My other Demko 20.5 thread was getting to be too long, so I’m just starting another with this update.
I have 11 of the 20.5s now, mostly all in 3V, and I’m getting to the point where I’m trying out different mods. I saw that Knifecenter is now selling some aftermarket Berkshire Forge titanium scales with a backspacer:
https://www.knifecenter.com/item/BF...ium-demko-ad205-scales-backspacer-stonewashed
…As well as an aftermarket titanium hardware kit:
https://www.knifecenter.com/item/BF...ge-titanium-demko-ad205-hardware-kit-machined
The scales come in stonewash or beadblast. They are made in China. I opted for the stonewash, as well as the hardware kit to mod a Grivory clip point 20.5
The scales require the steel liners from the Grivory scales, and the fitment is good. They lock into place easily.
The finish on the Berkshire scales is decent, but not nearly as nice as the authentic Demko smooth titanium scales. There were small pitting marks all over if you look closely, as well as snail trails already being present before installing.
That said, the weight and size of these are correct. In hand, they feel the same as the Demkos to me. They do look good overall…just not as nice when directly comparing them to the Demkos.
The install was overall very easy, but I did run into issues.
First, the Grivory models don’t seem to use a metal washer on either side of the bearings like the titanium 20.5s do. I had disassembled a few of my titanium models before, so I was surprised to find this difference. No big deal, or so I thought.
I had a set of Skiff bearings that I swapped, as well as some Demko titanium standoffs. The Berkshire scales come with a titanium backspacer, but since I had the standoffs already, I went with those.
So I assembled the knife with the Berkshire titanium hardware kit, and all seemed fine, until I adjusted the pivot. Even if I tightened it up all the way, there was serious slop. So, I took the knife back apart, but in the Demko pivot assembly, and everything was fine.
Now, I don’t know if the standoffs had anything to do with the pivot issue, but I don’t see why they would. The Berkshire pivot should work with the Berkshire scales, right? So, I don’t know what is up.
The Demko pivot uses a T10, and the Berkshire uses a T8, and that kind of sucks. Also, the Berkshire pivot screw has less threading than the Demko. It does screw into its pivot post securely, but I could not resolve the huge amount of play in it.
Once I dialed in the Demko pivot, the knife operated basically identically to my other titanium Demko with Skiff bearings…and that is a very nice thing indeed.
The other issue with the hardware is that the six scale screws are all the same length. That means that it’s a pain to get them to thread into pocket clip. It can be done on the stock clip, but I had to use the original longer screws on a Lynch clip.
I’m going to try the titanium pivot on some other 20.5s, and see if it works better. I should have tried it on the one I was playing with today, but I didn’t want to take it apart again now that it’s functioning so nicely.
So, I can say that the scales are a nice mod. The jury is still out on the titanium hardware kit. I’ll update when I try the pivot on other knives. I will say that the stopbar pin, lockbar pins, and titanium screws in the kit are of good quality. The kit also comes with a piece that I couldn’t figure out what it was. Apparently, it’s a lanyard hole delete that is supposed to compression fit into the hole. I didn’t try it.
So what I ended up with is a 20.5 with a 3V blade, Skiff bearings, titanium standoffs, mostly titanium hardware (except for the pivot and 2 screws), and a stonewashed Lynch clip.
Demko on top:
Berkshire:
Demko:
I have 11 of the 20.5s now, mostly all in 3V, and I’m getting to the point where I’m trying out different mods. I saw that Knifecenter is now selling some aftermarket Berkshire Forge titanium scales with a backspacer:
https://www.knifecenter.com/item/BF...ium-demko-ad205-scales-backspacer-stonewashed
…As well as an aftermarket titanium hardware kit:
https://www.knifecenter.com/item/BF...ge-titanium-demko-ad205-hardware-kit-machined
The scales come in stonewash or beadblast. They are made in China. I opted for the stonewash, as well as the hardware kit to mod a Grivory clip point 20.5
The scales require the steel liners from the Grivory scales, and the fitment is good. They lock into place easily.
The finish on the Berkshire scales is decent, but not nearly as nice as the authentic Demko smooth titanium scales. There were small pitting marks all over if you look closely, as well as snail trails already being present before installing.
That said, the weight and size of these are correct. In hand, they feel the same as the Demkos to me. They do look good overall…just not as nice when directly comparing them to the Demkos.
The install was overall very easy, but I did run into issues.
First, the Grivory models don’t seem to use a metal washer on either side of the bearings like the titanium 20.5s do. I had disassembled a few of my titanium models before, so I was surprised to find this difference. No big deal, or so I thought.
I had a set of Skiff bearings that I swapped, as well as some Demko titanium standoffs. The Berkshire scales come with a titanium backspacer, but since I had the standoffs already, I went with those.
So I assembled the knife with the Berkshire titanium hardware kit, and all seemed fine, until I adjusted the pivot. Even if I tightened it up all the way, there was serious slop. So, I took the knife back apart, but in the Demko pivot assembly, and everything was fine.
Now, I don’t know if the standoffs had anything to do with the pivot issue, but I don’t see why they would. The Berkshire pivot should work with the Berkshire scales, right? So, I don’t know what is up.
The Demko pivot uses a T10, and the Berkshire uses a T8, and that kind of sucks. Also, the Berkshire pivot screw has less threading than the Demko. It does screw into its pivot post securely, but I could not resolve the huge amount of play in it.
Once I dialed in the Demko pivot, the knife operated basically identically to my other titanium Demko with Skiff bearings…and that is a very nice thing indeed.
The other issue with the hardware is that the six scale screws are all the same length. That means that it’s a pain to get them to thread into pocket clip. It can be done on the stock clip, but I had to use the original longer screws on a Lynch clip.
I’m going to try the titanium pivot on some other 20.5s, and see if it works better. I should have tried it on the one I was playing with today, but I didn’t want to take it apart again now that it’s functioning so nicely.
So, I can say that the scales are a nice mod. The jury is still out on the titanium hardware kit. I’ll update when I try the pivot on other knives. I will say that the stopbar pin, lockbar pins, and titanium screws in the kit are of good quality. The kit also comes with a piece that I couldn’t figure out what it was. Apparently, it’s a lanyard hole delete that is supposed to compression fit into the hole. I didn’t try it.
So what I ended up with is a 20.5 with a 3V blade, Skiff bearings, titanium standoffs, mostly titanium hardware (except for the pivot and 2 screws), and a stonewashed Lynch clip.
Demko on top:
Berkshire:
Demko:
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