Demko Textured Titanium 20.5’s…Knifecenter Exclusive

[goldie]

Yeah…so, I’ve gone fully overboard with these now.

The carbon fiber is excellent. If I were to recommend one of these knives for quality to price ratio, the cf is at the top. But, the ti’s are just awesome, even if they are a bit overpriced.

I’m going to have to make a new thread, as I’ve drifted far enough from the original subject. I’ll post the link here when it’s up, but until then, here’s what will be featured, each with very detailed pictures:

Yes - I finally bit the bullet and got the timascus…it’s gorgeous…more pics coming.

I knew you would cave and get the timascus! Hey ,it is really cool and unique though,enjoy every minute of it....

 

[G3]

Did the Skiffs make a noticiable difference? I’ve never tried them on anything, but they are certainly interesting.

As far as the weight is concerned, I prefer the ti versions as well. I really don’t get this need bu some for 2 oz knives, but to each his own I suppose.

Noticeably smoother.
I can spydie flick the body of the knife it's so smooth and it's lock up is still solid as a tank.
Drops shut and is dead silent opening, no sound of bearings or contact whatsoever. Original bearings had a 'hiss' sound when opening even after lubrication but it wasn't an issue but noticeable when absent.
100% recommend.

https://imgur.com/a/TuaQfEb

 

[G3]

Okay, I’ve found a minor imperfection with some of the knives. Some of the pivots are very slightly proud of the scales.

All of my Grivory knives with the smaller pivot are perfectly flush. The smooth ti’s and the timascus are also flush.

The textured ti is slightly proud on the show side, and the carbon fiber is slightly proud on the back side. I am going to get out the calipers to see if the scale thickness is different on these two.

I noticed this also but I think it's just the design. They are perfectly even on both sides, so I assumed since they are stamped they are supposed to look a bit more pronounced than the standard screw pivot. Reminds me of denim jean rivets. Doesn't affect the feel at all on the textured version.
How about the smooth Ti?

 

[Boss Hogg]

Noticeably smoother.
I can spydie flick the body of the knife it's so smooth and it's lock up is still solid as a tank.
Drops shut and is dead silent opening, no sound of bearings or contact whatsoever. Original bearings had a 'hiss' sound when opening even after lubrication but it wasn't an issue but noticeable when absent.
100% recommend.

https://imgur.com/a/TuaQfEb

Very cool…I think that I’ve got to try some then.

Thanks.

EDIT: It appears that they’re sold out atm. I guess that I’ll have to wait. Do you know if they make any that will fit the larger pivot? I don’t see those knives listed in the compatibility chart - probably too new still.

 

[Boss Hogg]

I noticed this also but I think it's just the design. They are perfectly even on both sides, so I assumed since they are stamped they are supposed to look a bit more pronounced than the standard screw pivot. Reminds me of denim jean rivets. Doesn't affect the feel at all on the textured version.
How about the smooth Ti?

No affect on function whatsoever. And it’s not really a detractor aesthetically. I’m just trying to find anything beyond the price to criticize, which is not an easy thing to do.

 

[G3]

Very cool…I think that I’ve got to try some then.

Thanks.

EDIT: It appears that they’re sold out atm. I guess that I’ll have to wait. Do you know if they make any that will fit the larger pivot? I don’t see those knives listed in the compatibility chart - probably too new still.

Got mine from BHQ.
As for the size the diameter of the pivot shaft is the same, just the head is different so the same size will work on either.

 

[greater]

The Carbon Fiber version has full metal liners. They are probably stainless and the same as on the standard version, they look the same. I like stainless steel liners with carbon fiber, and most synthetic handled knives. It makes for a very strong knife and does not add too much weight.

I imagine the larger blade pivot pin heads on these models (titanium and carbon fiber ad20.5 and MG versions) provide more reinforcement around the blade pivot area than the smaller sized heads which are good enough but I do like the wider heads better for looks and function.

It seems like Demko likes to make his knives on the strong side.

