Best Spyderco SD?

razcob said:
Wrong...........the SERE is a liner lock.
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Wrong, the original Al Mar SERE folders were Front-locks (Mid/Back-locks designed by Harvey McBurnette & Al Mar and currently used by Spyderco, among others)! The Al Mar SERE 2K is a liner lock!

You shouldn't rush to judgement before you know what is what. Besides, Yablanowitz clearly stated, "the last SERE he saw," and how do you know that it was the SERE 2K and not one of the older models that he saw?

3G
 
razcob said:
LMAO.....you obviously haven't compared the Military's thin liner lock to an Almar SERE. There is no comparison.
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You're right there is no comparison! You obviously haven't read of the many reported failures of the SERE 2K's liner-lock, as opposed to the relatively few reported failures of the Military's "thin" (and nested) liner-lock.

These should help you:

http://www.cutleryscience.com/reviews/al_mar_sere_2k.html

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=357135&highlight=SERE

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156326&highlight=SERE

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156697&highlight=SERE

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90632&highlight=SERE

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=145880&highlight=SERE

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=412756&highlight=SERE

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=400576&highlight=SERE

3G
 
3Guardsmen said:
Wrong, the original Al Mar SERE folders were Front-locks (Mid/Back-locks designed by Harvey McBurnette & Al Mar and currently used by Spyderco, among others)! The Al Mar SERE 2K is a liner lock!

You shouldn't rush to judgement before you know what is what. Besides, Yablanowitz clearly stated, "the last SERE he saw," and how do you know that it was the SERE 2K and not one of the older models that he saw?

3G
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The last time I gave Al Mar knives more than a passing glance was back when he was alive. I have never even seen a SERE 2K. The SERE (which is what razcob said to begin with) was a big, heavy, sturdy lockback folder with no clip, intended to be carried in a belt pouch and totally unsuited for the application under discussion.

And just for the record, there is more to a liner lock than the thickness of the leaf. If more people understood that, there might be a lot fewer liner locks out there to fail. I own quite a few, and in my opinion the Military's is the best engineered and executed liner lock I have ever seen.
 
3Guardsmen said:
You're right there is no comparison! You obviously haven't read of the many reported failures of the SERE 2K's liner-lock, as opposed to the relatively few reported failures of the Military's "thin" (and nested) liner-lock.

These should help you:

http://www.cutleryscience.com/reviews/al_mar_sere_2k.html

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=357135&highlight=SERE

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156326&highlight=SERE

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156697&highlight=SERE

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90632&highlight=SERE

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=145880&highlight=SERE

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=412756&highlight=SERE

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=400576&highlight=SERE

3G
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Thanks for the information. The skelotinized liner lock seems to be the source of the knifes problem.
 
yablanowitz said:
The last time I gave Al Mar knives more than a passing glance was back when he was alive. I have never even seen a SERE 2K. The SERE (which is what razcob said to begin with) was a big, heavy, sturdy lockback folder with no clip, intended to be carried in a belt pouch and totally unsuited for the application under discussion.

And just for the record, there is more to a liner lock than the thickness of the leaf. If more people understood that, there might be a lot fewer liner locks out there to fail. I own quite a few, and in my opinion the Military's is the best engineered and executed liner lock I have ever seen.
Click to expand...

http://www.cutleryscience.com/reviews/military_s30v.html
You've probably already seen this review. The Miltary's lock outperformed the Al Mar's. Thanks for the advice.
 
I own the Chinook3 and am in the process of buying a fully serrated SS Police.
They are my 2 top choices depending on whether you want G10(nice grip but grabby on clothing) or SS(easy to remove and very slim).
I would not pick the Civvie because it is to expensive and not a very good choice if you want to use your knife for other things besides SD. The SS Police is probably the best choice because the slim handles will fit in a suit better.

If you want the G10 handles but don't like the Chinook's blade (some love it some hate it) I would recommend the Manix (lockback whch I prefer) or the Military(linerlock).
There are also the miniManix and Paramilitay if they are to large.

There is a good reason why the SS Police has been around so long.
 
