The late great Al Mar, design credit?

[RKnight]

Somewhere along the way I've been told that Al Mar:

a) invented the lockback

b) designed the AFO for BM

Anyone know the truth?

(expecting a pounding) Ron

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if you wanta play it dumb, you gotta be tough

 

[Don Rearic]

I don't think he invented the lockback, but as far as I know, Al Mar did design the Gerber MK I and II as well as the AFO.

The AMK GPA (I believe, General Purpose Automatic) is basically an AFO. And the GPA was, again, as far as I know, made at one time by BM for AMK.

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"You are no more armed because you are wearing a pistol than you are a musician because you own a guitar." ~Jeff Cooper
And the same goes for a knife...
And, I'm a Usual Suspect.
Some of my Knives and other neat things

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Not the Lock back but I've heard that he was the one that presented the MidLock which works pretty well. I've owned several of the older AlMar knives back when he was around and the quality of those were very high, he ran a very good knife business and the quality was there. One knife I had was an Eagle size with stag scales and stainless bolsters, the stag was hidden pinned and the insides were polished, very nice touch!

G2

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"The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions!"
Take the time to read your Bible Now, don't be left behind...

 

[tom mayo]

actually Harvey McBurnette invented the mid lock, which Al used quite a bit....He was a designer for many years before he started his own company......either gerber or kershaw, Im not ssure

 

[Ken Cook]

And on this Memorial Day weekend, please remember Al's contribution to our country's freedom while serving with 5th SFG.

Rest well Soldier.

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Tráceme no sin la razón, envoltura mi no sin honor
Usual Suspect
MOLON LABE!

 

[A. G. Russell]

Originally posted by RKnight:
Somewhere along the way I've been told that Al Mar:

a) invented the lockback SORRY, IT WAS INVENTED SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

THE MID LOCK IS AT LEAST 150 YEARS OLD

b) designed the AFO for BM

The truth is not a pounding! A. G.

 

[Jim March]

He was doing ATS34 megafolders before anybody else. In fact, both of my two self defense cases involved reaching for an AlMar:

1) About 1993, attempted mugging in San Francisco, solo goblin with a large crescent wrench was driven off by me and a 4.5" spearpoint ATS34 AlMar, Zytel grips, mid-back lockback. I can't recall the model name. Snapping it open drove the moron off.

2) December of 1997, reached for an AlMar "Jumbo", the 5.5" blade linerlock, carried open on belt as California law required back then. Four transvestites armed with a pair of claw hammers backed down before I needed to draw

. A definate "Quentin Tarantino Moment"(tm). They'd been trying to kill some dude on a subway, I'd just hauled the guy clear.

Anyways. I still have two "Jumbos", but the Sifu has replaced them in the carry lineup sue mainly to lock strength and grip ergos.

Still, God bless him for pioneering huge folders that got me out of two nasty situations without bloodshed becoming necessary.

Jim

 

[Gene]

I agree with Jim. As a lover of "mega folders" Al was ahead of his time. I also own two Jumbo Quicksilvers which I really like but as like Jim, I have replaced them with a Sifu and a Darrel Ralph Mad Max for EDC. As a small aside, the early JQ's were AUS-8A and later ones were AUS-6A, (which I have one of each).
Al was like Sal Glesser in that he wasn't afraid to experiment with different designs and configurations in the early days. That's why his early stuff is so sought after now. God bless him for his efforts. He was a true visionary in our beloved world of knives.

 

[Nakano 2]

If plain edged- AlMar Woodsman AW (6005AW), part serrated- Woodsman LE (6005LE). Both 4- 5/8" blade length.

Nakano

 

[satin]

I could be wrong, but,
Didnt Loveless design the Mark I and II for Gerber?

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Morgan Atwood
If you deny someone the right to defend themselves you are guilty of nothing less than attempted murder.

If it aint satin finished, I dont want it. (97% of the time)