- Joined
- Jan 23, 2013
- Messages
- 147
Dudes and Dudesses I am absolutely excited!!!!
Whilst I was perusing the almarknives.com website pondering about the once great and innovative brand that I love so much I downloaded the 2022 catalog thinking that it would have the same models as in the 2019/2020/2021 catalogs.
There was a surprise
I don't know if you have noticed but the ETE Al Mar Knives have become rarer on the market lately especially the classic Eagles look to be sold out almost everywhere.
I feared that it was due to these models being unsuccessful and the project not working so well for ETE but I was mistaken.
AMK is renewing its range, and there is some good stuff!
Let's first have a look at the renovated old designs
1. Havana Clipper AMK1002
This is a classic from the beginning of the 2000s.
Apparently it wasn't a great cigar cutter but it remains quite popular with the collectors.
D2 and FRN. So far classic for ETE/AMK
2. Ultra-Thin Series AMK4117/4118/4119
This one's a bit strange. It looks like the AMK4112/4114/4116 but with a 420 stainless steel handle in lieu of the titanium handle.
I don't understand from the specifications why it is called Ultra-Thin as it seems thicker and is definitely heavier with the Eagle going from 3.4oz to 4.9oz...
It kind of reminds me of the 1005TS but without the lightened handle.
Blade is D2, once again par the course but be patient dear reader.
3. QuickSteel Series AMK4047/4048/4049
More substantial change this time around as this is the Quicksilver sans the titanium handle (replaced by, you guessed it, 420 stainless steel)
Blade lengths are 3.2", 4" and 5"
The 5" now weights 6.2oz vs the 3.7oz of the titanium Quicksilver.
D2 steel again.
A reminder that there was a Mactool version of the Quisilver that was much smaller and actually quite popular.
Could be a good idea as I have the 5" Quicksilver and as much as I find the knife to be beautiful, I couldn't find any practical purpose for it.
Sadly no Damasteel version of the Quicksilver... Was it ever on sale?
Ok so that was for the least exciting stuff, now let's get a bit more serious...
4. Payara Series AMK4130/4131
Ooooh this is more like it, Kirk Rexroat designed the original Payara and until I got one in my hands for the first time (last year) I couldn't understand the design of the knife.
The Payara is designed with strong stabbing ability and a recurve blade that helps in slashing and trapping. It is a very smart design which has been changed a bit for the ETE/AMK version with D2 (ok steel but bouh), carbon reinforced FRN (ooooh), an axis lock (yeah!) and no flipper (hell yeah!!!)
5. Operator Series AMK5100/5101
Ok, this one is in target locked in mode. As soon as it comes out I must buy it. I have what could be called an unhealthy obsession for the fixed blade SERE/Operator (although not nearly as bad as my obsession for the Al Mar Eagle) and I found the SRO-V to be one of the best knife ever designed. The handle is out of this world for me and feels like and extension of my hand. I also like the MSRO-V but the handle is really small.
These two are safely tucked away in my collection. Too good to be used. If the AMK5101 has as good a handle as the SRO-V I will buy 5 of those.
This being said I must temper my excitement,we have D2 steel... And G10 for the handle so maybe there's hope.
6. SERE-Taiwan Series
Time for you dear reader to get a bit more excited. This is essentially a SERE 2020, which I haven't tried yet for a few reasons, but there's massive improvement in this version...
S35V steel!!!
Made in Taiwan not Made in China!!!
No more serrations!!!
All black to hide the hideous flipper!!!
Ironically the Nemesis Mar Private Reserve based on original designs made by Al Mar and supplied to Nemesis Knives by Ann Mar have these exact same specifications (S35VN/Made in Taiwan/G10 handle)
7. Quest AMK5105
Ok, I was expecting this one since the 2019 catalog but they have made a big change vs the 2019 design. The steel went from D2 to 8Cr13moV...
It is sad, very sad but then I thought "Do I really want a hard use knife in a D2 steel that will chip?"
I will temper my measured disappointment. If the price is right I will most definitely get it! But the price will have to be really, really right!
8. B-21 Series AMK4133/5102
What is that? A new design? From Kirk Rexroat? Something that hasn't happened at Al Mar Knives since 2009!!!
YEEEEEEEEES!!!!! Get very excited reader there is an actual new design coming at Al Mar Knives!!! Something that hasn't happened in 13 years!!!
So what we have are a pair of Bowie Knives one fixed and one folding. Looks decidedly modern. Still D2 steel...But it's a new design!!!!
Ok now that you have seen the new stuff let's put our glasses on and think a little bit.
There's several aims at play here:
- The classic series looks to be gone and that's unfortunate as it was a good deal but I guess the expectation in Fit and Finish was too high at that price point considering the requirement for both brass liners and honey jigged bone scales.
It's a shame, the AMK7006 is my current EDC and I wanted to buy a new one to benefit from the improved F&F compared to my early production one.
- I believe that the Titanium handle knives are gone as well for the same reasons. Outside of the obvious weight reduction there's no real design benefit in my mind and the weight reduction becomes less significant for the Falcon and Hawk.
- The start of S35V at AMK could be potentially great news and shows another shift in business strategy. We have seen how much prejudice there was against Made in China knives. Same for the use of D2 steel. I don't think there would be many people complaining about a switch to S35V and Made in Taiwan.
If the SERE-Taiwan series is a success, it could bring about a bigger shift to the overall production of AMK with an actual bona fide super steel and a production location that would be far less politically controversial and has great production quality. Yes it's no Seki City but it would be head and shoulder above the Made in China quality!
Now imagine if AMK were to expand production...
Imagine if they made and an Eagle Classic in S35V and black micarta handles with brass liners...
I am dreaming already
BTW, I will not tell you that someone made a booboo somewhere on the almarknives website...So I would advise you to not look around too much...
