As a man who is just uncomfortable sitting around in stillness alone with his thoughts, motionless,
mindful, hearing nothing but my own farts- I was super excited when metal complex,
another guy who can’t sit the hell still either, had agreed to loan me a knife he
was excited about. You might reply- which knife “all of the knives?” All of them yes,
but more specifically The Demko AD 20.5. Hey how about hearing it from the man himself. Metal
Complex can you tell me what you like about the AD-20.5 sharkfoot variant in 3000 words or less?
OK go (MC talks really fast for 10 or so seconds- and we cut away mid word) Ok well, maybe we’ll
check back in a little while. Knife bros know Demko knives is Andrew and John Demkos production
and custom knife company housed here in the US. They have produced knives over the years like the
AD 10, 15 and 20. You might remember before Cold Steel was sold, Andrew let them make a production
versions of the 10 and 15. If you’re keeping track I haven’t reviewed anything from Demko’s
AD-20 series yet. Normally I would have bought one, but last year I blew my wad
on fancy boy switchblades, old guy knives, and the Void XL, and I guess never secured a loaner.
Do I have a reputation? But the AD 20 line can be described like this. Mr. Demko designed a knife
with a new lock last year called the AD-20. It came in hand ground or machine ground options,
with titanium handles or G10 scales and retailed starting at $425. The hand grounds,
and full titanium handles being much higher. Since Demko isn’t a big company with high output, they
were copped as they were dropped. This year or late last year Demko started making some griovory
options for about $350 of the AD-20, also selling out easily. Then this year he had a production
version made in Taiwan at a lower price point, I guess to meet demand. And while we’re thinking
about the full size let’s look at the dimensions. The AD-20 full size is heavier like over 5 ounces
depending on options, and a 3.7 inch blade you can get it a few styles. I feel like I should
have broke down and just got a AD-20 last year. Oh well. There’s always this year and petty theft.
The Demko knives AD-20.5 blade is made from AUS-10A steel, versus the snob 20CV
in the full size AD-20. It’s a decent budget steel but you know I can see a few people shitting
themselves in the comments already- AUS-10A in a $150 knife? What is AUS-10A, hypothetical
person who watches these videos, but has never googled steel? … how about knife science guru
Larrin answering that question, posting this on blade forums. Guru is the word old people
use to describe adults who can navigate cell phones and computers. My grandson
is a computer guru… heh heh… I think I’ll have yogurt and pretzels for dinner. Did anyone see
the ridiculous thing he had to defend himself for referencing and citing someone in his book?
Apparently there are paint guzzlers out there who think citations are a form of plagarism.
Look he made it easy for me to snitch, the persons name is right here in the book! I’ll give the bold
mouth feel of Behr the edge over the pedestrian smoothness of Sherman Williams any day. Follow him
on IG and on his Patreon if you don’t already. The blade comes in a clipish point and a sheepsfoot
esqe “sharkfoot… get it? Ha ha. Demko knives has fun over there. Haaa (trails off). Oh you
know what let’s check in with Metal Complex. Is he still going? (More Metal Complex talking) Ok well…
The lock. The lock is a fidget friendly shark lock developed by Andrew for this
new knife. It’s patented… and if I remember correctly some different dumb
so and so in demkos instagram comments was also like uhhh that thing you were posting
you just got the patent for seems an awfully like this other lock. (Dumb voice) Uhh how do patents
work? Did they snitch tag too? I think they snitch tagged. Remember now matter how much
of an expert in your craft you are, there’s always someone in the comments smarter than you. Patents
citations, those words mean nothing to reply guys. The shark lock allows you to snap the knife like
a good axis lock or compression lock. But I do have a minor gripe about it. Shall we nitpick
for a second? Dish! The jimping. The lock has a kind of stiffer spring. So the jimping will
wear your tender little thumb raw if you flick it open and closed too much.
Now a normal person might flick with the thumb studs to use the knife and disengage it when
they’re done. But what if instead of using your knife to cut you treated it like a toy?
