- a solid piece for high-pressure situations
This review will depart from some of the common lines of thought regarding folding knives. There are, in fact, certain aspects that I don’t care about as much when it comes to a specialized tool, compared to a generic knife intended for everyday use.
With that said, it’s time to share my thoughts on... Al Mar Rescue Assist.
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| Al Mar Rescue Assist |
What I mean by the above can be directly illustrated by the number of available versions of the Rescue Assist. There is only ONE. Comparable folding knives in Al Mar’s catalog come in various sizes, with different steels, and with handles in different colors. In this case, however, both the color of the handle scales and the size have been chosen with great care.
Consequently, the idea of an all-black or camouflage-colored version of a tool designed to be visible is inherently illogical. The same applies to size; a blade is more effective in this role if its cutting edge reaches a certain length. If it is too small, that advantage diminishes or disappears entirely.
The same holds true for handling. While there is a clear rationale behind the design—including the methods for deploying the knife and the locking mechanism—I would still argue that there is room for improvement.
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| Rescue Assist is a robust knife for those who want a multi-tool for emergency situations. |
Short version: Al Mar Rescue Assist, not an ordinary knife, but a specialized and effective tool for those moments when it is truly needed.
Blade
The blade—or perhaps we should call it the primary blade—stands out, distinguishing this knife from others. It is certainly not a "drop point," even though the spine curves downward toward the area where a tip would be, were there one. Nor can it be classified as a "sheepsfoot," as the cutting edge is curved—specifically, it features a sort of reverse belly.
I will simply refer to it as a "rescue knife blade." One of its defining characteristics is its completely rounded tip.
Furthermore, the presentation side features Al Mar’s new logo—the version without the red color—while the model designation is found on the opposite side.
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| Here we find a blade that is, in this context, almost traditional—that is to say, it lacks a point. |
Another distinctive feature is, of course, the serrations. They extend across approximately two-thirds of the 85 mm cutting edge. The teeth are quite closely spaced and feature a chisel grind—meaning they are sharpened on only one side—while the straight portion of the edge has a traditional V-grind. The latter is rather steep, with a primary bevel height of 10 mm, compared to 14 mm in the section with the serrations. This should be considered in relation to the blade thickness of 3.5 mm.
The material used is D2—a tool steel that I find perfectly acceptable for this application, though I do wonder why a more corrosion-resistant steel—some form of stainless steel, for instance—wasn't chosen instead. In this case, however, corrosion resistance has been bolstered by a substantial Ti-Ni coating.
As for edge retention and similar matters, I will leave that aside. For a rescue knife to be effective, it must be as sharp as possible. However, this also means that you cannot spend all day cutting ropes with the knife and then expect it to perform when an actual emergency arises. If you have used your Rescue Assist—or any similar tool—I recommend that, once the task is complete, you carefully inspect and touch up the edge so that it is ready for the next operation.
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| The saw teeth extend across most of the cutting edge and are, as is customary, chisel-ground. |
The same can be said for the second blade, which is tucked away in the spine. It is a seatbelt-cutter style blade, though it can naturally also be used for thinner rope or paracord. Personally, however, I prefer the larger blade—that way, I don’t have to eyeball whether it will fit into the opening.
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| The saw teeth bite well even in ropes |
Somewhere—I believe it was on YouTube—someone described the front section of this knife as "razor-sharp." I have no idea what that person uses to shave with. While this edge is certainly sharp, it is by no means comparable to a razor blade—especially considering it measures 1 mm thick behind the primary edge, which has a very blunt, steep angle. It is designed far more for durability than for superior cutting performance. The same can be said for the second blade.
There is no point, and the reason is simple: you don’t want to accidentally stab someone you are trying to free—whether from a rope, a fishing net, or, more likely, a seatbelt or clothing.
As for how the blades perform, I have used them to cut ropes of various thicknesses and materials—everything from paracord and thinner cordage to thicker nylon rope. I have also used them to cut through cargo straps (since I didn’t feel like slicing up my own seatbelts) as well as fabrics of varying thicknesses.
