world. I really like the SERE 2000, and the Shrike is slowly but surely growing on me.
Big D1

 

[shootist16]

Great pics! You obviously know your way around a camera.

How secure is the Shrike in the hand? I had heard some people comment that they wouldn't want to stab anything with it because it had no guard. Does it feel like your hand would slide forward easily?

 

[Rev. Pete]

Thanks for the complements on the photographs. I use a Sony DSC-F707 digital camera and a homemade lightbox.

Which one do you like better, overall?

Tough question. I believe the knives have considerable overlap in their capabilities. I usually bring my SERE to the shooting range and that won't change. I sometimes need some light chopping (sharpening stakes) and the SERE is the better choice for that application. Around town either the Shrike or the SERE would work. I currently can't carry a big knife at work. That will change in a few weeks when we move to a new facility. Then I will be inclined to bring the Shrike since it is a little lighter. Or maybe because it is newer . Really, it is a tie for EDC use. Self-defense is another story, which I will address below.

How secure is the Shrike in the hand?

Here we have what could be considered a weakness of the Shrike. The scales are smooth and there is no pronounced guard. The handle does widen toward the front so your hand is not going to slip off in normal use. I believe that the Shrike is not intended for stabbing things. The shape should keep it secure it the hand but I would still have prefered textured scales. I suspect the smooth scales are intentional...

What is the goal of the Shrike? When I held it in my hand with my arm straight out, thumb up, and wrist locked it was obvious to me that this knife would be a very effective slashing tool. It sure looks menacing when held in this way. And it makes perfect sense of the pecular handle and blade shapes. There is even a place to rest your thumb at the top of the blade. In my opinion the Shrike is in the category of "stealth self-defense" knife. It looks cute and won't scare anyone until you assume the "ready for action" position.

 

[NGK-Webmaster]

I think Rev. Pete hit the nail on the head in his descriptions of the Shrike, I think though with the index on top of the blade for the thumb you do get a reasonable control of the knife, I think the SERE is better suited for hard work like chopping but the Shrike does feel like a good EDC, it's very solid built like the SERE and has unique look to it with the shpe of the blade, also when you hold it in a forward grip it has a slight cant to it that lets point easy naturaly like a hand gun, kind of like the Ayoob knife by spyderco points. This knife looks nothing like a AFCK lile some have mentioned, i dont think the AFCK is made near as strong as the Shrike. This is one of the kind of knives that you pick up and you love or you pick up and you dont. Al Mar fans will like it quite well im sure and may bring some more people into the Al Mar family because of it's "neat" look. The only thing i can see I would like better about the knife would be the scales, i think a good textured g-10 would make it almost a perfect knife......thumbs up from me.

 

[NGK-Webmaster]

Almost forgot........Great pics rev.

 

[one2gofst]

Great pics. The liners of the shrike look a bit thinner, but that could be the pictures. The shrike is absolutely gorgeous when it is CLOSED. Open, it looks alright, but closed it is beautiful. I think that the websites selling it would be well served to show it closed as well as open. Maybe I will pick one up eventually.

 

[shootist16]

I got this reply from Mr. Rexroat:

"I have had my Shrike (Factory) for several weeks now and have been carrying it. I went Elk hunting last week and was finally able to put it to the test, I used it to gut and skin my elk. It did a fine job and the curve of the handle felt good. I Also really like the VG 10 steel, it holds an edge very well and they come razor sharp right out of the box, as they should. I look forward to hearing the comments from the forum as more people get there Shrike's and are able to carry them."

 

[Jazzman]

Very nice knife and even nicer pics. I really need to pick up some Al Mar knives some day. Every time I see one, I fall for them more and more.
Matt

 

[ARtsig1]

