Al Mar’s Falcon Ultralight Folding Knife does not have the stripped-down look of minimal back country knives. This pocket clip folder works like heavier counterparts with extra features you’d not expect in a knife that weighs only 1.25 ounces.
The Falcon’s overall length of just over 7 inches includes 3.15 inches of AUS8 high carbon stainless steel blade hardened to RC 57-59. Part of the weight reduction came from trimming down the blade, which is only .08 inches thick. Careful heat treatment and tempering give it a dependable cutting edge and satisfactory toughness, but with a blade this thin, you’d be wise to use the Falcon for slicing, not stabbing or twisting. It’s a good knife, but it’s no pry bar. Dual thumb studs allow one-handed blade deployment from either side, so the Falcon works as well for left-handed owners as it does for righties.
To ultralight travelers who put as much value on the ounces left behind as they do on the ounces they carry, this knife will definitely look like a good thing. Offering a handle large enough to grip and control with ease as well as a strong lockback mechanism, the plain-edged, flat ground Falcon provides the piercing dependability of a light fixed blade. The knife folds small enough to fit either in the bottom of the pocket or clipped to the seam. Linen-textured black micarta handle slabs make the Falcon non-slip, tolerating extremes in temperature, moisture, and even chemicals. A stainless steel pocket clip attaches to either side, using the lanyard hole as an anchor point.
Al Mar’s lifetime warranty covers the Falcon against defects but not against abuse, and specifically classifies broken blade tips as abusive damage. Save that kind of work for the Ka-Bar.
