View Full Version : Kershaw Boa/Al Mar SERE2K
I was speaking to SWMBO last night, and she said "You haven't sent any of your knives away on holiday recently."
I'd offered to passround a Boa before - and got overtaken by RL.
Happy to do so now.
I've also an Al Mar SERE2K which some people might be interested in - it's one of the larger standard folders.
BM710 now added.
They're personal knives, so I'd like 'em back eventually, but they won't be missed short term.
I have a Manix on the way to play with... I think that'll ocupy me for a bit.
Yog's standard rules'd be good.
I'll leave it till 11 April and then send to whoever's interested.
Me please!
:biggthump
Danzo
MotorbikeMan
31-03-05, 02:45 PM
and me please
Having had a few more days playing with my Manix, I'm now minded to add a Benchmade 710 to the passround.
I have to say, sadly for my old knives, I currently prefer the Manix. Significantly.
Interested in a look at a BM710, too?
MotorbikeMan
03-04-05, 07:59 PM
Hang on, let me think a minute.....
OH YES!!! :D Address pmed
buckshot
05-04-05, 01:50 PM
Can I be added to the list please?
Cheers
Mark
sound like a good mix there, if you have no objections i would like to be added too. ;)
PLEASE:love56:
OK, so far that's
Danzo
Raz
MotorbikeMan (details recieved)
Chux
buckshot
Edd-UK
I'll leave it while the weekend, add any others on and then send round.
Can all bar mbm send me a PM with Name& Address info?
This will go in the package in the above order for sending round.
I'll send RM SD to Danzo and then send it round yourselves.
Since there'l be a few quid of knives in there, please send 'em RMSD and advise in the thread when they've gone.
They've all been used and sharpened, so by all means use them and sharpen them.
Let us all know what you think of them - and remember, the Boa opens... fairly quickly [so make sure you put the safety on when you send it round!].
Tiffers
05-04-05, 02:57 PM
If its ok with you, can I have a peek at them when MBM has them? I think we have to arrange a couple of meetings-up in the next few weeks so might be able to co-incide with the arrival of these.
Cheers!
Tiffers
If its ok with you, can I have a peek at them when MBM has them? I think we have to arrange a couple of meetings-up in the next few weeks so might be able to co-incide with the arrival of these.
Sure, no problems. It's not time critical *to me* when they come back, as long as they do, so if he needs to keep 'em a few days longer... fine by me. If it's too long, he might get sledging from anyone after him though:)
Scouter
08-04-05, 08:40 PM
This is a passaround I really don't need...
...I've looked at the Al Mar SERE2K for ages and I'm a bit Spyderco'd (bl"*&y English grammer) out at the mo'.this could be my Christmas bonus gone.
Please please please put me on the list for all of them and don't tell the wife untill it's too late.
Cheers to SOA for the personal passaround ! -)
Right - passround has commenced.
Items handed into Cromarty PO - RM SD to Danzo
ZU 4506 6207 3GB
Chux & scouter need to PM me with an address.
They *were* going to get sharpened again last night - didn't happen, sorry.
Let us know what you think
These Big Beasties are with me and are enogh to make your eyes water!
:biggthump
Except the Kershaw.
;)
Danzo
OK, some thoughts.
Firstly the Benchmade 710 McHenry-Williams AXIS lock.
:D
This is it. The knife that began a revolution. This was the first AXIS lock knife in widescale production. I've handled one before but this one has confirmed that I must have one. I do have the little brother, the 705, which was my EDC, despite the Bulgy Knifemaker describing it as a 'Big Girls Knife'....
:guyce2
The little 705 does have failings; it is too wide for its length, mainly, and even the Bulgy Knifemaker agreed he liked it after a while, but the failings aren't true of the Daddy.
The 710 is simply one of the most beautiful production knives ever made. It is far more elegant than the lethal lines of the AFCK, yet the blade is bigger and probably more effective. The blade is ATS-34, a steel that got a bit lost amidst a swirl of supersteels but it is pretty much OK.
:biggthump
I'm not keen on the slashes on the handle though; it looks like someone has left a fag burning and it doesn't do anything for the knife.
:(
And so to the SERE 2000
Maybe the best big folder of all time? Well, close. It is a quite superb combo of simple ergonomics and brutal realities. The blade on the one I'm looking at is VG-10 but I know they continue to evolve. And it is an awesome blade. Designed for the sport of com, as well as the needs of those escaping and evading capture, it is quite simply superb. The handles are as perfect as you expect from Al Mar. If you don't have one of their Ultralight range then you are missing an essential in your collection. The SERE 2000 is about as good a production knife as can be made.
