New Al Mar line-up sneaked on Blade HQ

Hackenslash said:
IMO, the Japanese built original Mar knives had fallen way behind the competition and no longer meet the standards for a modern >$100 production knife. Maybe the right Chinese manufacturer can make these designs relevant again.
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Only in terms of steel. The build quality is hard to match in terms of <$200 knives. Who meets or exceeds their F&F? Spyderco's Taichung factory? Some of the stuff from Golden?
The prices you see now are in part because of scarcity. When was the last time an Eagle was built?
Those original Al Mars were built by G Sakai & Moki and few build as well.

I'll get a Hawk to fill out my collection and judge from there. There's still Moki made Al Mars floating around.
 
That Quicksilver looks like a Ti-lite and an Urban Trapper had an awkward hookup:confused:

I do kinda like it though... ;)
 
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Ourorboros said:
Only in terms of steel. The build quality is hard to match in terms of <$200 knives. Who meets or exceeds their F&F? Spyderco's Taichung factory? Some of the stuff from Golden?
The prices you see now are in part because of scarcity. When was the last time an Eagle was built?
Those original Al Mars were built by G Sakai & Moki and few build as well.

I'll get a Hawk to fill out my collection and judge from there. There's still Moki made Al Mars floating around.
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Going to agree with this.

I do hope they stay around long enough to dig deeper into the old Al Mar knives catalog. I'd like to see an old style Warrior and perhaps the SF line come back.
 
The more I think about it, the more skeptical I am.
Not because it's being built in China - WE knives & others have certainly shown China can make knives of high quality for a price. But because the frame lock makes it look like they aren't going to try to match that Moki built F&F and excellent heat treatment. While it's good to know your limitations, part of the reason (for me) to have an Al Mar knife is the custom quality.
I'd rather the new Al Mars went for quality even if they charged more. Or at least have a large premium line where they did so - I understand if they need to have lower cost knives to move product and have profitability.
 
Ourorboros said:
The more I think about it, the more skeptical I am.
Not because it's being built in China - WE knives & others have certainly shown China can make knives of high quality for a price. But because the frame lock makes it look like they aren't going to try to match that Moki built F&F and excellent heat treatment. While it's good to know your limitations, part of the reason (for me) to have an Al Mar knife is the custom quality.
I'd rather the new Al Mars went for quality even if they charged more. Or at least have a large premium line where they did so - I understand if they need to have lower cost knives to move product and have profitability.
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I hear you but I think I can alleviate some of your concerns:

- Chris Reeves Sebenzas are framelocks and their quality is second to none

- If you look at Melissa Backwoods Instagram account she is seen holding a new Al Mar Quest and a new Al Mar Stinger. I honestly thought they were impeccably kept older molders

- When comparing the new Al Mar Stinger with the Kershaw AM-6 (virtually the same design) you can see the gap in quality

- That Quicksilver in Damasteel is hoooot!!

Honestly, now that I have seen their plan I am gunning for it.

They were smart enough to keep a classic line that will hopefully be exactly like the original but with the same F&F.

They took some of the older designs and revived them.

They modernise the current Catalog although I am not too happy with the spring spring a opening.
 
Looking at her Instagram trying to find those al Mar pics can look pretty bad if you're sitting next to your girlfriend or wife.. couldn't find them after two round trip scrolls but I trust they are there, haha
 
Al-mar has classic designs, but company needs to bring something new to gain interest - not only to their new designs but back to their old designs.

Also their materials in relation to the price didn’t match.

They also should have been more active and respective to customers who had issues with their knives.
 
Ourorboros said:
Only in terms of steel. The build quality is hard to match in terms of <$200 knives. Who meets or exceeds their F&F? Spyderco's Taichung factory? Some of the stuff from Golden?
The prices you see now are in part because of scarcity. When was the last time an Eagle was built?
Those original Al Mars were built by G Sakai & Moki and few build as well.

I'll get a Hawk to fill out my collection and judge from there. There's still Moki made Al Mars floating around.
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It’s more than just blade steel. Compare a CIVIVI McKenna to a Moki Al Mar ultralight Falcon and the CIVIVI beats it in blade steel, pivot, G10 quality, fit n’ finish, action and price...even before the recent inflation in AM prices.

The level of AM quality was great 20 years ago but it’s currently being exceeded by certain Chinese manufacturers.

