Knife Review Al Mar Quicksilver Slimline Ultralight

  

-  The return of the Stiletto

It seems I am the first. It does not happen often or truth be told it never happened before. Despite reluctant attempts, I have not found any review of this knife at all, either in writing or on film. There are a couple of short presentations of the model on Youtube but no more.

What I'm first with is a review of Al Mar Quicksilver Slimline Ultralight as it is called if the full name is readout. The knife in question is a knife that exudes classic aesthetics taken from older Italian spring-driven knives. Someone commented on one of my photos on Instagram and said "it looks like a Ti-Lite copy *". I thought it was a bit comical as it is actually just the other way around, which I informed him about. But the person in question was right in that both are rooted in history and are long elegant knives that are reminiscent of a dagger in appearance.

Al Mar AMK4046 Quicksilver Slimline Ultralight

The reason why I reacted when the comparison was made was partly that both took their inspiration from the same source, the classic switchblade, and no one thus has interpretive precedence over the other. But besides that, it is rather the case that Al Mar "steals" from themselves and CS imitated them if anything since Al Mar actually had a similar model before. We are talking about a knife from the nineties and early 2000s which was also called Quicksilver. That knife was also available in a "Jumbo" version that measured over a foot or thirty centimeters opened. It was sometimes referred to as a "fillet knife" even though I argue that it is stretching that term a little too far.

But this knife can be seen as an Al Mar 2020 homage to that knife.

Long and slim, the inspiration for Quicksilver is taken from Italian folding knives of historical design

Twitter version: Al Mar Quicksilver Slimline, tall slender, and wicked in appearance but with a rather good-natured disposition

Blade

Without exaggerating, this is one of the longest and narrowest spear point blades found in my collection, only surpassed by a really large stiletto. In this case, Quicksilver boasts a blade length of 125 mm or five inches paired with a modest height of 15,5 mm. The stock thickness is just under three millimeters. A very narrow and pointed blade in other words. That impression is enhanced by the pronounced bayonet grind. It is obtained by the blade having a false edge almost as wide as the primary edge and which constitutes 3/4 of the length of the back.

The knife can actually be double-edged if desired as the entire blade is hidden in the handle when the knife is closed.

The thin spear point blade measures 12,5 cm or 5" in length

The steel in this knife is fairly simple and straightforward. It's some kind of Chinese D2. But so far I have nothing bad to say about that steel in this variant. This knife has not received any stains so far. Since I have experience from other Al Mar products with the same steel, I know that it keeps the sharpness very well.

The blade on Quicksilver has been given a saber grind that extends half the height of the blade, but because it is so narrow, it will in practice be a very low bevel anyway. And even if the stock is not too thick, this blade does not, of course, provide the ultimate cutting properties. There are other Al Mar models that cut better. 

The steel is D2 and the finish is a shiny and difficult-to-photograph satin

With that in mind, I was still pleasantly surprised. Of course, the blade has its limitations given the shape, but it also brings some benefits. Quicksilver is not unexpectedly a mean letter opener, so it's a shame you don't get more physical letters these days. But it is not too bad at open packages as well. In those cases, I usually turn the blade and use the back of the tip, I might add. I don't like to get adhesive residue on the blade.

Used in the kitchen, Quicksilver gets mixed reviews. The handling of tomatoes and the like gives an average rating. It is doable but feels so-so. Things go sideways with potatoes, carrots, and the like, as the geometry is not entirely intended for such substances at all. But when it comes to dealing with melons, pineapples, and other large fruits it's quite capable. So I found one, maybe somewhat sought after, but still a very good area of use for this knife. It's a mean picnic knife!

An area where Quicksilver excels, handling large fruit

Not entirely unexpectedly, it penetrates very well, so when you need to poke a hole in something Quicksilver excels. As they say, everyone is good at something. This knife makes holes! In this case, the tip is also quite durable. Not as thin as it looks. But since the blade is narrow and the false edge is there, there isn't much material that is going into whatever is being cut.  

Then I couldn't stop myself and tried the knife on wood. Quicksilver is not a totally perfect whittler as you can imagine. But strangely enough it is mostly the narrow handle that is the biggest problem as it feels angular and somewhat sharp. As long as you stay close to the handle, the edge bites better than you might think. The D2 steel, the low saber grind, and the rather obtuse angel of the primary edge makes it strong. 

Handle

How the knife feels in the hand and the construction reveals that Quicksilver is a well-built knife. Even though only two screws hold the knife together, it feels solid. The handle consists of two pieces of titanium that are heavily weight relieved due to the holes that are found as decoration on both the presentation and lock side. The fact that the knife is thin in combination with the material and the holes means that the total weight is as low as 105 grams. 

A handle made of a minimal backspacer and two pieces of very drilled or rather milled titanium

The handle is also thin at 10,4 mm. The slight "coffin shape" means that it is widest at the end where it measures just over twenty millimeters. 

The handle is, as can be seen here, thin. It measures around one centimeter

The finish on the titanium is a fine stone-washed surface that gives a gray tone. Speaking about the finish, it can be said that it in general is very good. All edges and corners are well rounded and smooth. That except for the small corner that is formed at the base of the grip when the lock bar falls into place. But in return, it's not a big problem with such a long handle as the hand is not pressed up against the finger guard in the first place.

The handle feels to hold as it looks. A long narrow stick

There is not much to say about the grip itself. It feels like it looks. It's a narrow stick. A stick that is so long with its over 150 mm that I challenge you to find someone with hands big enough to fill this handle, even with winter gloves on. 