So, will I buy either of these? Yes, both. But I kind of knew I was going to do that anyway. Big thanks to Smallest Of All for letting me do such a direct comparison with these and other knives.
I'll finish on this point. The SERE 2000 probably beats the BM 710 for hard use, but the 710 is damn close and SO much prettier.
However.
:rolleyes:
I'm a lawyer so I'll always have howevers.
;)
This is it; the Spyderco Manix is a better knife than both in all categories. If you need a hard use folder then it should be the Manix you go for. Because the Manix is as good a big folder as it is possible to get. I don't want a large Sebenza, that's how good the Manix is.
:O
There is also a Kershaw speedsafe knife in this passaround. The handles are mottled blue and lilac and the blade is curved. I don't like it very much. But then I don't like Kershaws much. I'm also training myself in restraint for when pictures of the Spyker appear.
:rolleyes:
Big, big thanks to SOA for this chance to see some big beasts of the knife world in one go.
Danzo
This is it; the Spyderco Manix is a better knife than both in all categories. If you need a hard use folder then it should be the Manix you go for. Because the Manix is as good a big folder as it is possible to get. I don't want a large Sebenza, that's how good the Manix is.
... and I'd say that's why I was so happy to let the others go.
The Manix is special. Not as pretty as the BM710. But I like it more.
[Still want a Sebbie, though]
... and I'd say that's why I was so happy to let the others go.
The Manix is special. Not as pretty as the BM710. But I like it more.
[Still want a Sebbie, though]
Yeah, I lied, I still want a large Sebbie as well!
:D
Danzo
Out to Raz tomorrow!
:D
Danzo
Received the package.
I'm carrying all of them today! :D
For sooo long I've been eyeing the SERE 2K. It's just about everything I thought I wanted in a folder. Benchmade has never done it for me aesthetically, or in blade shape. But I'm quite turned around on the issue.
Straight away: The SERE is heavy, but nicely so. The blade is just a little too short, both in usefulness but also in relevance to it’s handle. Annoyingly the sharp bit of the blade doesn’t meet the handle either. That’s important for me, and why waste potential cutting edge? Fortunately the 710’s sharp bit extends all the way down. Much better! Unexpectedly (at least for me), The 710 is great! I wish it had a better steel. But, that blade shape is very good, and I love the little recurve.
Weighting them up, I like them both, but for different purposes. The SERE feels like a proper tool and not a casual pocketknife, when opening a box one feels almost silly, almost as if using a chainsaw to cut down a rosebush! The 710 fills that casual use category perfectly. It is a great EDC pocketknife. And far more useful to most people most of the time I would imagine. It's the right weight for a pocket knife; light by comparison to the SERE, and with a far nicer balance.
BUT, i wouldn't buy one. I would buy the SERe if itwasn't for one thing.. It's rubbish at cutting stuff. Being a 4mm blade, and only ground 1/2 down,. it's a prybar and useless for most normal things. but like I mentioned it is a tool, not a pokcet knife.
The Kershaw, well, what can you say, it’s….colourful?!
So I'm still on a quest to get the right pocket knife (who isn't :) ). I just love the feel of the SERE, the width of the handle, and the weight. but the Manix sounds promising!
Soa or Danzo, how does the Manix compare to the SERE in width? Presumably it out cuts it considerably being flat ground to the top?
I’ll play with them some more, but my girlfriend is making dinner with them, I've cut down and carved a walking stick, and killed 30 ninja pirates with them today, so I probably won't have alot more to say. I'l post them next monday.
Was posted to the man with the cycle and ajoined motor 2 days ago.
MotorbikeMan
29-04-05, 04:33 PM
Was posted to the man with the cycle and ajoined motor 2 days ago.
Funny that, I was just about to say that I was very pleasantly surprised to find them when I got to work today.
First impressions straight out of the box -
Al Mar - luuuuurvely, I like this lots and lots :D
Benchmade - Nice, but for some reason, feels cheap next to the Al Mar :huh:
Kershaw - Scary opening, feels nice looks vile :yuck:
More to come in a couple of days :)
Soa or Danzo, how does the Manix compare to the SERE in width? Presumably it out cuts it considerably being flat ground to the top?
The Manix is a lot, lot thicker at the non-business side. It is as thick as most fixed blade heavy duty bats for com.
