Honest Eval On SERE 2K...Good, bad & Ugly

Kodiak PA

Kodiak PA

Gold Member
Joined
Dec 3, 1998
Messages
2,447
I have been wanting to report my findings on this knife for a while. All to often we see the reviews on the mechanics of a new folder but we don't really see too many follow up reviews after owning a knife for a while. I often smirk a bit when I see a knife review and no one has cut anything with it. I admit, I have done that myself.

I have had my Al Mar SERE 2000 for over 6 months...these are my following observations and grades.

Blade: I like the VG-10. It holds a keen edge and is easy to resharpen. Is readily stainless so that isn't much of a concern. I like the thin bevel and the point is very strong. The semi-mirrored finished is attractive and if you wanted to dull the finish a bit you could use a Scothch pad and some Metal-Glo. The spine of the blade is way too sharp for hard work. I had to use my dremmel and some 250 grit sand paper to smooth it out a bit. The blade rides smack in the center no matter what I do to try to screw it up on disassembly and reassembly. Grade: B

Linerlock: This was a big disappointment. The liner originally failed the spin-whack test. I disassembled the knife and adjusted the liner against the tang a bit and it was better. With hard work the liner starts to ride over to the right. I suppose this makes the liner a bit stronger with hard work applications but with light chopping on mahogony the liner froze all the way to the right and I had to take a screw driver and tap it free. What good is the beefy liner liners if you can't trust the lock? Grade: F

Thumb stud: Though this knife has a dual thumb stud I find it way too sharp to open comfortably. I again had to take my dremmel and sand it down a bit to make it more comfy. The thumb studs on the S2K have these mutliple layers and taper towards the top of the stud. Though I like it better now give me that Spydie-hole any day. Grade: F

Scales: The G-10 handles are comfortable and thick. There is a right finger index groove for comfort and the pocket clip does not get into the way. Combine the thick liners and thick G-10 scales and you have yourself a very comfortable knife to hold. The knife also has an integral guard on the scales which prevents hand slippage. It is grooved on the top for a comfortable thumb placement. One thing someone may notice when you look at the S2K is that the handle looks disproportionally larger than the blade and it is. Grade: A

Pocket clip: The clip is either right or left carry, tip up and is mounted on the end of the handle for a very low riding discrete carry knife. Because of the poor thumb studs during a fast drawer out of the pocket the studs can catch and open the knife on you when you don't expect it. Now if you wanted this to happen like the Wave feature on an Emerson knife that is one thing but on this knife it may be a safety consideration. The clip is attractive but its high grit finish may turn people off. Grade: C

Overall observation: I like this knife but I do not trust this knife. I like the steel, the toughness of the point but hate the spine. $120 knives should not have to be adjusted and dremmeled. The beefy handle does inspire confidence and even though I think spine whacking is overrated this still may be a concern to some people. I do have confidence in the knife now but I had to take it apart to feel this way. I had to do this on a Spyderco Military once too, so the Al Mar is not alone in this venue. The cutting ability of the blade makes it nice to use and its ability to shave after cutting wood and shaving mahogony was nice. I like the deep riding clip but do not like the knife catching on the layered thumb studs and opening when I least expect it.

Overall grade ont he S2k: C

I welcome your opinion on this review.

Sincerely,

------------------
~Greg Mete~
Kodiak Alaska
Buck Collectors Club-Lifetime Member
JKM-Chai
KnifeKnutt@aol.com

[This message has been edited by Kodiak PA (edited 02-18-2001).]
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Kodiak PA:
I often smirk a bit when I see a knife review and no one has cut anything with it. </font>
Click to expand...

and ...

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">
Linerlock: This was a big disappointment. The liner originally failed the spin-whack test. I disassembled the knife and adjusted the liner against the tang a bit and it was better. With hard work the liner starts to ride over to the right. I suppose this makes the liner a bit stronger with hard work applications but with light chopping on mahogony the liner froze all the way to the right and I had to take a screw driver and tap it free. What good is the beefy liner liners if you can't trust the lock? Grade: F</font>
Click to expand...

Yes indeed. I read over and over again how people proclaim that knives have locks that are strong and reliable, even though there's been no hard testing, because the knives feel as if they lock up hard, or the liners are especially thick, or whatever. This report coming on the heels of Cliff's report on the Buck Strider kind of punctuates what I've been saying: how solid a lock-up feels, or how thick the liner is, don't have all that much to do with how reliable the mechanism actually is, or how it performs overall. I can send you to a knifemaker whose little gents folders have thin little liners that bend out with almost any pressure on the blade spine -- yet, unlike these thick-linered feel-like-a-bank-vault knives, the little gents folder's liner won't give in, and won't get stuck if you actually use the knife.

