Al Mar Ultralight series: Opinions?

Harry Callahan

Fresh outta warranty
Gold Member
Joined
Mar 17, 2002
Messages
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Does anyone EDC an Al Mar Ultralight? I'm specifically interested in the large model (Eagle). The pics in the '05 catalog really leave a lot to the imagination, namely the clip. How does it attatch? Anybody have some pics?

How does this knife hold up to hard use? I really like the slim profile. Reminds me of the micarta Jess Horn spyderco. Does Moki make this knife?
 
Harry, I have the Ultralight Talon Falcon, and I can say the build quality is excellent. The knife locks tight like a vault. But I haven't used it for anything other than cutting open my mail, so no idea on hard use. It is made by Moki - says Moki on the blade. Wished it was a VG-10 blade instead of AUS-8.
 
I picked up an Eagle Talon Ultralight earlier this year, and when summer came, it was probably my most carried EDC. With micarta scales, no liners and a narrow blade, it weighs as close to nothing as you can get in a 4"-blade folder, making it ideal for carry in shorts or lightweight pants.

The clip design is unique to Al Mar. There's a hole through the handle, like a lanyard hole, but threaded and with a notch on either side. The clip has a single screw hole with a small tab that matches the notch in the handle hole; one large screw holds it in place, while the tab and notch set-up keeps the clip from rotating around the screw. Very simple, very effective. I'll be taking some other knife pics tonight, I'll try to add a couple of the clip later.

It's definitely a lightweight knife, not the sort of thing you'd use to baton through a log, so I'm not sure what you'd consider appropriate "heavy use". But the blade is ground from ~1/10" stock, so it's not exactly flimsy, either. I've used mine for the usual mail opening, but also food prep, cutting up cardboard boxes, opening those dreaded clam-packs, slicing rope and cord of various sizes, a bit of light whittling, etc. and it handled it all just fine. Despite the lack of metallic liners, the micarta handle is fairly thick and quite rigid, and the shape of the handle is quite comfortable for such a slim knife.
 
I agree with everything Gryffin wrote. I just want to say a few more things.

Above all, I must say that the fit and finish is excellent. I have one of each size (Hawk, Eagle, and Falcon) and they are all very good.

On one of these (I don't remember which size is which name) when looking at the spine of the knife when the blade is open, you can't see where the lock bar ends and the blade begins. The finish is that good. On the other two, you can just barely see the division if the light is just right.

I would highly recomend them and I am always really surprised that there isn't more talk about them here.
 
Thanks for the lowdown fellas. I knew the fit and finish on these was top notch. I'm mainly interested in whether or not these knives can hold up under hard use. As much as I love my Spydercos, I'm interested in a slimline folder comparable to the old Jess Horn spydies. I don't want to risk losing or breaking my Horns so I'm considering these as an alternative.

Don't know how I'll get along with the thumbstuds however... :(
 
I have a Falcon, and with the needle point, I wouldn't consider it for hard use. The backspring is a bit stiff, not flickable, and the stud surface is a bit rough on the thumb compared to other makes.
 
The first really nice non-SAK I ever got was one of the early Ultralights (the med. size one). Wonderful knife, and I miss it a lot. Sigh. And you're right that it has some strong similarities to the Spyderco Horn, another of my favorites. Various AG Russell knives also are in the same class. All that said, I don't think that these knives are ideal for hard use. (Of course they'd work well on hard tasks if sufficient care were taken with technique.) But for hard use - potential abuse of the knife - that look at options like the AG Russell Brute, the Manix, or many others. Another one to consider is the Swamp Rat Rat Trap.
Review here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-322686.html

Pics here: http://images.google.com/images?svn...=safari&rls=en&q="Rat+Trap"+Swamp&btnG=Search

Order here: https://host4.apollohosting.com/swampratknifeworks/Order/order.mv?
 
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