There really is no comparison. I love my AXIS locks, my Skirmish and I loved the SERE 2000. I love my Sebenza. But the Manix is simply the best large folder ever made.
Danzo
Tiffers
29-04-05, 07:39 PM
Funny that, I was just about to say that I was very pleasantly surprised to find them when I got to work today.
Ahhhh, looks like we need to arrange a meet-up sometime soonish :) I cant confirm until M gets back from Glasgow but we have a nice long weekend........
Tiffers
MotorbikeMan
28-05-05, 10:34 AM
Forgot to say that these are in the hands of Tiffers now.
I was a bit apprehansive about this passaround as I have had a long distance love affair with the Sere 2000 for quite a while now and I was worried that it wouldn't match up to expectations. I needn't have worried, I'd expected the blade to be a tad longer for some reason, but once I'd carried it around for a while, it just felt right. I had no problems cutting stuff with it, although it was limitied to opening boxes, cutting plastic ties, plastic packaging and just for fun, shaving the odd featherstick as well. It wasn't the easiest knife to do a featherstick with, but it managed it fairly well once I'd gotten used to it.
To handle, this knife just screams quality, from the weight, to the fit and finish to the smooth way the blade comes out and locks into place with a very satisfying clunk. I had no problems with the weight of this one, infact I found it reasuring as it was just heavy enough so that I knew it was clipped into my pocket but not heavy enough to be a distraction. And I have to say that this knofe has turned me around to tip up carry. I had it tucked up against the seam of my right pocket, and at no time did I ever feel in danger of cutting myself on it. I love the clip as well, extremely deep carry as it actually screws onto the end of the knife rather than the slabs. I actually had someone ask me why I was carrying an expensive pen in my pocket, wasn't I afraid it would get scratched :rolleyes:
The Benchmade, as has been said is a landmark knife due to the lock. It is also a superbly built knife, but next to the Sere, I thought it felt lightweight and a bit plasticky. Obviously it's built every bit as well as the Sere, the only thing I could put it down to is the handle slabs feel a lot lighter than the Sere, which is odd as, AFAIK, they are both G10. I have Danzo's 806 at the moment and it feels the same, and yet the G10 slabs on the UKPK which I also have feel totally different. Am I wrong, are the Benchmade's something other than G10 or are there different grades of G10?
And then the Kershaw. Umm...what can I say other than Neon Camo!!! it's an interesting knife to say the least, but considering how fast knives like the Sere and open, I'm not sure I can really see the place for assisted openers. It does however feel very solid indeed, well built, but I just think the blade is all out of proportion, it needs to be longer or shallower.
Again, thanks for the chance to have a look at these Soa :biggthump
With the sweetest, kindest expression in the world....
It's a month since I've heard anything here...
Errm.
I'm getting PMs asking if this passround is still running.
Can *somebody* :D let us know what they think of the knives, and... pass them?
Tiffers
28-06-05, 09:17 PM
Ummm, my apologies :S I had forgotten I had this collection. I did contact Chux for his address as it wasnt on the list. Chux responded by return. I will get these in the post to him tomorrow rmsd.
I'm really sorry guys.
Tiffers
Forwarded onto Buckshot RMSD ZU 2519 6276 8GB
Boa
A bit colourful for my liking, but feels ok in the hand though may be a bit slick when wet. The flipper/guard is a good feature as it stops any fears of your hand slipping onto the blade, though this is not really a poking knife IMO. The opening is not as fast as other AO knifes I’ve handled but this may be due to the blade being considerably heavier. A big improvement over the Leek and chive is the locking mechanism to prevent activation and castration. The positioning behind the activation flipper is logical and so much easier to use. Not an EDC though
BM 710
Lovely smooth knife, as good as any other BM I have handled. The G-10 is a bit smooth and I think a more open backspacer would be a nice feature. The slight recurve in the blade puts me off a bit but overall it is a nice knife. If it hadn’t come with the SERE I think it would have been my favourite.
SERE 2K
I have always had my doubts about the SERE as it looked a bit fuggly (says the man that likes Spyderco :rolleyes: ) and has a VG-10 blade. In the flesh I really like it. It sits comfortably in the hand and almost disappears in pockets due to the deep pocket clip, the weight seems to vanish too. Lock up sounds and feels solid, and all movements are very smooth. The opening is ambidextrous with double thumb lugs, though I think the liner lock is less easy for lefties.
Many thanks to Soa for letting us play with his toys :biggthump
buckshot
12-07-05, 10:50 PM
Received today thanks
I'll have a play and report back...