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| Similarly, the teeth work well on seat belts and similar materials. But when you reach the tip, an additional cut is required. |
It quickly becomes apparent that the serrated section of the blade bites well into rope, and just as effectively into cargo straps. However, there is a slight drawback: once the cut reaches the plain edge, the blade’s performance drops off. As it stands, the edge is quite blunt; it would need to be either significantly thinner or angled downward to effectively continue the cut. In its current state, you have to reset your grip and start a new cut.
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| The seatbelt cutter is effective, but only for thin cords and belts that are under tension. The product description claims it is also excellent for clothing—something I completely disagree with. |
As for the seatbelt cutter, it is highly effective—BUT, like all such tools, the material being cut must be under tension; otherwise, it won’t work at all. This isn’t unique to the Rescue Assist, but it’s good to be aware of, or you might run into trouble. For this reason, I prefer using the main blade; in a potentially high-stress situation, it saves me from having to think about which tool to choose or how to use it.
I’ve also taken the time to test the other features. You might be wondering, "What other features?" Well, as you can see, there is a square hole in one of the handle scales. It’s designed for opening oxygen tanks. Since I don’t dive, I don’t have any of those, but I did try using the knife to turn a few nuts. It works exactly as intended!
Furthermore, the knife features a glass breaker at the pommel end, which also does its job. If you slam it against glass, the glass will shatter!
Handle
The construction is straightforward. It is based on a steel frame, colored black to reinforce the existing color theme. I suspect the frame hasn't been skeletonized for two reasons. One is, of course, increased strength, as weight is not the primary priority here. The second—which is certainly related to the first—has to do with the second blade, which is concealed on the presentation side; consequently, there is only a partial liner in the rear section of that side.
The handle is secured at two points, in addition to the pivot screw—or rather, one point plus a second pivot screw, which also acts as a spacer within the otherwise open-back design. The handle scales are attached using three small T6 screws, while the adjustable pivot screw is a T8.
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| The handle shape is recognizable; the foundation is the same as that of the SERE folding knives, but with added finger grooves. The grip is exceptionally good. |
The handle material is G10—but not just any G10. They’ve gone all out here: the surface is as coarse as sandpaper, and it’s also textured with a grid pattern to further enhance grip. They’ve certainly succeeded; the Rescue Assist is highly unlikely to slip out of your hand. Another distinctive feature is, of course, the color. Signal orange is ideal if you need to locate the Rescue Assist in the dark or if it happens to fall on the ground.
The Rescue Assist also includes a lanyard hole—a sensible addition in this context. While I’m generally not a fan of lanyard holes on folding knives, there are exceptions—for instance, when you’re out at sea. Simply put, you don’t want to lose an essential tool like this into the ocean.
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| Rescue Assist is open at the back, where the seatbelt cutter can also be found. |
The shape is as distinct as the construction. Here, Al Mar has drawn inspiration from their own SERE folding knife, incorporating finger grooves. This creates a finger guard, as the handle widens at the front—both at the top and the bottom—a feature further reinforced by the flipper tab, which acts as an additional safeguard against slipping. Similarly, the "beak" at the rear ensures that the hand cannot slide off in that direction either.
Combining this fundamental shape with these additional features results in a handle that is virtually impossible to slip on. It provides an exceptionally secure grip.
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| The knife fits the hand perfectly, though it clearly favors a saber grip. As can be seen, a gap opens up between the blade and the hand when using a hammer grip. |
This does not mean that all grips work equally well—nor do they need to. A saber grip is clearly the preferred choice; the Rescue Assist fits perfectly in the hand, staying firmly in place. This grip also makes it easiest to perform cutting tasks.
You can certainly use a hammer grip, but the finger grooves force your hand slightly back along the handle, leaving a large gap at the front—precisely where you would want your hand to be to exert maximum force when needed. Furthermore, in this grip, the flipper tab digs into your index finger. Then again, that is not a major issue, as the tasks for which this knife is intended will hopefully not last very long. From that perspective, the handle does not necessarily need to be ergonomic.
