Dating vintage Al Mar knives?

[bostondan]

Ive checked at the old catalogs but I cant seem to find a way to date a knife that a family member recently gave me that he bought in (what he thinks) is the late 90s but their memory sucks so it could have been in the 2000s lol - It definitely looks like a 1005/SS Eagle, but even the older catalogs do not have the A M K stamp on the larger blade model, just the short one

Is there a place with more catalogs than https://archive.org/search?query=creator:"Al+Mar+Knives" ? Or any other way of dating this? Difficult to see

https://imgur.com/jDpQKaW

https://imgur.com/FZ1w7g7

https://imgur.com/hMpfoGv

https://imgur.com/9iiH2ea

 

[Mk-211]

Look up the 1002SS, it matches your knife more closely.

Shows listed as the stainless steel Hawk knife. Arizona Custom Knives has one listed.

 

[bostondan]

Look up the 1002SS, it matches your knife more closely.

Shows listed as the stainless steel Hawk knife. Arizona Custom Knives has one listed.

The 1002 blade and OAL is too short for a match

 

[killgar]

Based on the blade length (3"), I'd say it's a model 1003-SS Falcon. Al Mar Eagles have a 4" blade.

From an Al Mar catalog-

 

[bostondan]

What year has the A M K stamp?

Based on the blade length (3"), I'd say it's a model 1003-SS Falcon. Al Mar Eagles have a 4" blade.

From an Al Mar catalog-

View attachment 2876668

 

[killgar]

What year has the A M K stamp?

I have no idea.

 

[OPSEC-C-C]

I feel your frustration. I have 2 beautiful dealer folder catalogs with color pamphlets, price lists and more, from what I am guessing is the late 80's. None of these has a date anywhere. I would appreciate any help dating these.

 

[OPSEC-C-C]

 

[Crag the Brewer]

I prefer brunettes.....

 

[DKong94]

 

[DKong94]

 

[dax0007]

Boy you are getting allot of help for a non gold member )! anyways -The only person I know of who could be fairly accurate on the date would be Jeff Hall on Facebook page vintage Al mar knives..

From my experience it was made after 1985.. Def not first gen 79-82

 

[failbot]

I caught this thing, I wonder what year it might be? The most similar is almost the same, but with through slots "quicksilver" linerlock 2001 or so

 

[OPSEC-C-C]

My catalog has the Quicksilver folding knives. Nonel of the thumb studs are plastic so possibly someone who knows when they were introduced might get you closer to an age. The "SECRET SERVICE" looks like an after purchase engraving, but I honestly do not know that much about Al Mar knives.

 

[killgar]

I found a few other Al Mar "Secret Service" knives. These have the typical steel thumb stud, and they have no "Al Mar" marking on the handle. I wonder if the thumb stud on your knife is an aftermarket replacement of some kind. Is it plastic? I've never seen an Al Mar knife with a thumb stud like that. It looks like Al Mar always used metal thumb studs. I've never seen an Al Mar with a plastic thumb stud.

 

[failbot]

Thank you both! I searched the internet but couldn't find these photos, I also thought it was aftermarket engraving. The guy I bought the knife from says he bought it in Japan, in Tokyo, and it's always been like that. The pin is made of some kind of FRN, the surface texture is very similar to a Spyderco handle

 

[The Whip]

I feel your frustration. I have 2 beautiful dealer folder catalogs with color pamphlets, price lists and more, from what I am guessing is the late 80's. None of these has a date anywhere. I would appreciate any help dating these.
View attachment 2877319View attachment 2877320

I can't give you an exact date, but I can narrow it for you. I have those same brochures/catalogs, and I received them while working at a knife store in 1990. The store manager didn't retain old catalogs for more than a couple of years, so that puts them roughly in the 1988-1990 time frame.

I always thought it was interesting that Al Mar chose that folder format with the full-page specification sheets. The colored, glossy pages are especially nice. But there is little doubt that a traditionally bound catalog makes for a much better product presentation. Loose sheets of paper in a folder are hard to keep track of, particularly in a store setting. Since Al Mar switched (or reverted) to traditional catalogs soon afterward, I'm guessing others felt the same.

Thank you both! I searched the internet but couldn't find these photos, I also thought it was aftermarket engraving. The guy I bought the knife from says he bought it in Japan, in Tokyo, and it's always been like that. The pin is made of some kind of FRN, the surface texture is very similar to a Spyderco handle

That makes sense that it was acquired in Japan. To my knowledge, it wasn't released as a model in America. There are numerous Japan-only knives bearing the Al Mar logo that never appeared as American Al Mar offerings.


-Steve

 

[failbot]

He is small, 65-66 mm blade. Near Buck 301, 501 and Boker Barlow. It's a pity they don't make them anymore, titanium framelock and magnacut or elmax would go well together here