Cheers
Mark
SERE 2K
...In the flesh I really like it. It sits comfortably in the hand and almost disappears in pockets due to the deep pocket clip, the weight seems to vanish too.
It was the one recommendation I made for the UKPK - deep pocket carry.
The SERE2K, really, really hides well, as I think MBM said. Does *not* look like this evil looking knife is suddenly going to come out of your pocket.
The Manix, which like Danzo I actually prefer does show out a lot more, and feels like a bigger knife. We might have to wait a while before I risk that on a passround... [as I still haven't found a knife I like better, and losing my EDC would be tough].
MotorbikeMan
14-07-05, 10:09 AM
It was the one recommendation I made for the UKPK - deep pocket carry.
The SERE2K, really, really hides well, as I think MBM said. Does *not* look like this evil looking knife is suddenly going to come out of your pocket.
The Manix, which like Danzo I actually prefer does show out a lot more, and feels like a bigger knife. We might have to wait a while before I risk that on a passround... [as I still haven't found a knife I like better, and losing my EDC would be tough].
I actually had people thinking I had an expensive pen clipped into my pocket rather than the SERE. I'm surprised that more big folders don't have that style of pocket clip on them
buckshot
16-07-05, 08:27 PM
Firstly, thanks to Soa for the opportunity to look at these knives – you’re a gent ! :)
I was surprised to get a package in the post – I’d forgotten about these 3. I’m glad I asked to look at them though. :D
So my thoughts…
Benchmade
It looks like a normal, military-ish locking blade knife, which is fine but a bit plain perhaps.
The handle is the ‘straightest’ of the 3 and for me, was the worst for grip – I prefer contours. It was a good length though and fitted my hand well. I liked the way the back strap on the handle is filled in, it seems more comfortable some how.
The blade is the longest of the 3 knives here, which perhaps adds to the miltary stlye. It is nice and pointy though so can get into the tight spots OK. The main thing I didn’t like about the blade on both the Benchmade and the Al Mar is the way the back of the blade is cut to give a dagger-esq look. I don’t like the look personally (it looks too much like a weapon rather than a tool) but it also makes it difficult to use the thumb of the left hand to push the blade and cut carefully.
Al Mar
The looks of this knife are similar to the Benchmade in that it’s a plain black handle, it does look a bit more interesting with the contours of the handle and the drop point blade. I must admit to liking the drop point style… It looks the strongest, perhaps because it’s slightly shorter blade and heavy feel make it workman like.
The handle is a comfortable grip because it’s the widest of the 3 but the back strap is open, I found this could cut in a little in my palm as could the thumb of the right hand with both the BM and the AM as both were op where the thumb rest for cutting.
Kershaw
Every time I picked up this knife it made me smile, I love the colour.!
The handle fits really well and is the most comfortable for me. Another half an inch would have been good for the length.
This is the first knife I’ve handled with the AO feature – not convinced by it at all. I don’t really see any advantage over the stud in the blade style of the others. In fact it has a stud as well so I don’t see the point I’m afraid. I'd be afraid of keeping it in my pocket even with the sefety on. :O
However I did like the way the AO tang created a guard for the index finger when the blade is open – very clever.
I have mixed feelings about the blade shape, it does make it awkward to use in some situations and is a pain to sharpen, but I do see that it has it’s advantages. I have a sheath knife with this shape blade so I’m a little more used to it as well. The only problem is the point isn’t as, well, pointy as the others because of the belly of the blade so doing tight carving is more of a problem. I’m never really sure how to sharpen a concave grind either – but that’s just me !
The locks on all the knives were very positive and held firm with no fear of giving way.
All the knives worked well cutting inch thick branches so I then had a go at carving some ‘roosters’. I found the Al Mar to be just a little easier than the others but the narrow back of the blade did make push cutting a bit more of a problem. When choking up on the blade perhaps the Kershaw was slightly more difficult to control fine work because of the blade shape.
Out of the 3 I think I prefer the Al Mar, I found it easiest to control with the shorter blade and a reasonably comfortable handle, it just looks too military for me and the dagger shape of the blade is a no-no.
Thanks again to Soa, I’ll post them onto Edd-UK on Monday.