I mean you can do it too here- But it’s an more of an uncomfortable fun like a proof video! You know
what, you mind if we just check in again? (Metal Complex Talking) Ok thats about what I figured
The handle is not too thick, the grip could be a bit bigger- but maybe I should shut my mouth
and get the larger one because that’s the easiest solution. In fact now that I’ve held the smaller
one I’m probably going to make it a point to beg for someone to sell me the ad-20 they no
longer want at a good price in a few months when I have some money again. Natural G10 or Green G10
thanks. Now on this knife you have the FRN or GFN or actually Grivory I guess you know feels
like all those things kinda. Reminds me a little of my Spyderco endura. The texture is a little
“if you don’t like it get out”, but it feels sure in the hand. Made for medium small to average
hands. The shark lock only gets sorta in the way when you’re bearing down on some cardboard.
The not quite deep carry clip, looks like its swappable to right or left
side in a tip up configuration. I have this theory that Mr Demko is responsible for the
make the fabric of the cargo pants suffer cold steel pocket clips-
and Lynn of course encourages it. This one aint full cold steel but kinda close,
look at it this way it’ll help you break in the your Rustlers. If you don’t like it off
take it off and bend it a bit until you get the tension you like, and just shut your damn mouth.
Comparisons. Lets do a bunch here. Your time isnt valuable to you or me. I can prove it if you made
it until that sentence. The AD-20.5 feels like a little higher end cold steel, and it’s easily
a more fun lock than the tri-ad. Man I probably shouldn’t have just said that. A tri-ad will punch
anyone in the face that says fun, because it’s got a date with 10 cinder blocks and a ratchet strap.
Wait till you see how much of a dumb shit it makes a compression lock look like. A tri-ad Like say on
the Finn Wolf which costs about $40. It comes with a grivex handle, Scandinavian ground Aus8a, which
as you know 20% less badass than aus10a. Just a pocket knife, not a fidget toy. But that’s
what the AD-15 here is for. I always wanted a mid tech or custom version of this one- I find myself
mostly having cold steel and not demko money to spend. This one came in so many great colors.
While I have serious fomo, but at least still have the pretty faithful but a little bland cold steel.
Really unique lock, fidgetable but an air of danger. Will I eventually lob off the tips of
my fingers? I don’t know but I’m excited to find out! This was about $150. So Demko being a smaller
company that fits most of the bill for R&D, that patenting money, and handling the manufacturers.
Like I totally get why the AD-20.5 just costs more than it would if it were a Cold Steel. I’m
ok with that. Here’s the Benchmade 940-1 one of my all time favorite fidgeters. Easy to snap lock,
smooth action very light and small in the pocket without feeling tiny in the hand. Just about a
perfect every day carry knife. Same with the Para Military 2. Just a perfect every day carry knife.
Great neutral handle, not too heavy, fidgetable… can be found in a lot different types of steel.
And why don’t we get a little perspective from our guest? (More Metal Complex talking)
Let’s wrap it up. What would it take for the AD20.5 to get to that every day carry
perfection. First someone would just give me an AD-20. If Demko could make few minor refinements,
this knife could be a classic. I think its a good looking knife but perhaps if they made the shark
lock a little more… easy to flip? Is it spring tension or the jimping I’m not sure. Also maybe
a touch thinner of a grind, to make it a better slicer at least on the 20.5? That said, I am a
little more of a AD-20 sized knife guy myself. And I even like the thicker blade stock. Sometimes a
knife is more about the spirit of the knife than everything on it being perfect in every situation.
Demko knives is a small company, and it’s great they’re kind of doing their own thing now.
I feel like they offer knives what they can afford to offer them at-
and supporting a company like them is a good thing to do.
Anyway thanks to MC for the loaner. I know I am probably gonna regret this, but any
final thoughts dude? (Insert Metal Complex video talking) Ok
well you’re already probably subscribed to him. It’s a matter of time before he passes
me in subscribers anyway. Wish I had that hustle! Become a patron. Like this sick ass ripped jeans
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