Final Purchase? Fanton HB-03 or Al Mar SERE 2000?

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Tyronethepro

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Oct 25, 2010
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I've been starting to run out of room in the knife cabinet, I have old knife boxes everywhere, I figured i've been focusing too much on quantity and not quality. It's time to change that and get myself a good quality folder, and probably the last knife for the year. I've recently clocked some good OT at work, and I figured my fun money to be around $300.
I've been eying the Fantoni HB-03 and The Al-Mar SERE 2000 recently. I like the straight lines that go into each of these knives. So I'll cut to the chase. I don't know which one to pick, this is where I will need your help.
I like the VG-10 on the SERE, I know a couple dudes who swear by their SERE 2000. The VG-10 that goes into them is very well heat treated, takes a wicked edge, and the knife is pretty comfortable. There is no denying that it is a great blade.
The Fantoni on the other hand, I'm going in blind. I've never used S35VN, I've never even handled a Fantoni, all I hear from the rumor mill is they are very good knives, good quality with tight tolerances. I just know I dig stone wash finishes and according to the internets, The HB-03 has one.
I'm looking to replace my primary EDC's, a Boker Plus Dark Hollow, Benchmade 551 Griptilian, CRKT M1 and CRKT Foresight with something of more quality. The knife will be cutting boxes, tape, paper, gutting fish, breasting grouse, skinning deer, maybe some general food prep, and some plastic cutting. Just the basic EDC tasks.
So I guess what I'm asking is, any of you guys/gals dig either blade? If so, which one would you go with? I know I would like a premium steel, black slab G10 handles and tip up carry, so if y'all got some more ideas, they're more than welcome, I'd just prefer it's under $300, is 3 1/2" - 4" blade length, with slab G10 and a satin, stonewash or bead blast blade.
 
Personally I really dig William Harsey's designs, so for me the Fantoni HB-03 is a no-brainer. Only S35VN I have right now is in my Hinderer Eklipse, and its a great all around PM steel.
 
The Sere is iconic for its comfort, that said the Fantoni is a gorgeous design though.
 
You know what that means right you have to get both and then sell the one you like least, lol.
 
cchu518 said:
You know what that means right you have to get both and then sell the one you like least, lol.
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That's about the stage I was at remarkably, but I decided I should buy groceries this month :D

KAEDC said:
Personally I really dig William Harsey's designs, so for me the Fantoni HB-03 is a no-brainer. Only S35VN I have right now is in my Hinderer Eklipse, and its a great all around PM steel.
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The S35VN holding up well? And does it take a pretty good edge? I really dig Harsey designs myself, but the only one I ever owned is a Gerber Air Ranger.
 
S35VN holds up fine for me, it sounds like your edc use harder than mine by a fair bit tho so my comparison is a bit skewed, but it sharpens very easily for me on a sharpmaker and holds a good working edge for quite a while before I feel the need to sharpen it. Also, if I read things right Fantoni targets their S35VN slightly harder than Hinderer, 61-62rc vs 60-61rc. Not a huge difference but that should ideally translate to slightly (probably imperceptibly) more wear resistance at the expense of a little ease of sharpening in the Fantoni. S35VN take a fine edge but it does not, in my experience, take as fine an edge as the VG-10 in my Boker Kwaiken, but it does go much long than VG-10 before I want to sharpen it. No rust issues with either steel.
 
Thank you KAEDC, that's exactly what I wanted to know :thumbup: I figure if CPM-154, 440C and Aus-8 have held up through my tasks as well as they have the S35VN should hold up great. I, as well, noticed one of the guys I know, touches his VG-10 on his SERE up quite a bit with a strop. That Fantoni is looking ever more appealing
 
I've had a SERE 2000 and it is definitely iconic. I found it to be a bit big and heavy for EDC, but it was well built. I just picked up a Fantoni CUT flipper last weekend and am so impressed that my next purchase will be an HB-03.

I say HB-03 all the way.
 
shady A.M. said:
I've had a SERE 2000 and it is definitely iconic. I found it to be a bit big and heavy for EDC, but it was well built. I just picked up a Fantoni CUT flipper last weekend and am so impressed that my next purchase will be an HB-03.

I say HB-03 all the way.
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I've come to think about this a lot on my knife journey. I've learned only recently that there's a clear difference at least for me knives thar I love which are sometimes overbuilt and never get taken out vs slimmer knives that I wouldn't hesitate to edc.

It logically almost leads one to go for the fantoni!
 
cchu518 said:
I've come to think about this a lot on my knife journey. I've learned only recently that there's a clear difference at least for me knives thar I love which are sometimes overbuilt and never get taken out vs slimmer knives that I wouldn't hesitate to edc.

It logically almost leads one to go for the fantoni!
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That's about where I've gotten. The SERE is a great knife, that is for sure. But I have too many overbuilt and heavy knives I carry that I would like to replace, nothing is wrong with them, I just find my tastes changing again. When I still owned my Benchmade 890 Torrent, that knife scarcely left my pocket, if it did, it was only for the Griptilian, two pretty light blades. I'm almost thinking strictly the Fantoni, It seems to be the more logical choice for me, Ironically the SERE is the blade that's looks spawned my love of Black handles with uncoated blades and straighter lines.
 
My vote would have to be for the Fantoni. You can read my review of the very similar Fantoni HB 02 here: http://centergnome.blogspot.com/2014/12/fantoni-hb-02-review-first-impressions.html

I think it is a really fantastic knife. The steel is excellent, though I did find it a real challenge to learn how to sharpen myself. I think that stropping is the way to go to maintain the edge.

I like the Al Mar SERE. It is a classic in the world of tactical folders. Ultimately, I just like the visual appeal of the Fantoni much more, and it is shockingly light.

I would also add that the fit and finish on my HB 02 is my gold standard that I judge all other knives I've owned by. I have an older Lone Wolf Loveless designed hunting knife that was made by Fantoni (they used to make knives for higher end companies before they started selling more under their own name) and the craftsmanship on that knife is outstanding as well. Al Mar knives is also excellent in their QC, but I have been blown away by the two Fantoni made knives I own.

Plus I am a Harsey fan, and he's a nice guy.

P.S. Bill Harsey really got started down the tactical folder path working on the first generation of Al Mar SERE's. He cut himself badly putting handles on some of the first SERE's. So in a way, the lineage of the Al Mar SERE is a part of the design of the HB 03. Just a little trivia.
 
I love the smaller SERE. I didn't like the larger, full-size SERE nearly as much. It's a nice folder though.

I have a Fantoni HB 02 and I like it very much, probably better than the smaller SERE. I consider the small SERE one of the best designs ever made, so to rate the Fantoni as even better is high praise indeed.

Both knives are superior quality, rivaling folders costing much, much more.
 
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