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Al Mar Mini SERE 2000 Review

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Last Updated: August 9, 2019
The SERE 2000 is one of the more iconic folding tactical knives of our time. The knife was originally designed in the 80s by Al Mar and Colonel Nick Rowe for the Army’s SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape) school. The fact that you can even still buy the knife is a testament to the efficacy of the design.

Al Mar Mini SERE 2000
Buy the Al Mar Mini Sere 2000 at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

As an enthusiast of modern folding knives, I have had my eye on the SERE 2000 for some time. It’s one of those “cornerstone” tactical knives like the Paramilitary 2 and Benchmade 710 that I feel almost obligated to try (twist my arm).

So why the hell would you buy the miniature version? Good question. I guess if you want “tactical” but are forced to be a little more “practical” then the Mini SERE 2000 (or MS2K) could be the knife for you. This is taboo in some circles, kind of like buying a 4 door Porsche. But I’m a sucker for compromise, and I got a good deal on this MS2K, so that’s why the mini version is the subject of today’s review.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The MS2K has an overall length of 7″, a 3″ blade, and weighs 3.5 ounces. Compare that with the full size SERE 2000 with an overall length of 8.5″, a 3.6″ blade, and weighing in at 6 ounces. I have enjoyed the Mini SERE 2000 as an every day carry (EDC). Having never attended SERE school, I couldn’t really tell you the merits of this folder in a Survival, Evasion, Resistance, or even an Escape capacity. I helped a couple hot dogs escape from their package the other weekend with the MS2K, if that counts for anything.

The SERE 2000 has a modified drop point / spear point blade with a mid height flat grind and a large flat ground swedge. This is a classic Al Mar profile that has shown up in a variety of their offerings, including the Eagle and Falcon lines. This simple blade shape is a good all round performer, combining excellent piercing capability with strength and slicing performance. Al Mar offers the blade with a satin finish or a black ceramic coating. I really like my satin finished blade – it has been beautifully done with crisp grind lines, an even finish, and a neatly applied edge.

Al Mar Mini SERE 2000 Blade

The SERE 2000 comes in VG-10 blade steel. This was probably a great choice when the knife came out 20 years ago, but is only OK by today’s standards. These days there are a number of higher end steels, especially at the price point the MS2 is offered at. The SERE 2000 is made for Al Mar by Moki Knives in Japan, and VG-10 is made in Japan, so that makes sense.

Practically speaking, the knife is capable of getting screaming sharp and it slices well. The tip strikes a nice balance between strength and precision. VG10 is very easy to maintain. I tend to strop my MS2K and I occasionally run it on the fine stones of my Sharpmaker. I have had zero issues with corrosion or chipping. However, I would not complain if they upgraded the steel to something more wear resistant, especially given the price of this knife.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The SERE 2000 features a no-nonsense handle design with black, O.D. green, or digi-cam G10 handle scales over full steel liners with a combination of stand offs and a small stainless steel backspacer. The handle is immaculate. The finish work is seamless, replete with satin hardware and lightly chamfered edges. I can’t feel a single crack or seam as I run my thumb over the backspacer that bridges the G10 scales and steel liners – a hallmark of excellent finish work and a close attention to detail. Although the liners are not skeletonized, the knife feels light and reasonable for its size. All told I am very impressed with the build quality of the handle.

Al Mar Mini SERE 2000 Handle

The MS2K was originally designed to be a much larger knife. I am guessing the mini version was an afterthought to appeal to a broader audience, and it is simply a scaled down version of the full size SERE 2000. I am pleased to report that the ergonomics of this design translate well to a smaller knife – another testament to the universal appeal of the original SERE 2000.

There is just enough room for me to get a full four finger grip, and my thumb perches nicely on the spine of the blade. This is a relatively thick knife, and it fills the hand. The chamfered edges are extremely comfortable and melt into your skin. The flared handle contributes to the MS2K’s signature profile, and also helps ensure your fingers don’t slide around on the knife. There is no jimping, but the thumb perches nicely on the spine of the blade. The knife is also comfortable in a reverse grip. I found this to be a good working knife, and had no real issues with hot spots even after a couple intense encounters with rope and cardboard. This handle ascribes to a KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) mantra, and the end user is all the better for it.

Al Mar Mini SERE 2000 Pocket Clip

The deep carry pocket clip has been given a glossy black coating. It allows for ambidextrous tip up carry. I like this relatively discrete clip design. It is a really tight clip and butts up to high traction G10. There is definite potential for pocket tearing, so keep that in mind. The clip provides very good retention and generally functions well. Being a knife with a relatively thick blade, full steel liners, and thick G10 handle scales, it’s a little thick in the pocket. Still, the knife carried fine for me, and I didn’t really notice it.

