HD,

Don't get the SERE2000. Yes, it may be made by a Al Mar and under the supervision of some SERE Personnel but, honestly, it was poorly designed for SERE. You're much better off with the Skirmish.

First off, it is a liner lock. But that isn't what makes it bade. The worst part is that the both liners, yes the support and locking liner, have both been extensively milled out (holes) for weight. This severely destroys the strength of the lock. Even a "superknife", the folding utility knife, doesn't have the steel liners milled out. Second, the design of the blade is really more for self defense, false edge, spear point (very pointy) and rather thin.

The Skirmish, being a framelock and having a larger blade is, by far, much stronger than the SERE 2000.

As for the Dark Ops, if you're really serious in wanting that I knife, I highly respect you for being one of the first person on any forum to even acknowledge Dark Ops knives. Every single person on other forums just flame about Dark Ops when they don't know a single thing about the company. All they think and believe is that DOK is just a cheap American copy of Extrema Ratio Knives. However, they fail to realize that the President of Dark Ops Knives had the original rights to all, yes ALL, of Extrema Ratio.

I actually want one, too, after seeing a near 200 lb man stand on the knife testing the lock strength and lateral strength of the knife. That same knife passed with ease. I do, however, wish that it wasn't serrated. But, logically, most folding knives should have serrations as most of the larger task will be done with a plain edge fix blade.

As for the steel of the blade, I don't know a single thing about it. So I don't know how tough or how good the edge retention is.

It would be nice to find some cutting reviews about the knife, but everyone seems to just hate the Company's guts.

IMO, a DO Stratofighter Folder would make the perfect combo with a Scrap Yard Knife. Both are very strong and won't fail under harsh conditions.