 

[Boss Hogg]

Got mine from BHQ.
As for the size the diameter of the pivot shaft is the same, just the head is different so the same size will work on either.

Thanks for the BHQ tip, as well as informing me that the pivots are the same internally.

I just ordered two sets to try them out. I think I’ll start with one of my Grivory knives and one of my smooth ti’s. That way (since I have more than one of each of these) I can really A/B the difference that the Skiffs make both with and without liners, as well as with both pivot head sizes. I wish that I had ordered 3 of them now, so I could do my CF, but if I see a major difference, I’ll likely buy more to mod all of my collection. I’ll report back with my results soon.

 

[Boss Hogg]

The Carbon Fiber version has full metal liners. They are probably stainless and the same as on the standard version, they look the same. I like stainless steel liners with carbon fiber, and most synthetic handled knives. It makes for a very strong knife and does not add too much weight.

I imagine the larger blade pivot pin heads on these models (titanium and carbon fiber ad20.5 and MG versions) provide more reinforcement around the blade pivot area than the smaller sized heads which are good enough but I do like the wider heads better for looks and function.

It seems like Demko likes to make his knives on the strong side.

You’re correct - the liners in both are are stainless steel. The Grivory comes with a plastic backspacer, while the CF has standoffs. Knifecenter sells the standoffs in steel or titanium if one wants to get rid of the backspacer.

I agree with you about the strength of these. While maybe not as strong as a 4Max or similar, I’d never worry about one of these failing during normal use.

 

[Boss Hogg]

Just watched a new Knifecenter video:

David Anderson claims that the Demkos say they won’t be doing CF runs of these again for a long time due to the Taiwanese factory having issues working with the material. I have no idea if this is just a marketing ploy or if there’s truth to it.

 

[DocJekl]

Just watched a new Knifecenter video:

David Anderson claims that the Demkos say they won’t be doing CF runs of these again for a long time due to the Taiwanese factory having issues working with the material. I have no idea if this is just a marketing ploy or if there’s truth to it.

Glad I got them in time then! I wanted the smooth Ti scales, but I missed out. Still, I am very happy with the carbon fiber ones. If the Timascus had been $700 I might’ve gone for that version.



Ignore the Benchmade

 

[Boss Hogg]

Glad I got them in time then! I wanted the smooth Ti scales, but I missed out. Still, I am very happy with the carbon fiber ones. If the Timascus had been $700 I might’ve gone for that version.

View attachment 1906365
View attachment 1906366
Ignore the Benchmade

If it’s any consolation, I like my CF as much as my smooth ti models. Yeah, they’re different, but I find them equally enjoyable in terms of looks and feel. I think that you were wise to buy both blade shapes.

I hemmed and hawed for weeks over purchasing the timascus, and I ultimately decided that I’d rather spend the money now than later regret not getting one when I had the chance. I don’t think that there will be more made, at least not anytime in the foreseeable future.

 

[DocJekl]

If it’s any consolation, I like my CF as much as my smooth ti models. Yeah, they’re different, but I find them equally enjoyable in terms of looks and feel. I think that you were wise to buy both blade shapes.

I hemmed and hawed for weeks over purchasing the timascus, and I ultimately decided that I’d rather spend the money now than later regret not getting one when I had the chance. I don’t think that there will be more made, at least not anytime in the foreseeable future.

Yeah, but is it worth selling 2 Sebenza 31 in order to pay for it?

 

[Boss Hogg]

Yeah, but is it worth selling 2 Sebenza 31 in order to pay for it?

I’m guessing that that was a rhetorical question but…

No way, unless you have a bunch of Sebenzas lying around, and you don’t care that you’ll be ultimately taking a loss as compared to what the Sebenzas could fetch on the secondary market. I don’t think that these special 20.5s will be all that collectible based on the fact that it’s taking so long for them to sell out. But I can’t predict the future.

That said, if you really like your CF 20.5s, I think that you’ll love the timascus. Mine seems like it’s made better (or at least with mote attention to detail in tolerances and assembly) than any of the other 20.5s that I have.