Al Mar Mini SERE 2000 Ergonomics

Deployment and Lockup

The Mini SERE 2000 has ambidextrous thumb studs, teflon washers, and a liner lock. The thumb studs are accessible on both sides of the handle, but the knife is designed primarily for right hand users. The teflon washers make it impossible to flick open, but it’s a very smooth knife.

Al Mar Mini SERE 2000 vs. Spyderco Sage

The liner lock engages early and securely. Like my Sage 1, the MS2K makes a distinctive “chirp” as you snap the blade into the open position. There is no blade play in any direction at all. Blade centering isn’t perfect on my knife, but it’s close.

I also like how the tang of the blade has been rounded off at the spine, so the knife looks just as good closed as it does open. It’s this attention to detail in the design and execution of the knife that gets me excited about the SERE 2000.

Mini SERE 2000 Review – Final Thoughts

When it comes down to my final thoughts on the Mini SERE 2000, I am a little conflicted. On one hand it’s a beautiful knife. It’s well made, balanced, with decent materials, and it’s very practical. It is an excellent knife. But on the other hand we are talking about a Japanese linerlock with G10 handles and VG10 steel with a retail price at $200+. For $150 I would recommend it without reservation. But at an actual retail of $200+ it is much harder to give this the fullest of endorsements. This isn’t because the SERE 2000 is a bad knife – it isn’t. It’s a wonderful knife. My problem with it is that I think that there is more out there at a better value.

Case in point, the Spyderco Sage 1 is another linerlock folder with 3″ blade, similar fit and finish (maybe not quite as good, but close), and better blade steel. The Spyderco Caly 3 is a beautiful Japanese folder with laminated ZDP 189 blade, real carbon fiber handle scales, and equally impressive fit and finish to the MS2k. At nearly twice the price of both the Sage 1 and Caly 3, I have a real hard time recommending the SERE 2000 carte blanche. It’s still a beautiful knife, just spendy.

It is also worth noting that the full size SERE 2000 is only a couple dollars more than the Mini. It might also be easier to justify spending the money on the full size version, especially if you are going to rely on it every day as a member of the military or law enforcement.

If you can get past the price the SERE 2000 is worth acquiring. It’s a timeless folding tactical knife, and fans of the genre owe it to themselves to at least check it out eventually.

Al Mar MS2K Mini Sere 2000
Al Mar MS2K Mini Sere 2000
  • 4 inch closed linerlock
  • Satin finish VG-10 stainless spear point blade with dual thumb studs
  • Textured black G-10 handles with black finish Reversible stainless pocket Clip
  • Lanyard Hole
Buy on Amazon

I recommend purchasing the Mini SERE 2000 at Amazon and BladeHQ. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Al Mar Hawk Ultralight Review

by 7 Comments

From big to small, I review them all. That little jingle may be pretty lame, but it is also pretty true. My last review was of the ESEE Junglas, 16 inches of high carbon steel. Worth a look if want a knife that you can strap to your back and enter the breach with.

Al Mar Hawk Review
Buy the Al Mar Hawk at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

Today’s topic is on the other end of the spectrum, a feather light folder by Al Mar knives. This is my first Al Mar knife review, and it’s a company I have had in my sights for a while now. For those unfamiliar with Al Mar, there is actually a long and rich history that could become an article of its own. In a couple sentences, Al Mar was the head of knife design for Gerber, and served in that position for over 10 years. Al then formed his own company in 1979, Al Mar Knives. The knives are made in Seki City, Japan and follow that area’s rich tradition of knife and sword making. Al Mar died in 1992, but the company is still producing knives to this day.

The Al Mar Hawk is the smallest knife in their series of traditional folders, and has some interesting quirks that are worth mentioning. Well built and hand finished, the details are what make this knife enduring, for better or for worse. If you are looking for something ultralight and a little different, the Hawk could be just the ticket.

Purpose

The Al Mar Hawk is a special little knife, and for many, it serves a special purpose. A quintessential “gentleman’s folder,” the Hawk could make a discrete and stylish companion anywhere from the grocery store to a black tie event. It is certainly a good choice for the office, as it is about as inconspicuous and people friendly as knives get. It could also serve as an EDC blade (or backup EDC blade) for those looking for something lightweight and high quality. It also a knife that appeals to collectors. I find it to be a handsome little blade that could easily be kept in my desk or dresser and admired (and perhaps even used) from time to time.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Al Mar Hawk has a 3.25 inch handle, with a 2.75 inch blade and an overall length of 6 inches. This is among the lightest knives I have handled, weighing in just under an ounce. This knife disappears into pockets and is literally a knife that you will forget you are carrying.

