Al Mar Warrior - black blade / camo handle

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Dec 23, 2005
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Al Mar Warrior

The Warrior knife, was designed in 1978 by Bob Taylor and Randy Wanner, both of whom had extensive training in Close Quarters Combat and between them had amassed over forty years of training and teaching.
The late Michael Echanis was also doing research on the failings of "Combat Knives".
Echanis's research and theories reinforced what they already knew, "Combat Knives" available at that time were only rehashed ideas of the Bowie, Tanto, and Dagger, which were centuries old with no major changes.
The problem with these designs was that they weakened the grip and/or provided limited motion.
The Warrior was designed as a pure combat knife used primarily in the reverse grip style, and it increased the strength of the user and added full range of motion.
The serrated secondary edge, the "soft handle" and the curve of the Warrior were unheard of at the time.
After building the first non-working prototype Mr. Taylor took the basic design and utilized a HP-3000 Main Frame computer and maximized the angles to even further enhance the Warriors capabilities.
A number of working prototype's were produced by a number of custom makers and the Warrior became a reality.
Unfortunately the Warrior design was deemed impossible to build with the manufacturing capabilities of that time, and none of the factory makers even wanted to attempt to make the Warrior.

In 1991 Al Mar, a innovator in the industry and radical designer himself, decided to attempt to manufacture the Warrior, as he figured that manufacturing technology had caught up with the design.
That's when AMK started to manufacture their version of the Taylor/Wanner design in Japan.

This is my own example, a black blade / camo handled version, mint in original box.





Specs:

Overall length: 13.2 inches (33,5 cm)
Blade length: 7.1 inches (18,0 cm)
Blade thickness: 0.2 inches (5,93 mm)
Steel: AUS-6 stainless
Handle material: artificial rubber with finger grooves and grip-enhancing texture
Guard: steel (5,0 mm thick)
Butt: Steel striking pommel
Weight: 530 grams
Sheath: Leather
 
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This is a super sweet knife, and a pretty rare one also! Nice write up on one of my favorites. I have the same knife and plan to keep it for years to come. Good luck with yours!
 
I wish they would re-release it in "classic" form like the above, except with thinner blade stock. I had a replica one, which seemed to come from the same moulds / grinders and you could see the design, but it was way too heavy.
I remember there was some dispute between Al Mar and the factory over steel choice, and the resulting too-thick blade.
 
Similar look to the spyderco warrior and I've heard that this al mar was its influence. Is it as effective as this al mar?
 
The spyderco may be more fuctional as an attack weapon because it is paper light( i am no expert) but the AL MAR Warrior feels like no other.. Its a quality blade that feels like a tank in the hand.. the spyderco feels like a razor blade.. i was not impressed with the spyderco at all compared to the AL MAR Warrior.. I have a black and satin model. i hope one day i can score a camo.. love them..
check out my site for other cool al mars.. (underconstruction--www.vintageknifegrails.com..
 
Spyderco is about to release a Pygmy Warrior, Rekat produced some small and large ones as well as the Pocket Hobbit folder. If I remember correctly the fixed blades were in Carbon or ATS stainless.
 
I really like this design.
I only wander whether the catching serrations (they DO NOT cut) interfere in stabbing flesh.
 
I really like this design.
I only wander whether the catching serrations (they DO NOT cut) interfere in stabbing flesh.

I own a Almar Warrior in plain finish the serrations do a fine job for cutting, they're more than just for trapping techniques. I also sharpened the top edge so it's basically double edged.
 
I had one of the black Al Mar Warriors from the first production. But sadly it was stolen a bunch of years ago.
 
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