Knife Review Al Mar 3.0 S.E.R.E

 -  The model that shrank and changed role

Some of you may be familiar with Al Mars model S.E.R.E. 2020 or even read my review? Those who have seen that big and sturdy knife probably have no problem seeing the relationship with today's review objects. They are little siblings to that knife. They go under the designation 3" S.E.R.E 2020 O.D Green and S.E.R.E. 2020 G. Yes, today's review is "a two for one" because they are so close to each other.

Al Mar 3.0" S.E.R.E 2020 OD Green/G

Of course, one question immediately springs to mind and that is where the differences between the versions lie? Without saying too much, I can reveal that it is about the included materials. Otherwise, they are just as similar as they appear to be.

Another and perhaps more interesting question that I will try to answer is what happens to the model when the format is shrunk? Sometimes that experiment works, sometimes it doesn't. In the world of knives, there are plenty of examples of both outcomes.

Now it should be pointed out that offering different sizes of the same model is not a new move on Al Mars' part. From the beginning or shortly thereafter, they have had a smaller model of their original S.E.R.E-Folder in the catalog. It provides almost forty years of experience in the field. Previously, they had the prefix "Mini" and I find myself more often than not calling these knives that too. It's kind of easier to say.

But the question was, as I said, if they are just "mini" or if there is more to it when you make them shorter. At first glance, it's just a matter of reducing the blade from 3.6" to 3" and the handle to a corresponding degree. This is the transformation number I intend to discuss here.

Two for one, two versions of the same model, one review 

Twitter version: 3.0, the S.E.R.E.-model for EDC use

Blade

The blade shape on these knives is exactly the same as on the big brother. It means a rather aggressive spear point reminiscent of a dagger in profile. However, it is only ground on one side but has a fairly large false edge/swedge towards the tip. Al Mar calls the shape "Talon", which can be a bit confusing as in knife blade typology it usually refers to blades that look like, eh... talons. This means a tip pointing downwards and a curved concave edge, which is not the case here.

The smaller version of the S.E.R.E. still offers a sturdy knife blade, even if the stock thickness is reduced. These blades are 3 mm thick instead of the four millimeters the larger blades boast. The blades are, as can be told by the name, 3" long, or 76 mm. The height is 22 mm. The finish is the same for both blades in this case and it is a semi-gloss satin. They can also be had in blacked-out versions for those who prefer it.

Al Mars' distinctive "Talon" blade offers a spear point with a distinct false edge

Let's talk about what gives the various knives their own identity. One of them is the materials used in the blades. For the time being, they are "color-coded" which means that the black-handled version features D2 steel. The hardness is stated to be 58-60 HRC. The green knife has simpler steel in the stainless 8Cr13MoV. The hardness in hem is a low 56 HRC which is significantly softer.

The advantage of the green version is of course that it is stainless, although I am not usually particularly impressed by the corrosion resistance of this particular "digit" steel. 8Cr13MoV usually gets stains if they are wet for too long, regardless of what is stated in the description. But it is in general easy to sharpen and actually takes a pretty good edge. This also applies to Al Mars knives. The problem is endurance. This one can not handle many meters of cardboard before it needs a few strokes on the strop again.

Model designation and country of origin can be found on the lock/backside. This version has 8Cr13MoV steel

The D2 version is much improved when it comes to persistence. On paper, this D2 is tougher steel that is also hardened to higher hardness. It turned out to be true in reality as well. At least as long as you stick to cardboard as a medium. It keeps the sharpness significantly longer. It became clear when we during the test period bought a new sofa that arrived in several monster-sized boxes that in no way fit in our small car on the way to recycling and therefore needed to be processed in some way.

This particular knife happens to be partly serrated which is a configuration I usually do not appreciate at all. I'm not very fond of this either. I do not see the point of that type of edge at all. Theoretically, it should be better for rope cutting, for example. In practice, that advantage is negligible if it does not happen to be about wet ropes at sea, and in that case, I want the whole blade serrated. On the other hand, the teeth get stuck in everything that remotely reminds of fabric and tape and they are not good for cutting wood either. Not to mention that they are more cumbersome than normal edges to both hone and sharpen. 

This version with D2 steel comes with a partially serrated blade.

An invention I have never been a fan of

The picture is a bit deceiving as most of the cardboard was cut with the green knife.

The saw teeth on the D2 knife gets in the way and you are forced to cut with the front part of the blade

When using the knives, one of the disadvantages of shrinking this type of knife becomes obvious. The original model of the S.E.R.E. folder was created for a very clear area of use, to act as a back-up in cases where soldiers have lost their fixed blade knives in survival situations of various kinds. Thus, the focus was very much on durability and it is also noticeable in these smaller knives. Not least on how the blade is ground. A low, flat, saber grind. As can be seen in the pictures, it results in a rather wide primary bevel to create a sharp edge. It also means that there is a lot of steel behind the edge and that the blade is quite thick. This is not ideal for at least my everyday needs. 

