Why are Al Mar knives SO EXPENSIVE?

Wiki has a good write up of the brand explaining what happened after Al Mar passed away.
I believe his wife tried to run the business but was bought out.
I think they moved production somewhere else, China? and the quality has gone down.
Another maker I think has some of his designs and makes knives with a 'designed by Al Mar' mark, I cannot think of his name right now.

I would purchase an original Al Mar, but not a current production.
 
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Planterz said:
Right, because it's completely practical to lock every thread started on bladeforums after a certain amount of time has elapsed.
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Yes, when that "certain amount of time" exceeds 5-10 years. As a moderator on another forum for 15 years I can say that it isn't all that hard and nothing "impractlcal" about it. Just do it when it comes up. No need to go over the entire archives.
Old threads are invaluable for information and certainly should be preserved. But people mistakingly answer to an old thread and others can add to it because the date on that one is current.
Should a thread be locked? Not necessarily. But clearly in this case the circumstances when the original thread started were completely different than today. Something that would indicate that this is an ancient dead thread would be helpful.
Perhaps threads should not be locked, but people should refrain from the practice of pouncing on people who respond to "zombie threads".
 
jideta said:
Wiki has a good write up of the brand explaining what happened after Al Mar passed away.
I believe his wife tried to run the business but was bought out.
I think they moved production somewhere else, China? and the quality has gone down.
Another maker I think has some of his designs and makes knives with a 'designed by Al Mar' mark, I cannot think of his name right now.

I would purchase an original Al Mar, but not a current production.
Click to expand...
IIRC Gary Fadden bought a percentage and Mrs Mar had the rest. He was supposed to run the company for his cut. He took advantage of her lack of business sense. Went to court and I think she died before it was resolved--Gary Fadden= someone who would steal from a widow. This is to the best of my old memory.I have two old Mars but don't even bother looking now. I don't deal with thieves.--KV
 
If it’s made in Japan does that make it a good one? Even if it was made after Al died?

I have one I bought in 2000, it’s made in Japan. I have no idea when it was made. But I’ve always been impressed with its quality.
 
I was wrong as it seems that even the Fadden era knives were made by Moki in Seki looks like up until 2019.
Al Mar passed in 1992, Ann Mar passed in 2017. Company sold in 2019.
Pick your era.
Not sure how to identify, but if it's marked Sakai, I would prefer that one.
I think Ann Mar was a member here if you do a search.
 
I bought my first one in the late 70s early 80s. As I remember it was a hawk, 3” blade or so with nickel silver bolsters and ivory micarta handles. It was Aus8 steel. I would say the fit and finish was the best of any factory knife I’ve ever owned even to this day. Sadly it was one of two knives that I have ever lost and I regret still.
If you ever come across a vintage Al Mar in ivory micarta buy it
 
kvaughn said:
IIRC Gary Fadden bought a percentage and Mrs Mar had the rest. He was supposed to run the company for his cut. He took advantage of her lack of business sense. Went to court and I think she died before it was resolved--Gary Fadden= someone who would steal from a widow. This is to the best of my old memory.I have two old Mars but don't even bother looking now. I don't deal with thieves.--KV
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It has actually been resolved and the judge ruled in favour of Ann Mar.

Gary had to pay her around $95'000.

The judgement is public on the Oregon circuit court's website but it takes a bit of time to find it
 
Back in the late 1970's when Al Mar formed his company after leaving Gerber knives design department the company was very high end in the world of knives and the knives commanded a relatively high price. They are well made but I think at that time they were without much competition at the level of design and quality they had. They also had a much wider array of knife designs and came out with new stuff pretty often than most other knife companies. The knives had added credibility due to Al Mar's experience in the US Army Special Forces as well as his experience with Gerber. I think that he was responsible for the Gerber Mark I knife which was a landmark knife that is still imitated today. The company was also one of the first to have high quality knives made in Japan to their specs and imported to the USA and the world.
Back in the 1980's I had a lot of the Al Mar knives bought, sold and traded and they were very high end for their time. They even had a couple of custom makers like William Harsey design and make knives for them. I owned a Harsey / Al Mar Shiva for a while.
I have not purchased an Al Mar in a long time and I only own one now; a SERT Auto.
 
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jideta said:
I was wrong as it seems that even the Fadden era knives were made by Moki in Seki looks like up until 2019.
Al Mar passed in 1992, Ann Mar passed in 2017. Company sold in 2019.
Pick your era.
Not sure how to identify, but if it's marked Sakai, I would prefer that one.
I think Ann Mar was a member here if you do a search.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. FYI, Ann died in 2017
 
jideta said:
Wiki has a good write up of the brand explaining what happened after Al Mar passed away.
I believe his wife tried to run the business but was bought out.
I think they moved production somewhere else, China? and the quality has gone down.
Another maker I think has some of his designs and makes knives with a 'designed by Al Mar' mark, I cannot think of his name right now.

I would purchase an original Al Mar, but not a current production.
Click to expand...
You’re thinking of Nemesis Knives. They obtained designs and drawings of previously un-released Al Mar knives. They’ve been producing them under the Mar Private Reserve name for a few years now. I think they’ve released 4 different knives. This is their first release, the MPR-1. It’s kind of a full-TI Hawk style with VG10 steel.
View attachment 1380666
 
bouddha0357 said:
It has actually been resolved and the judge ruled in favour of Ann Mar.

