While there’s lots that might be higher on the Demko AD 20.5 pocketknife, it’s possible you’ll simply land within the sliver of parents who’ll get pleasure from it.
With the acquisition of Cold Steel by out of doors model conglomerate GSM, the way forward for the hard-use cutlery model famous for over-the-top, tongue-in-check movies remains to be in query a 12 months later.
One of their key designers, Andrew Demko, determined to launch his personal manufacturing model. His first providing was the AD 20, a knife constructed round his fidget-friendly Shark-Lock.
That knife, like most Demkos, was positively big. A couple of months later he dropped the AD 20.5 and it was a extra modest (and helpful) dimension. But how does this design stack up and is the design well-served by the supplies and manufacturing?
In brief: This is a knife for common utility and EDC. Its barely subpar supplies and price ticket are considerably offset by all of Demko’s design touches. If lock energy or fidget issue is necessary, it is a good knife. Otherwise, yow will discover extra for much less.
Demko Knives AD 20.5 Review
Specs
- Steel: AUS10A
- Grind: Partial flat grind
- Lock: Shark-Lock
- Blade size: 3 in.
- Handle size: 4 in.
- OAL: 7 in.
- Weight: 3.7 oz.
- Price: Starting at $170
- Country of origin: Taiwan
Construction
The AD 20.5 is a folder with the traditional ratios (3/4/7). It is available in two blade kinds: a clip level or a sheep’s foot (in Demko-ese: Shark Foot).
The knife deploys with a thumb stud or a thumb oval. It will also be snapped open with centrifugal pressure as soon as the lock tab is pulled again.
The lock itself is exclusive to Demko designs and might, in keeping with product literature, maintain an amazing quantity of weight. Using a spring, the lock tab drives ahead towards the tip of the blade right into a notch within the blade, locking the knife between the lock tab and the cease pin.
While the design opens and closes otherwise, it’s functionally just like an axis lock or sliding bar lock. The lock and the knife opening technique are utterly ambidextrous.
The metal is a relatively uncommon metal, AUS10A, which has similarities to VG-10 in its quantity of carbon. Some AD 20.5s have been launched with K110, which is a D2 equal. The deal with is orange FRN.
In Use
The lock is fast and intuitive. It can be intensely fidget-friendly.
The blade form is stellar, and the knife deploys simply. The edge features a huge chopping bevel, making the knife very sharp out of the field. The knife has lightened liners.
Overall, it feels skinny however strong in hand. The lock conjures up a great deal of confidence. I’ve used it to open concrete baggage, do meals prep, and to chop up cardboard for firestarters and recycling (on totally different days, after cleansing).
It reduce nicely till the concrete baggage. After that, it was not notably sharp. In comparable work, S45VN remained shaving sharp in comparison with the AUS10A.
Overall Impressions
For the value, the supplies appear decidedly beneath par. The metal, whereas unique, is just not notably spectacular. I like 14C28N and Nitro-V higher by way of cheaper, non-PM steels.
I additionally suppose the FRN handles might be nicer. They really feel very plasticky within the hand. With Civivi, CJRB, and Vosteed pumping out knives with higher materials for 1 / 4 of the value, the AD 20.5 isn’t an ideal worth. The blade is a bit thicker than it must be, however it isn’t too unhealthy.
This is a superb knife for Demko followers however solely an okay knife for the remainder of us. Recommended.
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