As for other grips, there is not much to say. It is perfectly feasible to hold the knife upside down, with the edge facing toward you, for "pull cuts"—or to orient it with the—well, the non-existent—tip pointing downward. However, I cannot imagine that particular grip being used with a knife of this type.
Opening and Lock
How you choose to open your Rescue Assist likely depends mostly on how stressed you feel; it can, in fact, be opened quite effectively using both hands—perhaps not the fastest method, but arguably the safest.
Otherwise, the main blade can be deployed using either a flipper tab or thumb studs. The latter are of a classic, slim design and protrude quite a bit, which makes them easy to grip—even though they are positioned a bit too close to the handle for an optimal setup. Or, to put it another way, the handle is slightly too thick right where your thumb needs to pass. That particular detail could have been designed better.
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| Visible here are both the flipper—which serves as the primary opening method—and the prominent locking bolt of Al Mar’s Max Lock . |
Method number two—or three, depending on how you count—is the flipper tab. It works, but I’m not a fan of how the upper part of the handle almost obscures it. I discovered during practice that this makes things a bit tricky when you need to act quickly while wearing gloves. That said, once you learn to pull straight back, the motion works fine. This is also why I mentioned using two hands earlier on.
It should also be noted that the knife is assisted—a fact hinted at by its clever, pun-filled name. However, the assist is quite subtle, so you still have to do most of the work yourself, regardless of which opening method you choose. One consequence of this design is that it precludes the use of the type of locking mechanism found on other knives with "cross-bar locks."
The second blade is deployed by holding the knife in the "opposite" orientation, where you’ll find a thumb stud. It protrudes slightly from the side of the handle, making it easy to reach.
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| It is not often that a knife boasts three thumb studs, but that is the case here. The image also shows the carbide tip on the glass breaker. |
In doing so, I have also revealed the locking mechanism for the main blade. For those familiar with knives, this is actually quite apparent; for everyone else, I can explain that it is a variation of a now-classic lock, once popularized by Benchmade.
It functions adequately here—meaning there is no risk of the knife closing on your fingers, which is, of course, the most important thing. However, the execution lacks refinement. The action feels "gritty," with a locking bolt that has some lateral play, combined with very stiff "omega springs"—the springs that hold the locking bolt in place. This makes the knife somewhat difficult to close.
The secondary blade does not have a lock, but the angle of the seatbelt cutter when deployed—in relation to where your hand is positioned—makes it virtually impossible for it to close accidentally. If you happen to bump the back of the blade against something, it will simply spring back toward your index finger, without any risk of you cutting yourself.
To Carry
The fact is, if you try to carry the Rescue Assist like an ordinary pocket knife, it’s—if not quite a nightmare—certainly not a good experience at all. Therefore, it is best kept in a dedicated pocket, or—as in my case—either in a bag or, more commonly, in the pile of "handy-to-have" items in the car.
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| The clip is long, of the "deep ride" type, and can be switched from the right side to the left if desired. |
So, what is it that makes it less comfortable to carry? Well, pretty much everything, actually. To begin with, it’s large—even if it isn’t particularly heavy; we’re talking about a total closed length of 123 mm and a weight of 140 grams. Add to that a thickness of 13 mm and a maximum height of 30 mm, and you end up with a significant amount of bulk to stuff into a pocket.
Furthermore, there are various metal components protruding from different ends: a glass breaker at the tail, a flipper tab on the spine, and thumb studs on the side. There are actually three thumb studs in total—the third one, which deploys the second blade, sticks out the most.
Oh, and one more thing: the material itself is extremely abrasive.
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| Unfortunately, the ramp on the clip is very small, as is the space underneath—especially since the screw heads take up room. |
The clip is a simple spring-steel design—and, to be honest, not a favorite of mine. For starters, it’s a "deep-carry" clip. While I usually like that, in this case, I would have preferred more of the handle to remain exposed to make drawing the knife easier. That said, one could argue that this type of clip ensures the knife stays firmly in your pocket when you need it; you’re certainly not going to lose your Rescue Assist.