This type of blade favors strength over being thin and slice well. A somewhat unexpected and positive side effect of this is that both the big brother but also these smaller versions cut really well in wood, both dry and fresh. 

The tip is just as excellent as it looks. It is both sharp and strong at the same time. Penetrating cuts or drilling holes is something this blade does with ease. 

Handle

The second difference between these knives is found in the handles. Or maybe both difference two and three as the color is obviously not the same. So far, it is color-coding that applies. In addition to the knives with black handles have better steel, they also have better material in the handles than the versions that are colored OD Green or Coyote as the beige third available color is called.

The handle shape is taken straight from big brother

The construction is identical between the different sizes and versions. This means a very strong steel frame, in this case, it measures one and a half millimeters thick. The frame is also not lightened, which theoretically makes it stronger. The material is 420 steel.

The frame is screwed and has besides a single standoff a small backspacer. It doubles as an attachment point for the clip. An advantage that the almost completely open back gives in combination with a completely smooth inside is that the knife is easy to keep clean. The spring for the assist mechanism is hidden inside one of the sides so no dirt can get in there. At least not easily. 

A solid steel frame provides strength

The sides of the two knives have the same shape and appearance but are, as said before, made of two different materials. FRN or fiber-reinforced nylon for the green and G10 for the black model. The difference is not huge must be admitted. As I said on various occasions, FRN is a very good handle material but it does not feel very exclusive. The G10, on the other hand, is slightly better in some aspects. One is the difference in friction. FRN must be provided with texture to provide a good grip, otherwise, it can be perceived as slippery. In their lightweight series, Al Mar uses what they call Dragon Hyde pattern to accomplish that. Here they rely on the shape of the handle instead and for a smaller knife like this, I think that is enough. In the larger format, I want more grip as that knife attracts to tougher use.

G10 is rougher by nature, although the Al Mars version is not as sandpapery as it may be. Another advantage of this material is that it is more impact resistant than FRN. If you drop your knife or scratch the handle, the G10 handles such wear better. It is also slightly heavier, although in principle it will be negligible on a knife like this. Also, it is slightly stiffer.

Knife shrinking is a tuff trick to pull off. It almost works in this case

In general, the S.E.R.E 3.0" is comfortable to hold but the size at least limits me somewhat. The hammer grip works decent but is not perfect in my hand. This is where the shrunken format comes into play. The basic S.E.R.E.-folder handle is quite heavily sculpted with a finger guard, a ramp at the top, and a "beak" at the back. It gives an extremely solid grip in the original size but makes my hand get a bit squeezed due to the beak on the back of these smaller knives. Same thing with a saber grip with your thumb on the ramp. When I grip the knife that way my little finger ends up wrapped around the beak at the back and the corners of the handle inside my hand. It also works but is not ideal in any way. Especially if you are cutting and the knives start to swivel in your hand. 

In that case, it feels more natural to place the thumb against the top of the blade to press downwards when needed.

Opening and Lock

This knife opens with a flipper tab and that is the only way it can be done. It is mimicking the larger model but is more efficient. Actually, it is not the tab that is better, but the fact that there is more kick in the assisted opening. The spring doesn't have to accelerate as much mass, which of course gives a faster opening.

The existence of assisted knives is widely discussed. At least on knife forums. People, in general, seem to like them while many knife enthusiasts do not. I am fairly neutral about the phenomenon. But in this case, it is probably more or less a necessity. As I said in a previous review, the flipper tab on this model is a modern indulgence to a classic handle profile. This means that if the tab is to protrude sufficiently over the ramp that forms the front of the handle, it must either be very long or placed further back, as in this case. It does not provide optimal geometry for quick opening and therefore needs a little help.

The flipper tab works but could, just like on the big brother, be improved by being more chamfered and rounded and being provided with some grooves to prevent slipping.

The flipper tab is a bit angular but gives speed to the blade especially as the knife is assisted

Mini S.E.R.E., sorry 3.0" S.E.R.E 2020 has a very solid lock. To the size of the knife, the lock on this knife is really strong. This is enhanced by the fact that the entire width of the lock bar in contact with the blade base and that the lock bar itself has no recess or hole in it to make it spring. It gives an excellent lock. No lateral or vertical play is present. And even if the knife is provoked by pressure from the wrong direction (spine whack), the lock bar does not slide but retains its position.

A lock that is very robust for the size of a knife

However, the lock is not as joyful to disengage. The lock bar is quite strong and therefore offers some resistance. Besides, the lock bar sits flush to the frame and there is no recess on the opposite scale to facilitate accessibility. To move the lock bar, one has to insert the soft part of the thumb and press hard. It is not the most comfortable after a few repetitions let me assure you. Especially as the edge is quite sharp.