Unsub said:
I own the Chinook3 and am in the process of buying a fully serrated SS Police.
They are my 2 top choices depending on whether you want G10(nice grip but grabby on clothing) or SS(easy to remove and very slim).
I would not pick the Civvie because it is to expensive and not a very good choice if you want to use your knife for other things besides SD. The SS Police is probably the best choice because the slim handles will fit in a suit better.

If you want the G10 handles but don't like the Chinook's blade (some love it some hate it) I would recommend the Manix (lockback whch I prefer) or the Military(linerlock).
There are also the miniManix and Paramilitay if they are to large.

There is a good reason why the SS Police has been around so long.
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Thank you for your input. I think with most of the considerations, it's the width of the blade in an IWB situation. In the rear pocket of my trousers, it's not really a factor. Suit pants have very deep pockets.
 
I think some excellent, well thought recommendations have been made. I will make my final tally on Monday and order the winner. I will probably look at the top four and review the pros and cons for each.
The top four recommendaed are:
Civilian-4
Chinook-4
Police-4
The Military and Endura 4-3 votes each
Thanks to all for your guidance. Like I indicated, it's always better to individuals with field experience. Without this input, I might have chanced the P'Kal. I have many cool knives that I love owning but I don't EDC them for one reason or another.
 
Police is now #1 recommended with 5 votes. Three way tie for 2nd civilian, chinook, endura with 4 votes. The military trails with 3 votes.
 
nobody mentioned swick/spot? In a SD situation, I would feel more comfortable having a C07 police in my hands than any other spydercos (given the local law allows 4"+ blade folders, such as NC)
 
3mptin3ss said:
thats cause most of these people arent self defense experts.
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I carry a police along with a few other Spyderco's. I dont use them for defense that is what my Sig 229 at my side if for. Since you are an expert what do you recommend?
 
military all the way. I have 4 of them and they are amazing just got a sheath from survival sheaths. I now carry 2 all the time and they are the perfect EDC IMO.
 
Ashtxsniper- I've got your and Yabs backs. Don't let the trolls and amatuers bug you. ;):D

I do this stuff for a living- train civilians and LEO's to stay alive. My vote goes to the Police model first (more so if you can find a G-10 flat ground Police, my
personal "bad neighborhood" blade) And either the Military or Endura next. And a 50/50 blade at most as fully serrated blades tend not to slash as deeply and
occassionally get caught in heavy clothing, especially zippers. PE is really best.

A couple of tips- get your Police bead blasted (not sandblasted) to improve the grip when sweaty, do not sharpen the swedge. Get some actual street
blade training from a reputable teacher. At least view some dvd's from shivworks, Keating, Janich. Practice and situational awareness is what keeps you alive.

BK6
 
ashtxsniper said:
Since you are an expert what do you recommend?
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SS handles are a big no no. sure, you could still use the police to defend yourself for sure, but SS handles increase the chances of it slipping in your hand meaning a few things. you may lose your weapon. your attacker or his buddy may pick it up and use it on you. if you stab someone and hit bone, the SS handles increase the chance of your hands sliding over the blade, cutting your hand in the process. the handle of the police doesnt have a fingerguard, so stabbing with it could be risky.if your talking about the g10 police, thats a whole different story.

i recommended the fully serrated military and fuilly serrated endura.

the civilian/matriarch/harpy is pretty good, though its a bit less versatile because of its design. you cant really stab to well with it, and the thin tip of the harpy/civiliam may pierce flesh very well, but i dont know how well it will hold up if you hit bone. you cant really thrust with it.

dallara is good cause it can be enertia opened very easily and smoothly due to the ball lock. this is handy in a self defense situation as there is less to fumble around with while your trying to deploy your blade while your thoughts are racing. its also sturdy enough to not wear out by being enertia opened all the time. its frn handle is VERY well designed and lets you get a real solid grip on it.

the non spyderco knives i carry for SD are a kershaw 10 speedbump, and 4 inch cold steel voyager frn, and sometimes a kershaw whirlwind so i could feel cool about carrying the same knife matt damon used in the departed lol....
 
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