As for the ergonomics, it is not good. But nothing else is to be expected from a very narrow, rather angular handle. Don't get me wrong, Quicksilver is great to just hold! That is, there is nothing wrong with the comfort so to speak. So whoever picks it up in a "tabletop review" on Youtube at some point will probably say that the ergonomics are good, they usually do with all knives. But working with this knife is out of the question. But it is not intended for that either so it doesn't bother me. A couple of quick cuts or very light tasks is what it can be used for. 

Opening and Lock

Quicksilver is opened with a flipper mechanism "hidden" in the double finger guards. The way it opens is really impressive. To be such a large or rather a long blade and with such a small flipper tab, it is really quick. It can never be the fastest with so much blades to accelerate.

Although it lacks grooves, the tab provides good traction and is easy to use. However, it can only be used in one direction, backward. If you try to push downwards nothing happens except that you get a sore finger.

The minimal flipper tab is well beveled at the edges and works surprisingly well

Because the blade runs on ceramic bearings, the knife is almost more fun to close than open. The feeling is almost hydraulic and once the blade has passed the detent ball, it glides in place with a slight shake. 

The lock bar is a bit tricky to access as it sits at the same height as the rest of the handle. All for appearance. A very small depression is found on the opposite side and a modest chamfering of the lock bar has been made. But in this case, I buy that remission to appearance over function since aesthetics are such a big part of this knife's charisma.

The lock is not completely easy to access but works flawlessly

The lock itself is more than decent and feels and is very secure. There are no movement in any direction, no wiggle or play up- and down in the long blade. It requires great precision to achieve that on a knife in this format. The lock bar is steel reinforced for increased service life. Holding it in place you find the third screw on the entire knife if you disregard the two clip screws. 

To Carry

Al Mar Quicksilver is a knife that is both easy and cumbersome to get into a pocket. It weighs in at just over a hundred grams even though it is almost a foot long. Quite competitive figures! With a handle thickness of eleven millimeters and a width of at most two centimeters, those dimensions are also impressive. And furthermore, the smooth titanium surface provides almost no resistance when the knife is to go in and out of the pocket.

But for all those benefits to be utilized, very deep pockets are required. The length is clearly a deterrent. The knife measures over 150 millimeters folded!

Quicksilver is equipped with a very good clip

The clip on this knife is very good. It is a "loop over" clip that is attached to the back end of the knife. It can be moved from left to right depending on the preference of the user. The material is steel and the tension is excellent. The Al Mar logo can be found on the clip. Placing text there is usually an initiative I do not appreciate, but here it is nicely done and therefore does not annoy me. 

If you find a sufficiently deep pocket, nothing of the knife will be visible when you carry it

The ramp on the clip is also excellent for passing the edge of a pocket. This makes the knife easy to both pull and return to its resting place. Something that contributes to that is the holes in the handle that give something to grip when you pull out your giant letter opener. In terms of appearance, the clip is fairly neutral but quite large. But in return, the knife is so long that the appearance is nevertheless proportionate. The length of the handle also eliminates another common problem with loop-over clips, namely that they rub against the hand and creates a hotspot when the knife is used. Here, the handle is so damn long that there is no chance of it happening.

To Conclude

Al Mar lists the actual uses as "EDC and daily cutting tasks" for this knife. Of course, this knife can be pressed into that role. But there are clear objections to that. It does not have as much to do with the actual capacity as an edged tool as the overall looks of the Quicksilver. By that, I mean that the blade is capable but the size and appearance are dissuasive. At least if it's going to be used in public.

But of course, that's what I like about the knife. The design is very consistently executed and you will not find many competitors who present a knife in this style that offers the same quality. A few are available such as Benchmade SOCP Folder and Extrema Ratio Lucky.

What I appreciate about the look is the long driven symmetry of the Quicksilver. Several details contribute to that impression. One such detail is how the holes in the handle are not only found on the presentation side but is mirrored as far as possible on the lock side as well. On that side, the cut out for the lock bar is also found in the middle of the handle. In the same way, the clip is centrally located and then of course the finger guards/flipper tab are symmetrical as well and so are the two screws that hold the knife together.

Sure, you can use Quicksilver for everyday carry but bring something smaller just in case

Another thing I appreciate is how well built this knife feels. Much of it has to do with balance but also with how nice the knife is to handle when it comes to opening and not least closing. The action is very smooth and the knife is quick. The lock also contributes to a solid feeling.

Besides, it can be said that everything that is to be chamfered and rounded is soft as it should be and the blade sits centered in the frame. Another detail that indicates quality is how they chose to place the thinned portion of the lock bar on the inside instead of the outside. It also contributes to the overall clean look.

Al Mar Quicksilver, slim and elegant

Quicksilver Slimline is not the most practical knife in the universe except possibly for pineapple cutting. Its main benefits are found elsewhere.

The shape is quite extreme as can be seen and that is also Quicksilvers's greatest strength. You buy this knife because you appreciate the aesthetics of a classic stiletto but still want something in modern materials that is a little bit more practical than the originals. You thus buy this knife more with the heart than with the brain. Sure, it can be used for EDC-tasks, as long as there are no people nearby who do not know you well.

The price situation currently ends up around $ 130 in the US and in Europe, it costs from €168.

 

Specification:

• Length Overall: 280 mm
• Length Folded: 155 mm
• Weight: 105 g
• Blade Length: 125 mm
• Blade Thickness: 2,9 mm
• Blade Steel: D2
• Handle: Titan, TC4
• Lock: Frame lock

Produced by: Al Mar, made in China

/ J - goes thin

* A model from Cold Steel 

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