Thanks for this review, and the inclusion of real use and performance reports.

Joe
 
Put a piece of heat shrink tubing over those thumbstuds. Improves the comfort and grip instantly.

I think you are way too hard on this knife. IMO it is the best production folder of 2000. I have not had any failures whatsoever on my lock so maybe there is some variation in the quality from knife to knife. Mine passed the spine whack test with flying colors and I have not had any sticking problems.

As for the clip, try sandblasting it to dull the finish. I know, I know, a knife this expensive shouldn't have to be customized to make it right but once mine was done I really do love it. MUCH better piece than the LCC which is practically useless for everyday utility in my mind. The LCC has a great DESIGN however....just not very utilitarian.

------------------
Peter Atwood

email: fountainman@hotmail.com
 
Why not send the knife back for adjustment and repair when it failed the liner lock test new.

Will
 
Just some additional info for some comments.

**I don't have a problem with the pocket clip. In fact it suits me just fine. My problem with the clip is actually with the thumb studs. By drawing out the knife it sometimes catches thus making the knife somewhat unsafer.

**I'm happy with the adjust ment on the thumb stud so I don't need the shrink wrap. Good thought, though.

**As far as not sending the knife back with the liner failure; I figured I could fix it myself which I did. It hasn't failed since I reassembled the knife

I would imagine my warranty is pretty much voided now after my modifications....no biggie, I will beat this knife to death and let you guys know the results.

Actually, I am pretty happy with the knife now. I trust it but am just a bit disappointed that I had to do all these mods to make it more to my liking. Am I being too hard on it? Probably. I hold a knife to higher standard than I hold my own children
wink.gif
.

Oh this was one of the older models, BTW just to let you all know.

Thanks for the input.

------------------
~Greg Mete~
Kodiak Alaska
Buck Collectors Club-Lifetime Member
JKM-Chai
KnifeKnutt@aol.com
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Joe Talmadge:
...how solid a lock-up feels, or how thick the liner is, don't have all that much to do with how reliable the mechanism actually is, or how it performs overall...

Joe</font>
Click to expand...

This is a bold statement, and a revelation...but probably quite true now that I think about it.

Logically, this makes absolute sense as the overall quality -- as with any product -- is a function of more than 1 or 2 variables. Other factors come into play such as materials used, construction/design,... Not to mention that "feel" is often a subjective evaluation, rather than a quantitative measure.

It is my paranoia which won't let me accept the fact that a thin liner will hold as well or better than a thicker liner. That, I'll have to work on.

P.S. Kodiak PA, This "report card" type evaluation was excellent and insightful as it breaks down the pros and cons of the knife being tested. Perhaps, we should devise a standardized evaluation sheet for all knives being tested here.


[This message has been edited by Full Tang Clan (edited 02-18-2001).]
 
RDNZL writes:
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">I have yet to duplicate the "spine whack" test in the field.
</font>
Click to expand...

Damn good point!

How come I am not paranoid when using a slip joint folder but I am with one of these super tactical liner locks?

smile.gif


------------------
~Greg Mete~
Kodiak Alaska
Buck Collectors Club-Lifetime Member
JKM-Chai
KnifeKnutt@aol.com
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">I have yet to duplicate the "spine whack" test in the field.</font>
Click to expand...

Let me give you an example of the spine test in the field. About two years ago, (should be in the archives) using a benchmade mini AFCK. Cutting up a cardboard box and when pulling the knife up and out the blade closed and almost severed two fingers.

The blade failed the whack test prior to this, but after seeing replies like the above quote I decided to ignore the test.

Still have several liner locks, but usually use one with a rolling lock anymore.
Jim


------------------
What? Another knife? Don't you have enough of those things already?
How many does one person need?
And just what are you going to do with this one that you can't do with the others?
What is the purpose of all these knives anyhow??

 
Excellent review Kodiak.
I have two questions.How did you test the point and when you say the lock failed do you mean it would have let the blade close on your fingers or that the knife would have been ruined but it still would have protected your fingers?
Thanks again for an excellent test/review.
m
 
Hi M

I repeated stabbed the knife into my workshop table, drove the point into some mahogony wood by whackinig the butt of the knife with my palm and for fun I repeatedly stabbed some dry wall. The point seemed to hold up quite well. I have ZERO complaints regarding the poin and the edge on this knife. If it wasn't for the sharp spine I would have given the blade an "A".

