I used to buy a lof of Al Mar traditional lockback knives but I haven't bought some in a few years now. So today when I went to their website to see their current models I see that they only have tactical and assisted openers now listed on their website. Has Al Mar discontinued the traditional models such as the Osprey?
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Al Mar Traditional Lockbacks Discontinued?
- Thread starter Mark Cust
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Yes, as far as I know they have moved production from Japan to China, so...
Do you know who bought them? U.S. or chinese?
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The takeover didn’t happen so long ago. There was a thread on BF discussing it at length. If you use the search function you’ll probably find it, and the answer to your question among other things.
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M
Mark Cust
I think this is the one:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/anyone-knows-whats-happening-with-al-mar-knives.1642172/
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/anyone-knows-whats-happening-with-al-mar-knives.1642172/
Here is the website of the company that now owns Al Mar.
https://www.ete1.com/
It seems really generic to me; like they don't actually make anything themselves.
https://www.ete1.com/
It seems really generic to me; like they don't actually make anything themselves.
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So, they did have a factory?
My understanding is that they did not have one, and that the production was always in Japan, right from the beginning. However, there are some real Al Mar experts here who can dive in to correct that if I’m wrong.
So, they did have a factory?
My understanding is that they did not have one, and that the production was always in Japan, right from the beginning. However, there are some real Al Mar experts here who can dive in to correct that if I’m wrong.
Not sure if there were production models made in USA. I think there might have been.
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Thank you for this - if anyone would know, you would!Not sure if there were production models made in USA. I think there might have been.
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We were wondering the same thing a few weeks ago on another thread or maybe it was on the Vintage Al Mar Knives group on Facebook...
Benchmade did some of the Autos (not sure about the Eagle autos that pop every once in a while) but those fixed blade SRO's in 154CM and S30V were apparently not made by them.
At the moment, this remains a mystery...
My theory is that it would be steel dependent.
AUS-6, AUS-8, ATS-34, VG10, Lam. VG10, Lam. ZDP-189 would all be made in Japan
154CM and S30V would be made in the USA...
Yes but I'd say it goes beyond a theory and is already proven since I believe Al Mar knives using 154CM and S30V have "Made in USA" on them and the other steels you listed have "Seki-Japan" on them.
Benchmade did indeed make the GPA for Al Mar, but Benchmade wasn't the only U.S. manufacturer with whom the company contracted. The SERT
the Auto-SERE
and the WOR-TAC (full size and mini)
were all manufactured by Paragon Cutlery in North Carolina.
I believe the Auto SERE 2000 was a return to Benchmade, but I don't know that for a fact. The lines and grinds sure look right, though.
I don't know who made the original SERE Operator. It was very well executed, but there were numerous American companies capable of doing that level of work back then.
Of course TOPS began making the new Mini SERE Operator in 2017.
Al Mar has never had a manufacturing facility that I'm aware of. It's only ever been a design company that contracted manufacturing.
-Steve
the Auto-SERE
and the WOR-TAC (full size and mini)
were all manufactured by Paragon Cutlery in North Carolina.
I believe the Auto SERE 2000 was a return to Benchmade, but I don't know that for a fact. The lines and grinds sure look right, though.
I don't know who made the original SERE Operator. It was very well executed, but there were numerous American companies capable of doing that level of work back then.
Of course TOPS began making the new Mini SERE Operator in 2017.
Al Mar has never had a manufacturing facility that I'm aware of. It's only ever been a design company that contracted manufacturing.
-Steve
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2013
- Messages
- 147