Al Mar Hawk: General Dimensions and Blade Details

The blade, like the rest of the knife, is slender and understated. It is made of relatively thin stock, which combined with a flat grind makes it a phenomenal slicer. It features a simple drop point shape and is made from AUS-8 steel. AUS-8 isn’t a “wundersteele” by any stretch of the imagination, but again, you have to understand that this is a Japanese knife, made with a Japanese steel and certain traditions and eccentricities are part of what makes the knife special. In today’s world of high end super steels, now might be a good time to remind you that AUS-8 is by no means a bad steel. I find it takes a very sharp edge although it may not hold that edge as long as say, VG-10, another Japanese steel.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The handle of the Al Mar Hawk is simple and elegant with it’s pair of piano black linen micarta scales. The hand rubbed micarta is smooth, but not slippery, providing a pleasant feel. The handle is punctuated by flush mounted nickle silver rivets given an almost mirror-polish. There are no liners or bolsters, which is part of the reason why this knife is so lightweight. Despite this omission the handle feels solid and secure, with a stainless steel lock back bar running the length of the handle.

Al Mar Hawk vs. Spyderco Leafstorm

Another feature absent from the Hawk is a pocket clip. For such a small knife, it hardly seems necessary, and in fact it may be somewhat offensive to have a clip hanging off of the otherwise svelte lines of this little folder. If a pocket clip is a “must have,” consider upgrading to the slightly larger Eagle or Falcon models. The clips are very nice with a black coating and red Al Mar logo. The Hawk does have a lanyard hole, which could aid in retrieval.

The ergonomics of the Hawk are surprisingly pleasant for such a small design. The knife fits comfortably in hand and I have no complaints. There is no jimping, thumb ramp or choil, so as for aggressive use, you will probably want to carry another knife. For the knife’s purpose I think the current configuration it works just fine.

Deployment and Lock-up

The Hawk utilizes a couple good sized thumb studs to facilitate easy deployment. The pivot point on this knife isn’t adjustable (in fact, the entire knife is riveted together), but due to the high level of quality control, you can be certain that the knife will come well tuned from the factory. The deployment starts off on the stiff side, but after some use the knife will break in and you will find that the blade deploys smoothly, and can be flicked out if necessary.

The Hawk uses a lock-back mechanism, located near the front of the knife. This is another classic design element and it holds the blade securely in place. Of course, from such a small and lightweight knife will have its disadvantages and one is that the lock is not particularly strong. For light EDC tasks that you would expect to do with a gentleman’s folder or dress knife, the Hawk will serve admirably. While there isn’t any play in the knife, the liner-less design lends itself to some flex. Don’t expect to chop down a tree or use the knife as a crow bar and I think you will be satisfied with the lock’s performance.

Al Mar Hawk

Al Mark Hawk Review – Final Thoughts

At the time of this article, the Hawk is hovering around $100. That isn’t cheap for a little knife. That said, it is very well built, made in Japan, hand finished, etc – in may ways you get what you pay for. The materials are good, but for the money I’d love to see VG-10 in place of the AUS-8. Also, I wouldn’t complain if they could squeeze a pocket clip on there (you could always take it off).

It goes without saying that you are also paying for exclusivity. It adds just a touch of class to your every day gear, any few people will have it, let alone recognize what it is. So I would conclude that as far as value goes, this knife is definitely more of a luxury item than a high value item. But, if you like fine knives, or don’t want to look like an evil knife guy on your next trip to the water cooler, the Hawk could be an easily justified purchase that will provide years of service and enjoyment.

Al Mar Hawk Folding Knives, Black Pearl
Al Mar Hawk Folding Knives, Black Pearl
  • Made using the highest quality components
  • Tested for reliability. Satin blade finish
  • 3 1/4 inch length
Buy on Amazon

If you are thinking of buying an Al Mar Hawk, please consider purchasing it at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for checking out the review.

Photo Credits: Many thanks to Bernard of EveryDay-Carry.com for the exceptional pictures of the Al Mar Hawk.

For those who are curious (and I know I was) the watch is a Seiko SRP027K1 and the Spyderco pictured is a Leafstorm that Bernard has modified by dying the handle black. If you didn’t already know, Bernard is a fellow gear and knife nut and he runs an endlessly entertaining blog on EDC options. It was really cool of him to let me feature his photography – thanks again!