Anyone handled the SERE Operator?

Minuteman,

I know what you mean!!! I do have several fixed blades that I like a lot, but I can't carry them on my body (Maryland... :( ) So I have to stick to folders (Axis, Compression, and Frame locks are my new bestest buddies. ;) )

Re: Lube... I clean with WD-40... and I lube my pivots with Tuf-Glide, but I'm pretty careful about not getting it on the tang... and the three customs where it's failed on were scrubbed clean (two were freshly refurbed from the maker!)

Just had some bad luck, I guess. When you've gone thru as many as I have, you do get a few that fall through the cracks I suppose...

:)

Take care and stay safe. I trust you didn't do any serious damage with that Endura?

-jon
 
Originally posted by biogon
I trust you didn't do any serious damage with that Endura?

-jon
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Nothing major, just a little blood, that's all. But it sure was a shock. I had never had one close on me and a certainly wasn't expecting it. I guess I didn't believe it was possible for my palm to press it in like that. I've noticed since then that Spyderco has added a little notch in that area of the lock, so I must not be the only one.

You know one idea I have always liked is the Lake And Walker Knife Safety (LAWKS®), though I have never had one. Columbia River Knife and Tool puts this on some of their liner locks. If you plan to use the knife hard, you can rotate a safety into place that physically blocks the liner lock from being able to move over.

Sorry about the Maryland thing. Have you thought about voting all of the leftists out of office and replacing them with Americans?
 
:grumpy: I just received the Al Mar SERE Operator with G 10 grips from the Cutlery Shoppe. Unfortunately, the model they sent was the old 154CM steel - with the G10 grips (I'll get to those in a minute). I reviewed the ad and it simply referred to the "new" SERE Operator. Under "special instructions" on my order form I specifically wrote: "Please make sure that this is the model with S30V steel" - to avoid this type of thing.

When I called the 800 number, the woman who answered was very courteous but informed me that the only G10 models remaining (4 units) were all 154CM steel. I assume that this means that these grips will no longer be abvailable for the real "new" S30V models. She didn't know.

Anyway, after the holiday tomorrow, back it goes. What a disappointment.

Because I already have a prylon handled S30V model, I was still able to compare the two grips. The two knives have some noticable differences. The 154Cm model has a much shorter swedge - it's cut back about 2 and 1/2 inches from the tip vs 3 inches on the S30V model. So there's more steel in the blade. The 154CM model weighs about 6 oz. and the S30V model weighs about 5 oz. the difference is noticable. The balance is neutral in the S30V model while it is slightly forward in the 154CM.

The G10 grips were very comfortable and grippy. They fit perfectly. They appeared to be the same shape and width as the prylon grips and were definitely an improvement. Definitely worth it if they came on the S30V model. On the discontinued 154CM model I think they're too pricy. Sheaths are the same.

I see no reason to keep the knife just for the grips. Any comments would be appreciated. I still have a few days before I return it.
 
Oh no! The dreaded Old Stock problem. Too bad. Probably had dust all over the box when they pulled it off the shelf.

If I were you I'd send it back and get the Simonich Gunner Grip custom model for only $27.30 more (if they can guarantee you it'll be S30V). You have to pay the return shipping anyway.

It is interesting that you got to compare the two side by side.
 
Minuteman -

My impression was that these G10 grips are no longer available. That the only ones remaining are on these last 4 154CM models. It doesn't really influence my decision to return the knife. But I'll follow up on your suggestion. I hope you're right and that this is just an old stock problem.
 
I have the 154CM Operator. It's light but tough, which I think makes it a great knife for hiking and backpacking purposes. I hate the sheath, though, and am thinking of having a leather sheath custom made for my Operator.

With regard to the SERE 2000, my experience mirrors that of biogon's: my SERE's lockup SEEMED secure (had a nice *thunk* sound to it, exibited no blade play at all), but in reality would fail distressingly easily. This experience put me off liner locks entirely. Too bad, because the SERE was otherwise a great knife. I'd love to see a framelock version.
 
Originally posted by panella
Minuteman -

My impression was that these G10 grips are no longer available. That the only ones remaining are on these last 4 154CM models. It doesn't really influence my decision to return the knife. But I'll follow up on your suggestion. I hope you're right and that this is just an old stock problem.
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Oh, you meant the G10 Gunner Grips! My mistake. I got confused because I think the old 154CM models came with flat factory G10 grips (like on a SERE 2000), that were changed to molded prylon when they came out with the S30V model. So I believe they removed G10 and replaced it with custom G10 on these knives.