I bought a Moki Mini SERE 2000 right before the prices began to skyrocket and I had to “finish” the knife myself to make it usable...and Teflon washers? There may have been a time when the Japanese AM’s led the industry in quality but those days have passed.
 
Pogonasong said:
Looking at her Instagram trying to find those al Mar pics can look pretty bad if you're sitting next to your girlfriend or wife.. couldn't find them after two round trip scrolls but I trust they are there, haha
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You're right, she is an attractive woman but I trust that we are among gentlemen and would not limit a woman to her physical attractiveness

unwisefool said:
Who is melissa backwoods? The owner?
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She is an Instagrammer who shares our passion for knives. She also works for Blade Magazine.

The following links will be to pictures I could find of the new line:

Al Mar Quest:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BtKMQfNHRO4/

Al Mar Quicksilver both versions:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BtvYpHVDZcD/
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt1Si9LBEJO/

Al Mar Stinger:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BtFRrCRBTto/

You can see that the main difference with the original Stinger is that the plastic sheath is now fully closed (following are pictures of the old version and the Kershaw version):
Al Mar Stinger (old):
https://www.instagram.com/p/BttaO37hM5A/

Kershaw AM-6:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BjK7Q6_AM7V/
 
Meh. I was hoping for Japanese production (with that near custom quality) at more reasonable prices.

It looks like they nailed reasonable, but an assisted opening Sere, made in China with blah blade steel? :rolleyes: Count this very loyal fan out...

At least until somebody I trust gets one in hand and can give a review. Til then I’ll be firmly on the sidelines.
 
Hackenslash said:
It’s more than just blade steel. Compare a CIVIVI McKenna to a Moki Al Mar ultralight Falcon and the CIVIVI beats it in blade steel, pivot, G10 quality, fit n’ finish, action and price...even before the recent inflation in AM prices.

The level of AM quality was great 20 years ago but it’s currently being exceeded by certain Chinese manufacturers.

I bought a Moki Mini SERE 2000 right before the prices began to skyrocket and I had to “finish” the knife myself to make it usable...and Teflon washers? There may have been a time when the Japanese AM’s led the industry in quality but those days have passed.
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Moki made knives are not known for using washers - they are notoriously (to some) washerless. In any case the teflon washers are the fault of Al Mar, not Moki. Al Mar would have designed the knife and would have settled on the materials used to hit the price point they want. That's how it works with production, in house or not. Production tells you how much something will cost and the business side tells them what price point to meet. Production gives a bunch of options on cost cutting and business chooses where to sacrifice. The design people weep.

I have 14-15 Moki made knives, including 2 Falcon ultralights. I can compare them to what's being made now. Of those 14, there is a 1/4" section where you can maybe fit in a piece of paper, if it were stiff enough. That's out of all the liner/bolster/cover interfaces. If you were to feel the spine of the knives, you probably couldn't tell where the liners end and the bolsters begin. An experienced machinist probably could, but that's only meaningless to say.
I have plenty of Chinese made knives and a budget one certainly isn't going to exceed that level of fit and finish. Even a $200 knife doesn't have flawless transition from material to material.

The only thing ever wrong with a Moki made pivot is that it needs wear in. After that it is smooth as glass, usually within 50 openings/closings.
 
bouddha0357 said:
I hear you but I think I can alleviate some of your concerns:

- Chris Reeves Sebenzas are framelocks and their quality is second to none

- If you look at Melissa Backwoods Instagram account she is seen holding a new Al Mar Quest and a new Al Mar Stinger. I honestly thought they were impeccably kept older molders
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I'm not saying frame lock knives can't be high quality, I'm worried that it is a sign that the new Al Mar is taking the easy way out and it shows a decline in overall quality. Quality is a constant battle and takes a certain attitude. I also agree that it's more difficult to have a finely fitted lockbar.
Because of life experience and the fact that I've worked with sales people, I don't trust pre-production samples. Show me the first production run and the response to any issues.
For example the Kizer Feist had issues with the first run. I'll downgrade them for that, but I credit Kizer for quickly fixing those issues - and didn't they do returns? Having specially made/chosen samples is pretty easy. Let's see how they get churned out. Let's see how they respond to complaints.