Whilst I was perusing the almarknives.com website pondering about the once great and innovative brand that I love so much I downloaded the 2022 catalog thinking that it would have the same models as in the 2019/2020/2021 catalogs.
There was a surprise
I don't know if you have noticed but the ETE Al Mar Knives have become rarer on the market lately especially the classic Eagles look to be sold out almost everywhere.
I feared that it was due to these models being unsuccessful and the project not working so well for ETE but I was mistaken.
AMK is renewing its range, and there is some good stuff!
Let's first have a look at the renovated old designs
1. Havana Clipper AMK1002
This is a classic from the beginning of the 2000s.
Apparently it wasn't a great cigar cutter but it remains quite popular with the collectors.
D2 and FRN. So far classic for ETE/AMK
2. Ultra-Thin Series AMK4117/4118/4119
This one's a bit strange. It looks like the AMK4112/4114/4116 but with a 420 stainless steel handle in lieu of the titanium handle.
I don't understand from the specifications why it is called Ultra-Thin as it seems thicker and is definitely heavier with the Eagle going from 3.4oz to 4.9oz...
It kind of reminds me of the 1005TS but without the lightened handle.
Blade is D2, once again par the course but be patient dear reader.
3. QuickSteel Series AMK4047/4048/4049
More substantial change this time around as this is the Quicksilver sans the titanium handle (replaced by, you guessed it, 420 stainless steel)
Blade lengths are 3.2", 4" and 5"
The 5" now weights 6.2oz vs the 3.7oz of the titanium Quicksilver.
D2 steel again.
A reminder that there was a Mactool version of the Quisilver that was much smaller and actually quite popular.
Could be a good idea as I have the 5" Quicksilver and as much as I find the knife to be beautiful, I couldn't find any practical purpose for it.
Sadly no Damasteel version of the Quicksilver... Was it ever on sale?
Ok so that was for the least exciting stuff, now let's get a bit more serious...
4. Payara Series AMK4130/4131
Ooooh this is more like it, Kirk Rexroat designed the original Payara and until I got one in my hands for the first time (last year) I couldn't understand the design of the knife.
The Payara is designed with strong stabbing ability and a recurve blade that helps in slashing and trapping. It is a very smart design which has been changed a bit for the ETE/AMK version with D2 (ok steel but bouh), carbon reinforced FRN (ooooh), an axis lock (yeah!) and no flipper (hell yeah!!!)
5. Operator Series AMK5100/5101
Ok, this one is in target locked in mode. As soon as it comes out I must buy it. I have what could be called an unhealthy obsession for the fixed blade SERE/Operator (although not nearly as bad as my obsession for the Al Mar Eagle) and I found the SRO-V to be one of the best knife ever designed. The handle is out of this world for me and feels like and extension of my hand. I also like the MSRO-V but the handle is really small.
These two are safely tucked away in my collection. Too good to be used. If the AMK5101 has as good a handle as the SRO-V I will buy 5 of those.
This being said I must temper my excitement,we have D2 steel... And G10 for the handle so maybe there's hope.
6. SERE-Taiwan Series
Time for you dear reader to get a bit more excited. This is essentially a SERE 2020, which I haven't tried yet for a few reasons, but there's massive improvement in this version...
S35V steel!!!
Made in Taiwan not Made in China!!!
No more serrations!!!
All black to hide the hideous flipper!!!
Ironically the Nemesis Mar Private Reserve based on original designs made by Al Mar and supplied to Nemesis Knives by Ann Mar have these exact same specifications (S35VN/Made in Taiwan/G10 handle)
7. Quest AMK5105
Ok, I was expecting this one since the 2019 catalog but they have made a big change vs the 2019 design. The steel went from D2 to 8Cr13moV...
It is sad, very sad but then I thought "Do I really want a hard use knife in a D2 steel that will chip?"
I will temper my measured disappointment. If the price is right I will most definitely get it! But the price will have to be really, really right!
8. B-21 Series AMK4133/5102
What is that? A new design? From Kirk Rexroat? Something that hasn't happened at Al Mar Knives since 2009!!!
YEEEEEEEEES!!!!! Get very excited reader there is an actual new design coming at Al Mar Knives!!! Something that hasn't happened in 13 years!!!
So what we have are a pair of Bowie Knives one fixed and one folding. Looks decidedly modern. Still D2 steel...But it's a new design!!!!
Ok now that you have seen the new stuff let's put our glasses on and think a little bit.
There's several aims at play here:
- The classic series looks to be gone and that's unfortunate as it was a good deal but I guess the expectation in Fit and Finish was too high at that price point considering the requirement for both brass liners and honey jigged bone scales.
It's a shame, the AMK7006 is my current EDC and I wanted to buy a new one to benefit from the improved F&F compared to my early production one.
- I believe that the Titanium handle knives are gone as well for the same reasons. Outside of the obvious weight reduction there's no real design benefit in my mind and the weight reduction becomes less significant for the Falcon and Hawk.
- The start of S35V at AMK could be potentially great news and shows another shift in business strategy. We have seen how much prejudice there was against Made in China knives. Same for the use of D2 steel. I don't think there would be many people complaining about a switch to S35V and Made in Taiwan.
If the SERE-Taiwan series is a success, it could bring about a bigger shift to the overall production of AMK with an actual bona fide super steel and a production location that would be far less politically controversial and has great production quality. Yes it's no Seki City but it would be head and shoulder above the Made in China quality!
Now imagine if AMK were to expand production...
Imagine if they made and an Eagle Classic in S35V and black micarta handles with brass liners...
I am dreaming already
BTW, I will not tell you that someone made a booboo somewhere on the almarknives website...So I would advise you to not look around too much...
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