kennedy knives wrote:Dale is any of the AL-Mar Stamped USA- Seki . I understand these where the 1st Al-Mar 's made . I love the Kershaw model #1436 with ATS-34 steel made in Japan ,light weight, great action & will hold an edge . If you run up on a new one of those let me know Gary
I checked through all of my Al Mar's and I don't see any of them that are stamped USA-Seki.
About the Early Al Mar’s –
I checked all my Utility Series like the one on the left in the first picture, the two different patterns of the Utility Series in my store and a couple of them I sold and none of them had a USA-Seki stamp on them.
Al told me that my Utility Series in the first picture was from the first manufacturer that he had. I had purchased one for myself and one for my dad. When the spring broke on my dad's knife I took both knives to Al and asked him if he could fix the broken spring. That was when he told me, "Those were made by the first manufacturer I had, and they’re not that good. Let me give you a new knife." He was going to replace both knives and I said, "I really don't want to replace mine, it still works fine and I really like it." Al said, "That's fine, I'll replace the one with the broken spring. Huhay makes all of my knives now and he's the best in the world." That was the first time I had heard Huhay's name (I'm not sure of the spelling and I'm sure I have probably spelled it a couple of different ways, but it is pronounced like the English words "hue" and "hay"). I talked with Al on other occasions over the years and Huhay's name came up and it was always in the best context. I have no doubt that Al believed Huhay was absolutely the best knife maker in Japan.
A few years later when the new owner had taken over the company (Gary?) I talked to him at the OKCA show and I ask you if Huhay was still making Al Mar knives. He told me, "Oh no, we got rid of him, Huhay was f---ing Al."
I found that idea incredulous! The impression that I got from our conversation was that he had found someone to make the knives for him cheaper than Huhay and went with the lowest bidder. That is one of the most un-Al Mar things I have ever heard because Al Mar is all about
Quality.
I don't know who made/makes Al Mar knives for the new owner, I only know all of the Al Mar knives that I have purchased since Al's death (in October 1982) were ones were made in 1992 or before. I'm sure the new one is are quality knives, but it is very difficult for me to believe that Al could have been so mistaken about the person who made his knives. I think anyone know how Al well would feel the same way.
Regarding the Kershaw’s –
I have one #1436, as you can see in the picture it’s all scratched up, it was that way when I got it. That’s why it was only about $60 or $70, I don’t know which. It was less than half of what they sell for new on eBay when you can find them. They usually started about $150 on eBay and go up from there.
I do have an extra Kershaw #1431, if that would be helpful for you. It is 3-7/8” as opposed to 4-3/8”, of course the width makes a difference also. It’s a user and I bought it missing the clip, and so far of not been able to locate one. Let me know it is of interest to you.
