Why are Al Mar knives SO EXPENSIVE?

[bearcut]

Great old thread.
It reminds me how good AlMars are.

I shall be carrying one of my four AlMars each day this week.
Nothing quite like them.

 

[jheis]

View attachment 1380922 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.

That appears to be a Falcon Ultralight. Would have been made by Moki.
Around 1997 Fadden tried to renegotiate the terms of Al Mar's contract with long term supplier G. Sakai. Failing this, Fadden terminated the agreement with Sakai and switched production to Moki, also of Seki-City, Japan.
Quality remained pretty much the same until 2019 when the new owners of the Al Mar name went to china...

 

[eveled]

Thank you J jheis . I knew it was close to the transition