So I'm happy, but with qualified excitement. If these were Seki made (I'd accept G Sakai in a heartbeat) I'd buy anything that catches the eye and people can get ramen for Christmas. I do wonder if they can capture that elegance, but curious to see how they add to the catalog.
That Quicksilver looks sweet, though a safe queen.
 
Quicksilver definitely catches my eye.

I don't really care that the company is going to Chinese production because it was stagnant, no new designs or updates ever, and way overpriced (like Spyderco's upper level Japanese production--nothing specific to Al Mar Knives only there). If it was killing it from Japan, then I'd care. This change could end up a "miss", but I'll be hoping for some hits from this new iteration of the company.
 
Ourorboros said:
Moki made knives are not known for using washers - they are notoriously (to some) washerless. In any case the teflon washers are the fault of Al Mar, not Moki. Al Mar would have designed the knife and would have settled on the materials used to hit the price point they want. That's how it works with production, in house or not. Production tells you how much something will cost and the business side tells them what price point to meet. Production gives a bunch of options on cost cutting and business chooses where to sacrifice. The design people weep.

I have 14-15 Moki made knives, including 2 Falcon ultralights. I can compare them to what's being made now. Of those 14, there is a 1/4" section where you can maybe fit in a piece of paper, if it were stiff enough. That's out of all the liner/bolster/cover interfaces. If you were to feel the spine of the knives, you probably couldn't tell where the liners end and the bolsters begin. An experienced machinist probably could, but that's only meaningless to say.
I have plenty of Chinese made knives and a budget one certainly isn't going to exceed that level of fit and finish. Even a $200 knife doesn't have flawless transition from material to material.

The only thing ever wrong with a Moki made pivot is that it needs wear in. After that it is smooth as glass, usually within 50 openings/closings.
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I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. To me, it speaks volumes that CK grades a bunch of their Moki branded folders with 7 out of 10 for quality build and fit/finish. That's about how I'd grade the three AM knives that I own, but we all have a different knife experience.

I expect the Chinese produced Gen2 knives will have appropriate quality for their price-point.
 
I have seen a few examples of Seki and Moki Al Mars and the Seki versions always had better fit and finish and overall build quality, IMO.
 
The ultralight series are classics and the heart of Al Mar the designer and company. If Spyderco can keep the Delica and Endura alive, upgrade to VG10 and made in Japan, so could Al Mar have kept the ultralights a viable Japanese made knife. Another knife tradition dies...:(
 
Hello everyone, not attempting to revive an old thread but I just found out this article linked below but didn't want to open a new thread for this.

It is in German but your browser can translate it (Chrome did wonders on my mobile phone)

https://knife-blog.com/al-mar-knives/

Of interest is a copy on Al Mar's new Catalog linked in the article.

There seems to be a few placeholders in the Catalog:

- I think the Classic Collection Honey Jigged Bone Series, looks like blown up versions of an Al Mar Hawk. I hope this won't be the case IRL.

- The SERE 2000 Coyote series looks like current Al Mar SERE 2000 with black coated blades and no Spring Assisted Opening

- The Quest knives features a coloured logo on the blade but a gray colored guard and medallion on the hilt when we already know that they should be brass coloured.

The article does mention An Al Mar Shiva that is not seen in the Catalog and said Catalog features an Al Mar ODT that I had never seen or heard of before.

I am quite happy with the fixed blades and also think the the Al Mar Stinger will gain hugely in terms of quality.

I am a bit more concerned with the folders in terms of design, with the exception of the Quicksilver in Damasteel.

Hope this helps you all :-)
 
WValtakis said:
That Quicksilver looks like a Ti-lite and an Urban Trapper had an awkward hookup:confused:
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Hahahaha . . . I've just got around to catching up on this thread and have not looked at any of the knives but if the above is true I might just be in love . . . even without first sight . . .
we'll see
 
Ourorboros said:
In any case the teflon washers are the fault of Al Mar, not Moki. Al Mar would have designed the knife and would have settled on the materials used to hit the price point they want. That's how it works with production, in house or not. Production tells you how much something will cost and the business side tells them what price point to meet. Production gives a bunch of options on cost cutting and business chooses where to sacrifice. The design people weep.
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And that's what fowled up the Ouroboros for me. I kept it and like it but if it had better tolerances and or bronze washers I would be LOVING IT !
 
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