Custom Demko AD-10 incoming [New Pics and Mini Review in the 1st Post]

gofastalot said:
Congrats on the knife. My second will be ready in about 11 months - .100Ti liners, Ti backspacer, CF, M390. The first one just wasn't beefy enough :D:D
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GO -- question -- mine is on order quite a ways away. question on steel.

should i go with CPM 154 as his standard - or other recommendations? perhaps A2?

thoughts? (I want INFI but...not gonna happen)

anyone out there -- thoughts on steel?
 
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Capolan said:
GO -- question -- mine is on order quite a ways away. question on steel.

should i go with 154 cm as his standard - or other recommendations? perhaps A2?

thoughts? (I want INFI but...not gonna happen)

anyone out there -- thoughts on steel?
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CPM-154 is a fine steel but I would recommend talking to the man himself. He guided me to M390 and I can't wait to try it out. There's also ELMAX and I'm sure a few others. A2 is nice and tough also but not really "exotic"; I've never owned one in a folder. If you are laying out the green for a Demko shoot for at least CPM-154.

I wouldn't want one in INFI. I own a lot of INFI and a lot has passed through my hands - at least a dozen blades and I still own eight but I've found that INFI really shines in the large size (7"+) blades. I love my INFI choppers and 5 of my 8 INFI blades are 8" or more. I will always have at least a couple large INFI knives but I'm going to sell two of my smaller ones. INFI is great steel but for smaller blades I'd give up a little nuclear toughness for superior edge retention. I just don't see the advantage of an INFI folder. There are plenty of steels tough enough for a folder, even a bomb-proof heavy-duty kick-ass king-of-the-mountain No-BS Demko folder.
 
gofastalot said:
CPM-154 is a fine steel but I would recommend talking to the man himself. He guided me to M390 and I can't wait to try it out. There's also ELMAX and I'm sure a few others. A2 is nice and tough also but not really "exotic"; I've never owned one in a folder. If you are laying out the green for a Demko shoot for at least CPM-154.

I wouldn't want one in INFI. I own a lot of INFI and a lot has passed through my hands - at least a dozen blades and I still own eight but I've found that INFI really shines in the large size (7"+) blades. I love my INFI choppers and 5 of my 8 INFI blades are 8" or more. I will always have at least a couple large INFI knives but I'm going to sell two of my smaller ones. INFI is great steel but for smaller blades I'd give up a little nuclear toughness for superior edge retention. I just don't see the advantage of an INFI folder. There are plenty of steels tough enough for a folder, even a bomb-proof heavy-duty kick-ass king-of-the-mountain No-BS Demko folder.
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Outstanding reply sir! yes my 154cm is a total mistype!!! I would never get a custom in that. CPM154 -- how does that compare to one of my favorite "powder" metals - CPM 440v? -- if its even close - i'm sold, i LOVED that steel.

M390 is a total mystery to me,as is ELMAX -- anywhere I can go to get educated a bit on these new exotics?
 
Just do a search for M390 and ELMAX on BF. Here is a good thread by Ankerson about edge retention: http://199.231.142.3/forums/showthread.php?t=793481

M390 seems to be one of the top handful of steels out there with excellent edge retention, enough toughness for a hard use folder or small fixed blade, and good corrosion resistance, among other benefits.

I don't know much about 440V. I've got a lot of INFI, D2, SR-101, and SR-77 and couple in CPM-154. The INFI and SR-77 are great for choppers because they are so damn tough and do take a good edge (INFI takes a better edge than SR-77 IMHO and SR-77 seems "softer" but is more than exceptional for a chopper). SR-101 and CPM-154 are good for midsize because they take a good edge, are reasonably tough, and I haven't had any corrosion/rusting problems at all with either. I like D2 for smaller blades and folders although I'd like to get a steel with more edge retention, hence I'm trying M390 with my next Demko. I haven't really "tested" the edge retention on CPM-154 yet so I can't offer much in that regard.

I had a certain steel that I requested for my Demko and I spoke with Andrew about it and through a couple emails back and forth I decided on M390 instead (as recommended by Andrew). I trust his opinion as somebody "in the profession", and as the guy actually making the knife, over what I "thought" I wanted by doing a few hours research on the 'net.
 
gofastalot said:
Congrats on the knife. My second will be ready in about 11 months - .100Ti liners, Ti backspacer, CF, M390. The first one just wasn't beefy enough :D:D
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Ok - question for you!!


So I contacted Andrew again - and went with M390 (did research, amazing stuff)
I also asked him about annodizing - blue/purple scales perhaps???



I notice you went with carbon fiber over g10 - I was looking for some interesting carbon fiber out there, found some blue and red and gold stuff, but wasn't sure if it was "knife scale" grade, or whatever. (I'd LOOOOVE to find the stuff that is used on klotzli folders - specifically the "chartreuse")

so my order at this point is:

"smaller" blade
m390
Demko signed blade (his sig. is very cool...)
.10 ti spacers
ti backspacker
annodzing
G10 (not sure on color yet...looking for something interesting - i wanted purple - can't find it anywhere. or could do carbon fiber - blue?)

does he do wood handles? -- some very exotic wood might be interesting....

what about a "deep carry" pocket clip? --


just throwing mine out there, looking for feedback ideas/thoughts/etc.
 
DemkoKnives said:
Sorry, I suck at filing in a straight line
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Andrew, this is the most honest comment I've ever heard. It makes me want to order a custom from you, "imperfections" and all. I also think that the AD-10 is a very good value at the price point you have set. Just my .02 cents. When I want a "perfect" product, I get a production item with strict QC. When I buy a handmade custom, I don't worry about irregularities because I love to read the "stories" that the slight imperfections tell. It's what makes a custom truly unique, don't you think?
 
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