 

[DocJekl]

I’m guessing that that was a rhetorical question but…

No way, unless you have a bunch of Sebenzas lying around, and you don’t care that you’ll be ultimately taking a loss as compared to what the Sebenzas could fetch on the secondary market. I don’t think that these special 20.5s will be all that collectible based on the fact that it’s taking so long for them to sell out. But I can’t predict the future.

That said, if you really like your CF 20.5s, I think that you’ll love the timascus. Mine seems like it’s made better (or at least with mote attention to detail in tolerances and assembly) than any of the other 20.5s that I have.

Yeah, rhetorical except I have 2 large 31, 3 small 31, and 1 Inkosi. So I could part with a couple of them (a large and a small). And only the small Inkosi and one small 31 has been carried.

I thought that my son would like one, but I didn’t know if you would like the large Sebenza 31 or a small; so I got an extra one of each - and it turns out he likes Benchmade axis-lock more that can flick out real fast, and he is more into heirloom watches than heirloom knives…

 

[Boss Hogg]

Yeah, rhetorical except I have 2 large 31, 3 small 31, and 1 Inkosi. So I could part with a couple of them (a large and a small). And only the small Inkosi and one small 31 has been carried.

I thought that my son would like one, but I didn’t know if you would like the large Sebenza 31 or a small; so I got an extra one of each - and it turns out he likes Benchmade axis-lock more that can flick out real fast, and he is more into heirloom watches than heirloom knives…

Can’t blame him…I like watches as well.
But I don’t think that I could turn down a CRK in favor of a Benchmade…

 

[DocJekl]

Can’t blame him…I like watches as well.
But I don’t think that I could turn down a CRK in favor of a Benchmade…

The blade opens too slowly, and the pointy thumb stud "hurts", so... I see his point too. I just watched a video on YouTube today where OCD-4-EDC takes apart and tunes the Sebenza 31 to open NOTICEABLY easier and faster, although still not as fast as other knives.

(EDIT - he has a birth year Omega James Bond Quartz Seamaster Pro watch, a birth year Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 3570.50 with 1861, and an Omega X-33 Gen 3 Skywalker, plus a couple of Luminox dive watches and an Atomic timed Casio pro-Trek, so he is also not looking for more watches.)

 

[Boss Hogg]

The blade opens too slowly, and the pointy thumb stud "hurts", so... I see his point too. I just watched a video on YouTube today where OCD-4-EDC takes apart and tunes the Sebenza 31 to open NOTICEABLY easier and faster, although still not as fast as other knives.

(EDIT - he has a birth year Omega James Bond Quartz Seamaster Pro watch, a birth year Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 3570.50 with 1861, and an Omega X-33 Gen 3 Skywalker, plus a couple of Luminox dive watches and an Atomic timed Casio pro-Trek, so he is also not looking for more watches.)

Cool - I’ll check that video out.

I love Omegas. My father has my great-grandfather’s early 50’s 18k gold watch. I can’t recall exactly the model, but I believe it’s some special variant of a Constellation. I guess that I should find out exactly what it is, but I know that the recent appraisal estimate was way above what we’d guessed.

EDIT: I’d be happy to share some pictures of it, if you know a lot about old Omegas. I remember not being able to identify the exact variant of it 10 years ago when I tried. But at that time, I figured it was worth a few thousand. Then we got the appraisal, and it was a shock.

 

[DocJekl]

I might be able to give you some info about it. I’m not a vintage expert or anything but I did spend some time researching my birth year Seamaster and my birth year DeVille from the early 60’s

 

[Boss Hogg]

Got mine from BHQ.
As for the size the diameter of the pivot shaft is the same, just the head is different so the same size will work on either.

Hi there.
So, I’ve got my Skiffs in hand, and I’m about to install them, but I have a question. This is for you, but also for anyone with experience.

I’ve been reading that some people lube these, while others think that they run better dry. Any thoughts? Thanks…