This all starts to explain why a Simonich custom gripped knife was selling only $27.30 more than a regular one -- a discontinued model.

I certainly wouldn't pay that much just to get a set of grips, even if they were made by Simonich. On the other hand it's not like 154CM is some kind of low grade steel. Are you sure the S30V model is really that much better?
 
Originally posted by Nathan S
With regard to the SERE 2000, my experience mirrors that of biogon's: my SERE's lockup SEEMED secure (had a nice *thunk* sound to it, exibited no blade play at all), but in reality would fail distressingly easily.
Click to expand...
I haven't whacked mine, but I have now held it down and pushed on the back of the blade as hard as I can. I felt like it was welded open.

I would like to know exactly what the difference is. If I had a good one and a bad one side by side, I'd get to the bottom of this!
 
I certainly wouldn't pay that much just to get a set of grips, even if they were made by Simonich. On the other hand it's not like 154CM is some kind of low grade steel. Are you sure the S30V model is really that much better? - Minuteman
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I can only compare it to the ATS-34 blades that I have. They're all excellent. But I really think my S30V Operator is a step up in edge holding. Will I avoid 154CM? Hell no. But considering the overall price, I'd rather have the premium steel. Just a matter of preference. I can live without the grips. Maybe they'll become available as a seperate purchase option later from Simonich?
 
Originally posted by Minuteman
I haven't whacked mine, but I have now held it down and pushed on the back of the blade as hard as I can. I felt like it was welded open. I would like to know exactly what the difference is. If I had a good one and a bad one side by side, I'd get to the bottom of this!
Click to expand...

My SERE held up fine to a steady push, but failed repeatedly when given a light - to - moderate tap on the spine against the palm of my hand. And before anyone jumps on my case about "knife abuse" or "inappropiate testing", let my specify that we're not talking about hammering on the blade. This, I repeat, is a "light to moderate" blow against my hand, something that I really think a "survival" knife should be able to absorb without any problems.
 
OK, well I've pushed on my Al Mar SERE 2000 as hard as I can, whacked it against my hand as hard as I care to, and then whacked it some more over the edge of a table. No movement.

I am convinced that there are subtle little variations in the geometry of these liner locks that is making the difference between the good ones and the bad ones.

Never the less, I am getting more and more interested in the Spyderco ATR with the compression lock. Sal, please engage second and third shifts so we can have one by Christmas!
 
I love my SERE Operator. I have the S30V model. I do like the G10 on the SERE 2000 over the Prylon, but thats just my preference. What I like about the SERE Operator is that its stylish and not very evil looking, so if I feel like going out and not wearing my badge, sheeple will still leave me alone.

On the other hand, i always get strange looks from sheeple when wearing my Buck Strider 888 Solution.

Speaking of the SERE Operator, if anyone is interested I do have one in the trade forum on this board.
 
ReconTech, I have ranted about this before, but I'll do it again anyway...

For the first 300 years of history in America, nothing was more normal than for a person to be seen in public carrying a fixed bladed knife. And we lived through this period without mass carnage or the notion that to do so was prima facie evidence of criminal intent. If anything, it would have been considered odd for a man not to have had some kind of knife with him (those would have been the people we would have wondered if we could trust).

Now, carry a fixed bladed knife openly in public and, in addition to the strange looks and gasps from fleeing soccer moms, you might end up with some serious explaining to do to the authorities should someone go so far as to complain about it. This would be irregardless of whether or not it was entirely legal to do so. And after the conversation, your knife might well end up being someone else's property.

The real crime is that we allow these little "social precedents" to take root. Of course, as time passes, the leftists relentlessly find ways to convert their social expectations (like: people should never be allowed to carry knives in public) into real, enforceable criminal laws. Thereafter, we permanently lose the opportunity to do things we once had the right to do.

Our recently discovered fearfulness over fixed bladed knives has, I'm sure, been a great thing for the portion of the knife industry that specializes in making folding designs. But it, unfortunately, leaves the rest of us unable to carry the much stronger and safer fixed bladed models in many locations. That means a safe, useful, high quality knife like a SERE Operator too often has to be left at home. And even if the law doesn't require this, you can always count on the strange looks.
 
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