The advantage of such a design of a liner lock is that the risk of it slipping during twisting movements while working is negligible.

To Carry

These knives are very nice to carry. Well, except for a protruding angular flipper tab that is. But everyone who knows me by now is aware that it's not my absolute favorite method for opening folding knives for that reason, among other things. But otherwise, these knives offer dimensions that are not too bad. This means a length of 10.2 cm and a height of 2.2-3.1 cm. The width is relatively large for such a small knife with 14 mm.

Al Mar has made a very good clip which, however, scratches relatively easily

The knives weigh in at 114 and 121 grams respectively, which as a total weight is not too bad at the same time as it is quite a lot for a knife that only offers a three-inch blade. It is the black G10 version that is a few grams heavier depending on the more compact material in the sides.

The texture of the materials in the handles combined with a functional clip makes the knife easy to both pull and put away. To achieve a good clip, some criteria must be met. The first is that the space under the clip is adequate for different thicknesses of fabric. Number two is that the lip or ramp is large enough to be carried over the edge of a pocket. Three is that the tip of the clip does not point outwards. All these criteria are met here. 

When the knife is carried in a pocket, nothing of the handle protrudes

On the fourth criterion, the knives are good but only in combination with the relatively smooth handle materials they offer. It's about clip tension. In this case, it's on the verge of being too hard but it works and not only works but is actually excellent. You will have a hard time losing your knife. One thing that also contributes to this is of course that this clip is of the deep carry variety. It is attached to the back of the handle and the knife is completely hidden in the pocket and thus safe.

Less good is the fact that this is a painted clip and will therefore be scuffed after a while. Or get patina as some choose to put it. So not so high scores for that. But to get back on the plus side of things it is reversible which of course is good for the lefties out there but also for all who want to carry a knife in a left pocket. 

To Conclude

This is partly a text about the noble art of changing the format of a successful knife model. It happens to be harder than you might think. There are two main approaches. Either you make two models that are very similar to each other but still are two different knives or you just shrink/enlarge an existing model. But do the relatively small changes matter? In this particular case, it means a slightly thinner blade that is shortened by 1.5 cm and thus requires a smaller handle with a thinner steel frame. The answer to that question is that it actually does! Even more, than you might think.

These knives almost have the same tank feel as their big brother, but the area of use is definitely different. They have been transformed from all-round beasts for outdoor use to more EDC-oriented knives. The smaller size of course means less weight and that they are somewhat more discreet.

The little brother is more everyday adapted but still got the same no-nonsense look

There is an added element to this model that was not included in the original equation. It's the flipper feature I'm talking about. And there is one thing flipper tabs unfortunately almost always do, and that is steal space. Here they do not occupy too much but they are apparent and my index finger is pressed against them sometimes. The handle works for my hand size in the most frequent grips, but barely. So it didn't completely work just shrinking the handle straight off and combine it with a flipper tab. That means that if you have really big hands you might think again. For those with a bit smaller hands, however, I think this knife is really nice. 

But if you want to get a 3.0 S.E.R.E which of these versions should you choose? It depends on two things. One is of course how much money you want to spend as the D2 / G10 version is slightly more expensive.

But apart from that, it can be said that the differences between these models can be summarized in a balance between how rust-proof you want your knife versus how "tough" and durable steel you want in your pocket knife. For smaller blades like these, I probably almost always lean towards the on paper simpler 8Cr steel. I have never been a nostalgic person who appreciates either carbon steel or tool steel in folding knives. That for a specific reason, I do not want to spend time maintaining knives by having to oil them and clean up stains. The second is that, unlike some enthusiasts, I do not appreciate what they call "patina".

A third minor factor can of course be appearance. If you really like your OD green, the choice is easier. 

From tough combat knife to a solid EDC-knife. Al Mars' S.E.R.E-folder survived the format change

My bottom line is that Al Mar 3.0 S.E.R.E is a folder that keeps coming back for more. By that, I mean that they can handle fairly tough chores without giving in. Materials and construction also mean that you do not have to worry about them not being able to handle certain tasks. They are overbuilt for most EDC-tasks. So if it feels tempting and you, like me, have a weak spot for the vintage or rather the timeless design, this is the knife for you.

Specification 3.0" S.E.R.E. G and O.D Green/Coyote:

• Overall Length: 178 mm
• Length, Folded: 102 mm
• Weight: 121 g (G10) and114 g (FRN), weighed by me
• Blade Length: 76 mm
• Blade Thickness: 3 mm
• Blade Steel: D2, HRC58-60 and 8Cr13MoV, HRC56
• Handle: G10 or FRN
• Lock: Liner lock

Produced by: Al Mar, made in China

/ J 

#knivesandbikes #aliaspostmortem #knivigtvarre