The liner failed completely versus buckle initially. Obviously I have more faith in the lock now but that is what happened. I don't think I did anything special but take the knife apart and then reassemble it. The liner was probably not riding well on the tang. I have done this before with other liner locks such as the Spydie Military and a MT SOCOM. Perhaps it is a QA thing. Maybe whoever is putting these knives togther rushes a bit more than I do since I only have one knife to fix.

Thanks,

Greg
 
Greg, this is a really good review! I really haven't thought about getting a SERE 2K, but next time I go to a store, I've got something to think about when looking over one of them.

The format of this review is really good, and I read a couple reviews on the forums, and then wrote another of my own reviews, and my format looked surprisingly like yours. I guess it just subconsciously stuck in my mind that this format with the grades for each part is a good idea.

You mentioned that the thumbstud was sharp and uncomfortable at first. Did you encounter the same problem that I had with my MT SOCOM M/A? Did the pocket linings get torn up by the sharply angled thumb studs?


------------------
bc2000logo.gif

Chang and the Rebels of the East
(Southern Taiwan Shall Rise Again!)
 
great review!
i have been looking at this knife (over and over and over again
smile.gif
) and im considering buying one (if i can somehow scrape the dough together).i used to have problems with rough thumbstuds,but over time my thumb just kind of toughened up.
any other tidbits on this knife?
 
Good review. Straight forward. That is the 2nd problem I have heard about the liner. Mine is a tank and I haven't had any failures. I do agree about the spine and the clip. While I didn't do your tests, but the use I have put mine through would put it at a high B or low A.

 
It is funny about this knife...I must like it since I have spent so much time on it. I find it an attractive knife and it cuts very well. I will continue to use it. Perhaps I should have graded it after the modifications. If someone was to ask what the grade was after the filing down the studs, the spine and getting the lock to work good I would give this knife a B+. Not an A since I have to do the above.


Comrade, The thumb studs on the S2K are worse than the MT. I never carried the MT in my pocket, I carried it horizontally on my belt. Sheath knives are so common up here that most of the time I use sheaths to carry even the clip its.

Maurice, I would still recommend the S2k. Your thumbs would be fine for this knife. Everyone used to say the same about the Sebenza (Sebenza Thumb) but the Sebbie never really bothered my thumb much.

Other tidbits? This knife is definitely a cutter. The full handle makes this a nice knife to hold. If you buy one, try to check the liner, or have your dealer do it for you. Jeff Randall loves this knife, so there has to be something good about it. As a matter of fact I bought it on Jeff's recommendation and I am not disappointed. In fact, I am kind of glad that I am not afraid to mess around with my knives to get them the way I like them.

Even custom makers like Matt Lamey have told me the same thing. Make the knife something you are comfortable with. Ever since Matt told me that I have looked a bit more critically at my knives.

Greg
 
I like the review style too. I also tend to break up reviews into these sections, have been doing so for years. I like the grade at the end, too, to sum each section up. What I like best -- and what I think everyone else here likes, too -- is how you didn't censor yourself when you found weaknesses, even though you clearly like the knife.
 
GONESAILING

Yep, I had a Commander fold up on me but it only screwed up 1 finger. I take it from your name your a sailor.......so am I. It would have really sucked to have this failure occur while on the water. Have to use your hands while sailing!!!! Since this event, all my liner locked knives are shelved. With the rare exception, I won't buy anymore.

The above knife passed all the liner lock tests, but still failed w/o warning. There are just too many better lock designs out there and the liner should be fazed out. Liner locks on apple peelers only!

jc
 
Greg, Good review. I like the way you set it up and based on use.

It was the S2K or the LCC. I got the latter but am still interested in the former. So, the review serves me well when I get to handling the S2k.

sing
AKTI #A000356
 
I really like the S2K. Mine hasn't had any problems with the spine whack test. I find it very comfortable. I, too have noted some problems with the thumb studs. This is the reason I stoped carrying it as a duty knife. The thumb studs would catch on the corner of my pocket as I was drawing the knife and the blade would often partially open. It was enough of a concern for me to stop carrying it unless I am off duty. I attribute some of this to the studs and some of it because my pistol hangs doen enough that I cannot pull the knife straight out. Still love the knife, just wish they would change the thumb studs.

------------------
Dennis Bible

mylogosmall.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top