Recommendation? Demko AD20.5 vs Spyderco PM2

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Liosha

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I got a question. There's Knife Center's 3V Demko 20.5, which I like and would like to get one a lot. BUT. There're lots of other great knives for this price range. And, in my opinion, the most striking example of this is Cru-wear PM2.
And I'm confused. In Demko the fidget-friendly locking mechanism attracts me. However, in PM2 you get a bigger blade and nice micarta handle. For the same price. And I would like to know your opinion, dear knife lovers, in this matter.
 
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Liosha said:
I got a question. There's Knife Center's 3V Demko 20.5, which I like and would like to get one a lot. BUT. There're lots of other great knives for this price range. And, in my opinion, the most striking example of this is Cru-wear PM2.
And I'm confused. In Demko the fidget-friendly locking mechanism attracts me. However, in PM2 you get a bigger blade and nice micarta handle. For the same price. And I would like to know your opinion, dear knife lovers, in this matter.
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Bigger blade is a mirage. They have the same amount of cutting edge, the PM2's extra length is the finger choil. It's got a handle just shy of 5" and only 3" of cutting edge. The Grivory handle material on the Demko is underwhelming at that price, and the premium for the carbon fiber version is probably excessive.

greater said:
Cuts better probably yes. The blade shape/design is for slicing.

Have better build quality no sorry not a chance. Unfortunately the AD20.5 is another testament to exceptional foreign build quality.

A better steel maybe (PMs have been made in quite a few different steels) but the Demko AD20.5 in 3V and yes even D2 is no slouch.

Made in the US unfortunately the AD20.5 is not. I wonder if a US company would even tool up and offer the quality control needed for a brand new design and if so would it be priced out of the market. The huge mega factories in Taiwan will make anything you want if you pay for it. That is too bad. I wish the US could offer that but it's an unfortunate fact that we are not in a position to.

Better aftermarket support I would not choose one over the other. The AD20.5 has good amount of aftermarket support both by Demko (Springs, Scales, ti and stainless barrel spacers, even $10.00 white grivory scales) and other vendors who sell scales and ceramic bearing such as skiff. Paramilitary has been around and has a lot of aftermarket support.

The Demko Shark lock is MUCH STRONGER, easier to use, and better in my opinion. The action on an AD20.5 is much smoother. This requires very high precision. The AD20.5 is MUCH MORE FUN to play with. Although the Demko has no where near the ergos of a Spyderco it is still in most cases more than good enough to get most jobs done. Overall aside from the lock the Demko is a knife that leans toward the strong side.

I don't know why you didn't mention the obvious where Spyderco usually blows all the others out of the water and that is ergonomics. The is no question in my mind that the typical Spyderco ergonomics of the Paramilitary is head and shoulders above the old fashion traditional shape of the Demko AD20.5

As a user in most cases whether one likes the looks of a Spyderco or not he/she may very well have to admit that they would rather be holding and perhaps carrying a Spyderco such as the Paramilitary all day rather than a heavier and/or traditionally shaped knife like an AD20.5. Blade design on a lot of Spyderco knives will make frequent cutting less of a chore too.
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Reasonable take.

tony281sc2 said:
OP, ignore that part in bold, because it is simply not true at all. The rest is spot on.
I have owned 5 different PM2s at one point or another, and they were all exactly the same. Demko is no slouch either, but Spyderco is definitely a brand I would trust to get the grinds right on every knife (even bevels, very sharp, all around great QC).
IMO
Demko = fun, fidgety, knife with tons of aftermarket support. Strongest lock on the market.
PM2 = one of the very best knives ever made IMO. Better Ergos and steel choices, aftermarket options, etc.
Can’t really go wrong with either.
Gun to my head i am going with the PM2
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I have yet to get anything out of Golden that I would say had been ground/sharpened well. PM2, Para3, Native series, doesn't matter. They are quite notorious for having uneven grinds (typically 17ish on one side and 20ish on the other), and this has always been my experience. One liner on my Lil Native had such a large burr in the pivot hole that 'm shocked that they were able to get it assembled. There's a reason all the higher-end Spydercos are made in Taichung. And the aftermarket for the CruCarta PM2 is less than you'd expect, since the liners and scales are unique to that model (non-nested liners, different than every G10 PM2).
 
