The Demko Knives Titanium AD-20.5: The Full Nick Shabazz Review

The backspacer and the thunbstuds are titanium too??

Just uploaded a review of mine. It's one i thought looked cool, but just doesn't suit me

Nick, I love your knife review videos - informative and humorous. I just ordered an AD20.5 with the “shark foot blade”, polymer scales and AUS steel. Something about it just called out to me to buy it. I couldn’t resist.

Nick, is there any chance we could get a link to the maker of those AD 15 scales?

The price is the reason Chinese clones with aluminum scales are doing so well. I just ordered one for 30$ total without know what a demko was.

Nick, please review and compare the 3” Cold Steel Engage in S35VN to the AD 20.5 in the same steel. Thank you.

The years of Cold Steel shaming came back to roost... Demko isn't a slow man... he gave you a half a knife with a bigger brand and two countries... you pinky in the air noodle slurpers got what you asked for and you're paying handsomely for it.

That's all!

I liked my Ti sharkfoot right out of the shell but the clip was not doing it for me. So the first time ever for any knife I purchased a lynch clip for it. Now granted i would have preferred to keep a little of the knife sticking out of the pocket (personal preference) but even though it now has a deep carry clip, the clip made me love the knife so much more because i can actually get it in and out of my reinforced cargo pamts pocket easily now. This knife is also by far the easiest to get a ridiculous edge on (like hair thin paper feathers sharp) not even my Case knives or old Schrade USA can do that and they are some of my sharpest in my collection. Sure it wont hold an edge as long as something like my M4 Spyderco PM2 or ZT 0562ti and 0095bw but they also take forever to get sharp from dull and still dont get as sharp.

Just ordered one in S35VN with black G10 because I’m a simple man. I was going to pull the trigger on the 3V with titanium scales but over here in Ontario Canada the only retailer I could get one from wanted 2 arms and 2 legs for it. $600CAD is just jaw dropping insane if you ask me. Not to mention all of my knives with titanium scales get less pocket time than anything with G10 so I’m happy with what I got.

It's a cool knife but to much money. Reminds me of a vision.

I really enjoy your content especially these knives that I don’t think I would of heard about otherwise. I’ll probably just stick to spyderco but still love hearing about these other brands.

I just got a slightly different version, with textured ti and the tumbled shark foot blade. Nick, you’re on the fence about the sharp texturing of the scales and the shark lock piece. I think both are sharp, but the lock piece on the back is TOO sharp. You didn’t mention it in your review, (I think?) but the hole in the blade is also sharp.

Boy that's a nice knife, but I'm waiting on a Kunwu Pulsar in textured titanium, with a gorgeous Elmax blade. It was also made in Taiwan to exacting standards, and set me back $239. Could have that and another good knife for the price of this Demko.

I guess for me the gap between knife and handle is a spot where things can get into and get hooked on. That is the only rational I can think of and even then may not be that rational.

Just think about it like wire guage sizing.

Haha when you said $375. How about aliexpress for $54?

Nicolás, great video as usual and absolutely agree on the price and size. Nonetheless, the model really doesn't speak to me, perhaps if I have one in hand it'll change my mind. Time will tell. Gracias por el video, hope you guys are doing well.😁👍

I’m so glad I was able to get one in S35VN and natural G10 from KnifeCenter. I wanted one in a more stainless steel anyway—much better for EDC!

I sadly bought a grivory 20.5. I was planning on replacing the grivory scales. Lucky for me blade HQ allowed me to return it. My problems were with some wrist it could fling open with out using any push on the thumb stud, thumb hole, or releasing the lock. I also didn't like how the lock wasn't consistent on the release point of the lock I also didn't like how the spring made the knife feel with opening and closing the knife. My last complaint will bug a lot of people, but I hated the clip it seemed awkward to me; in addition, I am a tip down carry guy so it lost points there. I may have got one that had some quality control issues, but I didn't like the knife. I'm sure a lot of people will like it. I just want to address the issues I had with the platform that I didn't like for anyone it may help.