However, that doesn’t excuse the abysmal ramp. Combined with the abrasive G10 material, it’s nearly impossible to slide the clip over the edge of thinner trousers or a jacket—let alone a pair of jeans or heavier work pants. It practically requires two hands. Similarly, the space underneath the clip is a bit too tight.
Still, the tension is sufficient. Once you’ve managed to wrestle the Rescue Assist into place, it stays exactly where it’s supposed to be.
To Conclude
As mentioned at the outset, this is a somewhat unusual review. In this instance, the knife gets a pass for things that might otherwise lead me to mark it down. I don’t know the exact tempering of the blade or how long the saw teeth will hold their edge, but, honestly, that doesn’t matter to me. The only thing that counts is that it’s sharp the one time I actually need to use the Rescue Assist. Of course, if you work in law enforcement, emergency services, as an ambulance medic, or in a similar field, you’d naturally want something more than a disposable tool. As it turns out, however, this is certainly not a disposable tool.
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| With the Rescue Assist, Al Mar has created a solid tool for anyone in need of a reliable rescue knife—whether for use on a boat, in a car, or in a professional capacity, such as in emergency medical services, the fire/rescue service, or law enforcement. |
However, there are actually several points I would have taken issue with had this been a different type of folding knife; furthermore, there are a few other details that could have been improved, even on the current design.
One such point concerns the flipper tab, which angles slightly backward; when the blade is open, it tends to press against the index finger in an unpleasant way. Similarly, the rear end of the pocket clip becomes somewhat uncomfortable against the hand after a while. In addition, there is some vertical play in the blade—a result of the lock mechanism, which, as previously mentioned, does not feel particularly well-executed.
In the grand scheme of things, however, none of these issues significantly affect the knife’s functionality, and therefore they do not influence my final rating of the Rescue Assist.
I do have a few suggestions for improvements, however. While quick deployment is a priority, it should also be easier to return the tool to a pocket or bag—you wouldn’t want to risk losing your Rescue Assist after finishing a task. The ramp on the pocket clip is far too small, especially given that the material beneath it is quite abrasive. The solution would be to create a smooth surface on the G10 scale where the clip makes contact with the handle, opt for a slightly taller clip with a more pronounced "lip," and use countersunk screws so they don’t take up space underneath the clip.
It also wouldn’t hurt to give more thought to making the blade easy to deploy—ideally, *extremely* easy. This could be achieved by ensuring the flipper tab isn’t as obstructed by the handle, and by thinning out the handle scale at the specific angle where the thumb approaches the thumb stud during deployment. That would make the thumb studs much more effective.
Furthermore, I would have liked to see the curvature of the edge accentuated even more—perhaps with an S-shaped edge, or a front section that angles slightly downward, similar to a hawkbill blade. This would help it bite even better into rope and similar materials. As it stands, there is a slight tendency for the blade to "lose its grip" once you reach the straight portion of the edge. I believe it would have been more effective had it curved downward.
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| Rescue Assist has been with me for so long now that autumn has arrived. |
Overall, however, I find the Al Mar Rescue Assist to be a reliable tool. While the blade could perhaps be even easier to deploy, it is by no means difficult as it stands—and, as mentioned, there are three different ways to open it. The lock isn’t the smoothest, but it is robust, which is more important. Furthermore, the handle provides an exceptionally good grip, so there is absolutely no risk of your hand slipping or sliding off the knife.
The serrations on the blade bite effectively into the materials they are designed for, and the additional features—such as the oxygen tank wrench and the glass breaker—work as intended. There were no signs of rust during the testing period; the black coating has taken care of that.
Speaking of color, it’s worth noting that the high-visibility orange is a great choice—after all, a lost "Rescue" offers no "Assist."*
Specifications:
Length Overall 220 mm
Längd hopfälld: 127 mm
Weight: 140 g (weighed by me, stated 142 g/ 5,1 oz)
Bladle Length: 90 mm
Blade Thickness: 3,3 mm (stated 6 mm/ 0,25 in.)
Blade Steel: D2 with Ti-Ni coating
Handle Material: G10
Lock: Max Lock
Produced by: Al Mar, made in China
/ J - trying to rescue himself
* If you were to lose it, it currently costs around €110.
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