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DMG said:
I compared specs on bladehq and according to them, one is .46 and one is .40. I just found another Demko that is .38. So that one is .08 inches thinner.
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Sounds like different sites have different measurements. The one I checked had the 20.5 at 0.32 handle thickness and the Para 2 at 0.455. As I said, I definitely found the difference very noticeable in hand.
Screenshot_20221031-115202.pngScreenshot_20221031-114927.png
 
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ferider said:
BTW, OP, if you had said Demko 20.5 vs. Manix 2, I'd have picked the Manix 2.

i-Fc26C2r-X3.jpg
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A good option! Thank you! Thanks to you guys, I have more knowledge and options!
 
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I own both the 3V AD 20.5 and an S30V PM2. Both are customized.

Both are on the narrow size, not quite "hand filling" but not uncomfortable either, the the scultured finger grooves make up for that IMO.

Though the handles are similar, the blades are not. The Demko has much thicker stock, and is thicker behind the edge. The PM2 is what many call a "slicer." Great for lighter to medium tasks. Some claim the fine tip is prone to breaking, but I am a "right tool for the right job" person and have never had that issue.

If you are looking for a jack of all trades folder than can take a little abuse, the Demko is your choice. If you need just an everyday light to medium duty folder that excels at slicing but "may" be more fragile (YMMV) then the PM2 is your choice. I like both. To be honest, give me an AD 20.5 with a PM2 blade and you'd make my day.

Both are fidget friendly, the Demko more so. I just wish I could remove the tumbstud.

I would get both, as in all honesty they are very different knives.
 
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The thumb stud on the AD20.5 comes off easily if you can get a grip on the non-slotted stud. It is loctited with some gummy stuff. There really is not much to grip before the stud starts ramping. A pair of small needle nose vise grips (not pliers) can grip it then firmly and carefully turn with a screwdriver that fits good. You could just dremel a slot on the other side I suppose. If your careful it may even look good.

The thumb studs together are slightly wider than the handle with the original scales and scales the same size so I would prefer to remove them to keep it as slim as possible however when using wider aftermarket scales such as those made by RGT I would prefer to leave the thumb studs on since the width with the new grips is wider and the thumb studs do not protrude.
 
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K.O.D. said:
I own both the 3V AD 20.5 and an S30V PM2. Both are customized.

Both are on the narrow size, not quite "hand filling" but not uncomfortable either, the the scultured finger grooves make up for that IMO.

Though the handles are similar, the blades are not. The Demko has much thicker stock, and is thicker behind the edge. The PM2 is what many call a "slicer." Great for lighter to medium tasks. Some claim the fine tip is prone to breaking, but I am a "right tool for the right job" person and have never had that issue.

If you are looking for a jack of all trades folder than can take a little abuse, the Demko is your choice. If you need just an everyday light to medium duty folder that excels at slicing but "may" be more fragile (YMMV) then the PM2 is your choice. I like both. To be honest, give me an AD 20.5 with a PM2 blade and you'd make my day.

Both are fidget friendly, the Demko more so. I just wish I could remove the tumbstud.

I would get both, as in all honesty they are very different knives.
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Could you put calipers on both to settle the width discussion?
 
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I have the PM2 in CPM S110V right beside me and it's quite nice, but as a total Demko fanboy I'd get the 20.5 because I love his designs. It would really come down to the choice of steel in the PM2 and intended usage.
 
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After 2 pages of this the choice is obvious, you have to get both.

In my case, my PM2 and Para 3's are slicier than my pair of Ti Demko's, and lighter and easier to carry, with better steel (S90V and S45VN). and they don't have bearings to get gummed up, They also flick open real fast with thumb or reverse flick. And, the Compression lock still lets you squeeze it to flick it open and closed like when holding the shark lock open on the Demko, making it fidget worthy as well. It's the best of all worlds.

If I was going to be prying on things and using the knife as a chisel, then I'm reaching for my Demko with Sharksfoot 3V blade.
 
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I have both and I prefer the Demko. If you get the clip point, the cutting edge length is very nearly the same as the PM2 (maybe 1/8" shorter) but the overall length is significantly shorter, because the PM2's blade-to-handle ratio is ridonculous. Ergonomics is a personal thing but I give the Demko a slight edge. The Demko handle fits my hand like a glove. PM2 is also very comfortable.

I definitely prefer the shark lock to the compression lock. It's stronger and quicker to deploy.

In terms of the blade, the Demko is more hard use. It's thicker behind the edge and the tip is much more robust. The PM2 is pokier and slicier. As far as the steel goes, I like 3v, but Spyderco gives you many options for the PM2.
 
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Don't have a PM2, but my AUS10 AD20.5 is 10.2mm thick at the scales (measured at the part where the end of the clip sits, that says "AD20.5") and 11.2mm at the thumbstuds.
 
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