Friend has the smooth titanium 20.5. We were going to sharpen it on a worksharp precision adjust but we have noticed the edge bevel is 7 degrees difference from one side to the other! 22 degrees vs 15. Go figure, we’re trying to decide how to tackle this one.

Rename it as a Demko ad 15 would be perfect 🤣

I will never understand using non-stainless tool steels (and charging more for them) when there are stainless steels with similar edge retention that are actually made for pocket knives, If this were offered in s35vn, I'd have bought one the day that they dropped instead of the g10 and s35vn version that I'll probably end up buying.

BTW u definitely don’t need wrist to flick the blade out like that, just takes a day or two of practice

I'm watching this video, as I'm playing with the EMP Nymble, that I just received.👌

Nick, I’ll buy it from you if your other friend changes his mind. No, seriously — let me know.

I know prying with a folding knife is a no no but is 3V a good choice for light prying?

The plastic case is a PITA.

I love everything about this knife except the price point. If that's not a problem for you, you have a one knife collection type of knife here (for EDC, I'd always have a fixed blade for the woods). This thing is a work of art.

Such a good knife. Wish they would make some ad20 so I could get one.

Thanks for the video Nick.

Ive been missing you nick 😢

I definitely enjoy your content there Nick, good stuff bud !

As of now the 20.5 comes in aus10a, 3v, s35vn and more steels are coming

I wish they could mill out the Ti versions a bit to get the weight down. Not sure if it would make a big difference, but 4.3 oz seems heavy to me compared to the 3.5 oz grivory or my g10 version.

l always look forward to a Saturday review from Nick :)

Seems to be a familiar voice?!

You never could resist a titanium step up. It's still too big for you, and Irma doesn't need to see it.
When are you going to admit that you should be carrying a Kizer d'Orme?
It's called a Shark lock because it's a wallet killer.

Instead of 'AD20.5' it would have been satisfying to see it as 'AD 20 x 0.5'

Gotta say it’s not a looker in my opinion but still a great knife !

I think you should try the AD20.5 in S35VN in Carbon Fiber ... Same size ... Better steel in my opinion ... and cheaper then the Ti.

For the price, I could spend a bit more, and get both of the fixed and folding Adamas in cru-wear

Thank you for the review. I purchased the Demko 20.5 carbon scales $260 at Knife Center. It’s a lighter and balance point nearer the pivot. The scales are smooth so no tearing up the pockets. I have agree about sharp edges on the shark lock. The 1st thing I did was soften the edges, keep up the good job my friend.

I always thought the draw of this knife was the thumb stud deployment and opening slot plus the shark lock.

i finally got to handle one and loved the shark lock but the stud and slot deployment felt unnatural due to the spring… just was not a fan…

am i crazy?

I can't wait for the day they make a production AD20 compact and especially an AD22. Then I'll probably have to wait a year or two after that before I'm lucky enough to get one since they'll all sell out in 30 seconds.

Just picked this up in CPMS35VN with natural G10 scales. Definitely overpriced for what it is but it’s a beautiful thing and unique from an engineering perspective.

Love the AD20.5. What I don't get is why the textured Ti version is $60 more than the smooth Ti version, when everything else is identical. Looke at Quiet Carry, for example. The smooth Ti drift is $300, while the gnarled Ti version is $305. The textured AD20.5 at $320 would be a lot more tempting than it is at $375.

*In deep voice* In a world..

Definitely did not know it was smaller. Much more appealing to me. With it being made overseas I’d want to get it second hand, but I really want a $800 all usa made version of it.

I love my 20.5 at $150 and I’d do this for $325 in magnacut but this is an absolute no buy for me in 3v and $375.

Stone wash the Titanium scales and it will smooth the texture and the edges. You could even stone wash the shark lock.