Just got home a litle while ago and the UPS man had already paid a visit. Left my Al Mar Shrike of course. My first impressions were that it is smaller than the SERE, but of course it isn't, at least lengtwise. The blade and liners are a hair thinner than the SERE but are more than adequate for the knife( thicker than many out there) Lockup is excellent with the liner engaging just to the left of the blade tang. The liner is very secure, and with the bend being about halfway makes for a stiffer lock. The handle is some thicker and the curve along with the tapering handle feel VERY good in the hand. Your thumb just naturally falls on the serrated area at the back of the blade. The handle edges are nicely rounded so as not to bite your hand. As I sit here typing I have the Shrike laid out along with a JW Smith Scimitar, in taking turns of reaching down and picking up the knives, I believe the Shrike fits my hand faster and just plain indexes quicker. The blade has an absolute razor edge on it. It is as sharp as my Dozier Tactical 6, and that is SHARP to the nth degree. The blade is very pointy and may prove to be a weak point in the long run due to the thiness of the blade at the tip. It is weighted towards the handle and that really helps the feel of it in your hand. About the only negative I really have is the clip is too far down the handle for my taste. I would rather see it above the pivot.
All in all I think Al Mar has another real winner on their hands. The SERE came out at a time when many other knives were being released and didn't get a lot of press. Once people found out about it they loved it for the most part. The SERE impressed me as much as any knife has in all my years. It had a quality feel about it and a fit and finish that rivaled the best production knives and some custom knives. I think the Shrike may go on to do the same. It is not in the same category as the SERE but that shouldn't surprise us as there can be only one SERE! Rev. Pete got it right when he said "slasher" that is what this knife would excel at.

Dennis, sorry you have to wait until Monday, but believe me IT will be worth your wait!

 

[shootist16]

Originally posted by artsig1
Your thumb just naturally falls on the serrated area at the back of the blade.

That is the one thing I would add to the SERE. I believe I would prefer some serrations in the thumb area on it as well.

 

[komondor]

Originally posted by artsig1
The SERE came out at a time when many other knives were being released and didn't get a lot of press. Once people found out about it they loved it for the most part. The SERE impressed me as much as any knife has in all my years. It had a quality feel about it and a fit and finish that rivaled the best production knives and some custom knives.

When I show non-knife people the SERE they immediately are able to recognize the quality of the knife, and its impressive design and build, over other folders, including more expensive ones.

 

[geegee]

I just pulled out my SERE 2000 and looked at your pics. Oh man, it suddenly looked lonely ! geegee

 

[shootist16]

pic is from www.1sks.com

I immediately noticed, as one2gofst stated above, how good this knife looks in the closed position. I opened it and immediately thought... smoooooooooooooth. This is one of the slickest opening folders I have handled. Don't get me wrong. the ball detent holds the blade very secure. I can't flick it open with my wrist, but touch that thumb stud and the blade comes open in a flash. The smoothness is one o the things that really stands out in my mind about this folder. The handle feels very comfortable in a variety of positions. The handle feels natural in sabre grip as well as reverse. The handle does get wider clsoer to the blade. It doesn't have a pronunced guard. Definately more of a slasher than a stabber. Fit and finish are typical Al Mar. No blade play in any direction. The liner locks up on the left side of the tang, with plenty of room for wear. No surprise that the knife came from the factory razor sharp.

I only have two druthers:

1. I would like to see some traction grooves on the bottom of the liners near the blade.

2. I would like to see the scales slightly more textured.


Overall I think Al Mar has another winner.

 

[Dirk]

After seeing the pictures, i couldn't resist! I have one coming in on Tuesday. Once I get a chance to look at the knife and how the lock is set up, it might be possible for the home hobbyist to cutin a slight finger notch to add to the grip. Even without looking at it, you won't be able to take the notch to deep, becuase you will compromise the integrity of the lock. However, every little bit helps. Also, with correct positioning of the knife in your hand, you would be amazed at how secure the knife would be in a straight thrust.

NGK-Webmaster - I know what your saying about the AFCK compared to the SERE. I haven't tested either knife to failure, but I will say, don't underestimate the strength of the AFCK. I have been told by a well known knifemaker in my neck of the woods,(I'm sure some of you can guess who)that Benchmade did the lock right on the AFCK and the knife is stronger than it looks. I am, of course, referring to the 800 or 804, not the 806 Axis lock.

 

[J. MacDonald]

While I've always liked AlMar designs, to me the SERE 2000 seems like plenty of bandle and not quite enough blade. What I mean by that is that it I'm going to carry a knife that large when folded, I'd like a 4" or near 4" blade. I'm sure that the blade/handle ratio on the SERE 2000 makes for a very controllable knife and a sturdy lock up, I'd just like a bit longer blade in a package that size and bulk like my Socom Elite.

How does the Shrike compare when looked at with blade/handle ratio in mind? Is it like the Benchmade 94x series, but with a different blade angle, or is it a different animal all together?

jmx