Disapointment

[WadeF]

At first glance the SERE 2000 looks like a stoudt knife, that is, until you inspect the liner lock. The liner lock is this knife's weak point. If you look at where the lock springs, a lot of metal has been removed. There are only two little strips of metal at the base of the lock which allows it to flex. I can see this area of the liner bending, and staying bent, if you were to slam the blade into something like a phone book. The damage is probably not fixable and the liner would have to be replaced. This is just speculation of course, but if I had to pick a point for the knife to fail, this is where I would expect it.

 

[WadeF]

Here are some pictures of my SERE 2000's liner lock. Notice how the liner lock gets thinned out and an oval hole is drilled into the middle of it. I'm not expert on making liner locks, but it seems to have more material removed than most. It's almost like the liner lock is supported by two pieces of metal about the size of a pair of tines that you'd find on the average dinner fork.

While I think this is fine for normal use of the knife, I'd be nervous about stabbing the knife into something and putting a lot of stress on the liner.

Keep in mind this is a close up photo so the liner may appear larger than it really is, depending on the size of your monitor and your monitor's resolution.

 

[Siggyhk]

Nice pictures. And good point.
I have a question. Ok, say your knife is logo side down edge up, and the blade is open, but the lock isn't engaged yet, does the liner lock extend past the g-10 slightly, or is it flush with the scale? Looking straight down from above my knife, I can see that the liner does pass the scale ever so slightly between the "hand gaurd" and the middle peak of the handle. Wondering if it was always like that.
Come to think of it, if the lock did bend, it would of bent in, right? Not out.

 

[WadeF]

Nice pictures. And good point.
I have a question. Ok, say your knife is logo side down edge up, and the blade is open, but the lock isn't engaged yet, does the liner lock extend past the g-10 slightly, or is it flush with the scale? Looking straight down from above my knife, I can see that the liner does pass the scale ever so slightly between the "hand gaurd" and the middle peak of the handle. Wondering if it was always like that.

Well, my liner is flush and in line with the G-10 all the way down the handle (I can perhaps see a hairline of the liner behind the G-10), looking at it from the side. Does your liner come above the G-10 when looking at it sideways with the blade open, but the lock not engaged? If so, it's probably bent.

 

[TorzJohnson]

Mr. TorzJohnson,
You obviously already know that I wont be doing you any favors, so what do you care. I mean really, why do you even waste you're time with a post like this? -Tryin to be cute? Oh, just because you have free speach and have the right? I don't understand...

First, let me apologize for sticking my nose in your business. It's just that, over the years, I've had true friends do me favors out of the goodness of their hearts. And I've had people who helped me out, but with strings attached, or for an advantage. It's a sore spot with me, but as you point out, I'm really just wasting my time on this. Welcome to the forums and good luck in your future trading.

 

[Siggyhk]

Well, that was a much more approprate responce than I expected, Mr. TorzJohnson. I Understand your point of view, and respect it fully. No harm done, and thank you.
As far as the liner, I just noticed that when the blade is closed all the way, the liner can be seen out of line even more so. A very small amount, but clearly different than the rest of the knife.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

The cutout on the SERE is there to allow the liner to bend as with the full thickness it would be too stiff to move by hand. This is why integrals have scallops.

However an actual cutout is the worse way to achieve this because it weakens it too much along the other vector and now under a compressive load the liner will buckle about the inside strip much faster than it does on a solid liner. Thus if you go so thick you have to do a cutout you end up with a *weaker* lock.

And yes, the tang of the blade should be way harder than the liner, the failure of the SERE in this manner was the first such example I have seen. Even on really cheap liner locks I have never seen the liner compress the blade.

-Cliff

 

[Eric J]

I have never had a problem with my Sere 2K. I have stabbed it into telephone books, cut many pieces of cardboard, and used it for all sorts of general work. It is not clear to me what has caused the problem you have described. Perhaps yours is deffective. Send it to Al Mar and get it fixed.

 

[deltaunit]

I have a SERE 2K (and have reccommdended them to family and friends) and it has performed exceptionally, i have used it for the mundane tasks like cutting an apple to the extreme task of batonning wood for kindling. I would contact Al Mar and have them look at it you may have a bad one and it does happen in production. As a note, I keep in mind teh SERE 2k is a semi-custom knife and a lot of hand work goes inot it. From the dealing i have had with Al mar Knives over the years they will take care of you.