Cheers
Mark
buckshot
18-07-05, 08:02 PM
Posted RMSD today :)
Cheers
Mark
recived.
thought latter.
got to unpack from hol first.
well i cant say much more than what has been already said so i will just give a few quick thoughts.
boa
pro -
wonderfull steel sharpens like a dream.
well made
balences well in the hand
best slicer of the lot.
fun.
most compfy grip
con-
recurve a bit to big for my liking
coloured like mr motivator's leothards (girlfriend thorghts :rolleyes: )
flip mech overkill (ie to strong, in wet hands could fly out)
SERE
pro-
built like a tank
good for most outdoor jobs
takes one hell of an edge
con-
ugly! :yuck:
no thumb grip
looks like a dagger
710
pro-
first axis knife i have used, love it.
lovely finish
solid
nice steel, really easy to sharpen and kept its edge
con-
tip not ground perfectly
bit big
overall
wonderfull passaround (thanks soa) this has openend my mind to big folders. i have only an endura and a paramilitay to comapre to these knifes (large folders not BIG folders) and i have to say i still prefere my paramilitary. But yes there is a but i now do want a 705 or sequal. i think the shape and ergos would be better in a smaller package. the most surprising thing tho is i want a SERE. i dislike the look of it, i dislike the dagger thing and the £££ but i cant fault it in use. so the SH market for a SERE is about to be serched ;)
i have never really needed a big folder (apart from the endura for use on the farm were i work at weekends.) due to the fact that i belive a fixed blade to do the task better but these knifes have shown there is a opening for a big folder maybe a manix :?:
Edit. after a bit more use i have to say i love the BM 710. it rocks. i still feel it would look better if it were a bit smaller but in use it works, and that is what matters. it has spent most of its time with me in a pocket, im going to miss it :C
soa how much better is the manix than these knifes because these are a wondefull trio? is the manix bigger than the bm 710?
Scouter
29-07-05, 05:14 PM
I've got em !!!!
My precious's is all back!
Thanks everyone!
no thank you for the opportunity to play with them :biggthump :love72:
so is the manix still on top?
The Manix isn't longer than the 710 IIRC but it certainly has a bigger blade than all of them.
Danzo
Scouter
06-08-05, 11:13 AM
Thanks Soa
Just a few of my thoughts to finish off.
In the style of Edd
Boa
Pro
Steel felt good.
The whole thing is solid.
Mech is a nice twist on auto law.
Con
Knife felt awkward to hold when starting the blade on its way open.
When closing the part of the blade (button) which would drop onto your thumb has sharp edges and digs into your nail.
Colour...
SERE
Pro
Look great.
Very solid.
Nice edge and blade shape.
The noise the lock mech makes when it echos through the handle and around you.
Con
The noise the lock mech makes when it echos through the handle and around you.
I hate the way makers cut into handle material to accommodate liner lock. It may well be very stronge but by eye it looks like a weak point.
710
Pro
looks
feel
build
lock
steel
balance
edge
;-)
are you getting the idea?
Con
ride height on pocket clip.
Conclusion
I have waited a long long time to see a SERE in the flesh. Would I buy one? Yes after I've looked at a few more Benchmades !!! The build the lock the everything on the 710 was fantastic.
The Boa sorry just not my cup of tea ;-(
I really would love to see the Spyderco hole instead of a thumb stud.
Once again thanks to SOA, who Mum thinks must be a very nice trusting man as she wouldn't put her Fisher dress making scissors on a passaround.
Cheers
Scouter
soa how much better is the manix than these knifes because these are a wondefull trio? is the manix bigger than the bm 710?
Sorry mate, delayed reply.
The Manix is in my [and Danzo's] opinion the best large production folder made.
It has an outstanding lock, a good feel in the hand, a secure grip, excellent steel.
Some might say it rides a little high in the pocket [which the SERE2K does not]
Some might say its looks are a little industrial [which the BM710 is not] (I'd say that form follows function, and it is simply an outstanding piece of engineering).
I have something of a liking for these big folders, owning most of the well known bigger folders. The Manix is top of the tree. I've recently acquired a Benchmade Skirmish, which apart from the controversy over its design, had something of a reputation as a mega-folder. It's well built, and certainly cheaper than the Large Sebenza - which I've also got an example of - but it is much less of a knife in my view.
When my biggest knife returns - [the Maxx 5.5 - and no, I'm not looking to acquire a 7.0] - Danzo and I are talking about about how to arrange a passround of the Manix/Skirmish. I'll pass round my Manix just because I want to convince any doubters about why this is such an excellent large folder. I think with such a high value/personal user passround we might have to set entry conditions, but we'll talk about that betwixt us.
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