Gary had to pay her around $95'000.

The judgement is public on the Oregon circuit court's website but it takes a bit of time to find it
Click to expand...
Thanks for the update.--KV
 
This reawakened zombie thread needs pics!

I am no expert on Al Mar knives but I was around when they first became popular in the ‘80’s. To me, the epitome of the Al Mar knives are the 1980’s era with Aus-8 steel marked “SEKI Japan”, bronze liners/fittings and green micarta which actually looks more brown. These knives rival most customs in fit & finish and are some of my favorite knives. At one point I owned over a dozen but now I’m down to my favorite handful

They are among my most favorite knives and I challenge anyone to produce a finer, more well designed knife than Al Mar!

3000 series folder
View attachment 1380772

3000 series fixed
View attachment 1380771

Al Mar CHOP and SERE Logo. “Green micarta” and brass fittings
View attachment 1380770

SEKI Japan logo
View attachment 1380769

Buzzard folder, with patina
View attachment 1380768
 
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Hey there Ron! I love the SERE models myself! I have some 3000 series folders but as of yet don’t have any of the fixed blades yet. I will one day, but I just laid out serious money for the AMK Shugoto and some others so it may take a bit before I am ready. Wish I could buy up everything I see I like! Ha! Great Buzzard! Is that the one that was originally white and is now a faded yellow?
 
Ron Sabbagh said:
This reawakened zombie thread needs pics!

I am no expert on Al Mar knives but I was around when they first became popular in the ‘80’s. To me, the epitome of the Al Mar knives are the 1980’s era with Aus-8 steel marked “SEKI Japan”, bronze liners/fittings and green micarta which actually looks more brown. These knives rival most customs in fit & finish and are some of my favorite knives. At one point I owned over a dozen but now I’m down to my favorite handful

They are among my most favorite knives and I challenge anyone to produce a finer, more well designed knife than Al Mar!

3000 series folder
View attachment 1380772

3000 series fixed
View attachment 1380771

Al Mar CHOP and SERE Logo. “Green micarta” and brass fittings
View attachment 1380770

SEKI Japan logo
View attachment 1380769

Buzzard folder, with patina
View attachment 1380768
Click to expand...

Wow! Nice collection! :thumbsup:
 
AH-1 Driver said:
Hey there Ron! I love the SERE models myself! I have some 3000 series folders but as of yet don’t have any of the fixed blades yet. I will one day, but I just laid out serious money for the AMK Shugoto and some others so it may take a bit before I am ready. Wish I could buy up everything I see I like! Ha! Great Buzzard! Is that the one that was originally white and is now a faded yellow?
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TJ - yes. That is a 1980’s era Buzzard with “white” micarta and bronze bolsters. Even though they called it “white” micarta it was never really truly white but more “cream”. Ages beautifully like the old Westinghouse micarta....and that patina is just from storage. Never used
 
Ron Sabbagh said:
This reawakened zombie thread needs pics!

I am no expert on Al Mar knives but I was around when they first became popular in the ‘80’s. To me, the epitome of the Al Mar knives are the 1980’s era with Aus-8 steel marked “SEKI Japan”, bronze liners/fittings and green micarta which actually looks more brown. These knives rival most customs in fit & finish and are some of my favorite knives. At one point I owned over a dozen but now I’m down to my favorite handful

They are among my most favorite knives and I challenge anyone to produce a finer, more well designed knife than Al Mar!

3000 series folder
View attachment 1380772

3000 series fixed
View attachment 1380771

Al Mar CHOP and SERE Logo. “Green micarta” and brass fittings
View attachment 1380770

SEKI Japan logo
View attachment 1380769

Buzzard folder, with patina
View attachment 1380768
Click to expand...
Those 3000 series are beautiful. I only have newer Moki made AM Knives and they just don’t quite have that level of quality.
 
view


Here is mine. It was my first “hi end” knife. The first knife I ever spent over $50 on. My first knife with a clip. My first half serated blade. I bought it specifically to carry it in my tuxedo pocket on my wedding day.

It’s a joy to carry and use. Says Japan but not Seki. I bought it in 2000.
 
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Ron Sabbagh said:
This reawakened zombie thread needs pics!

I am no expert on Al Mar knives but I was around when they first became popular in the ‘80’s. To me, the epitome of the Al Mar knives are the 1980’s era with Aus-8 steel marked “SEKI Japan”, bronze liners/fittings and green micarta which actually looks more brown. These knives rival most customs in fit & finish and are some of my favorite knives. At one point I owned over a dozen but now I’m down to my favorite handful

They are among my most favorite knives and I challenge anyone to produce a finer, more well designed knife than Al Mar!

<snip>
Click to expand...

I love the 3000 series, wanted some of the fixed-blades but never had the money to purchase. Beautiful knives.

That Buzzard looks good - I don't remember seeing those before.

I purchased a 3002A without the SF crest back between '89 and '91 (can't remember exactly when). Has some wear and rub marks, a small bit of corrosion at the blade pivot I'm slowly getting worked away. Wonderful knife IMHO.
original.jpg
 
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