MG AD-10

Well done, John, thank you. Your reading for the AD20 Gen 1 agrees with my little electronic kitchen scale I've had for several years.

(By the way, we have an Etekcity bathroom scale which has been excellent.)

I'll hope to snag an MG AD10, (G-10 version), when available. I can't see myself carrying the Ti version due to the weight.
 
I spoke with John Demko the other day and while the machine ground AD10 is still a thing, as mentioned above, it doesn't sound like they will be available in volume.

I suggested to John that they might want to use the mailing list to announce when they might be available for those of us interested in placing an order, and he was open to the idea. The main thing seemed to be the time, expense and effort involved in the manufacture of the model, and the fact that they are somewhat understaffed (at the moment, at least).

Always a pleasure to chat with John for a few minutes.

(And no, no favors were solicited, and none offered...though I did offer to help get info out to the forum when Mike is busy at the shop and can't get online.)
 
Well, to tide myself over until the day comes...I couldn't resist grabbing a CS version of the big fella, with 3V blade and titanium scales. Weighs in at 9 1/8 ounces, much like the MG version. Makes the waiting a little easier. :cool:


IMG_1955.jpg



IMG_1957.jpg



IMG_1954.jpg



IMG_1956.jpg
 
This thread is older, but I'll ask anyway. In this video (~12:14) from the Blade Show 2022, Andrew Demko shows the AD 10m with the modified Triad Lock. Is the model, or rather the modified Triad Lock, still current, or have these plans been scrapped?

Really no one who has information on this topic?
 
Well, to tide myself over until the day comes...I couldn't resist grabbing a CS version of the big fella, with 3V blade and titanium scales. Weighs in at 9 1/8 ounces, much like the MG version. Makes the waiting a little easier. :cool:
Congrats!! Looks good! I love mine...I just wish I wouldn't have missed out on a stonewashed silver version to go with it! LOL!
 
The older type Cold Steel DLC was pretty tough . :cool: Was darker, black and somewhat shiny .

IDK about the new coating ?
Nobody seems to know what it actually is, and that goes for multiple CS customer service reps who replied to my and another member's inquiries.

I even asked John Demko when I had a phone call with him a week or two ago, even though they've moved on...and he couldn't say definitively because things may have changed in the interim.

So, my intention is to convince myself not to be concerned with whether the finish holds up or not. I know the 3V will. I didn't buy it as a collector piece.
 
Nobody seems to know what it actually is, and that goes for multiple CS customer service reps who replied to my and another member's inquiries.

I even asked John Demko when I had a phone call with him a week or two ago, even though they've moved on...and he couldn't say definitively because things may have changed in the interim.

So, my intention is to convince myself not to be concerned with whether the finish holds up or not. I know the 3V will. I didn't buy it as a collector piece.
tiguy7 made a point over in the Buck forum that some pvd can be quite hard...harder than the steel. so its possible if its a pvd? its a good one that can handle whatever is thrown at it in cutting.
 
tiguy7 made a point over in the Buck forum that some pvd can be quite hard...harder than the steel. so its possible if its a pvd? its a good one that can handle whatever is thrown at it in cutting.

I believe that DLC is applied via a PVD process...but it's not something I've ever done much reading up on, to be honest, so I can't speak intelligently on the topic.



From Google AI...(can't vouch for its veracity)

PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) coatings offer a variety of options for knife blades, each with unique properties and aesthetics. Common PVD coatings include titanium nitride (TiN), titanium carbon nitride (TiCN), titanium aluminum nitride (TiAlN), zirconium nitride (ZrN), chromium nitride (CrN), and diamond-like carbon (DLC). These coatings enhance blade properties like hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance, while also providing different visual appearances.

Here's a more detailed look:
1. Titanium Nitride (TiN):

  • Provides a distinctive gold or yellow color.
  • Known for good hardness and corrosion resistance.
  • Frequently used on drill bits and cutting tools.
  • Enhances blade edge retention.
2. Titanium Carbon Nitride (TiCN):

  • Offers a darker, more gray appearance than TiN.
  • Provides good hardness and wear resistance.
  • Also used on cutting tools.
3. Titanium Aluminum Nitride (TiAlN):

  • A hard and durable coating with a dark gray to black appearance.
  • Offers good resistance to wear and high temperatures.
  • Often used in high-performance cutting applications.
4. Zirconium Nitride (ZrN):

  • Features a gray color and high hardness.
  • Known for its exceptional corrosion resistance.
  • Suitable for demanding applications like cutting tools.
5. Chromium Nitride (CrN):

  • Provides a silver-gray or black color.
  • Offers good corrosion resistance and wear resistance.
  • Often used in industrial applications.
6. Diamond-like Carbon (DLC):

  • A very hard and durable coating, often black in color.
  • Offers low friction and high wear resistance.
  • Used on items like knives, guns, and watches.
Other PVD coatings:
  • Aluminum Titanium Nitride (AlTiN):
    Offers good hardness and wear resistance, with a dark gray to black appearance, often used in high-performance cutting tools.

  • Teflon:
    A non-stick coating that can reduce friction and improve release properties.
Beyond PVD:
  • Cerakote:
    A ceramic-based coating that provides excellent wear and corrosion resistance, often used as an alternative or upgrade to PVD.

  • Stonewashed:
    A finish achieved by tumbling the blade with stones, creating a textured, matte appearance that helps hide scratches and fingerprints.

  • Satin:
    A finish with a subtle, brushed look, often achieved by hand or machine.

  • Blackwash:
    A combination of black coating and stonewash, providing both a dark aesthetic and a textured surface.

  • Powder coat:
    A durable, thick coating that offers good protection against corrosion and impact, but can be prone to wear with heavy use.
 
Blues, that AD10 Blackout looks great, and Midway is selling them for $250 right now. For an all Ti knife, that's a pretty unbeatable price. That's less than a set of OG Ti scales, alone...
That was sort of our reasoning when, at the newly listed price, jbmonkey jbmonkey and I talked ourselves into buying them. The coating and its durability aside, when you consider the combination of 3V steel, titanium scales, Tri-Ad lock and a bombproof build...it pretty much sells itself at that price...

...if you can get past the 9 ounce weight...which we were aware of going into it.
 
Yeah, kind of a no-brainer. And a heavy knife is a plus, not a minus, to me; within reason, of course. The AD10 must be a decent amount larger than the AD20, because it's a full-ounce heavier than my all Ti AD20 drop-point.
As for the black coating, I have to admit that I don't have many (if any) black-coated knives in my collection. But in the case of this CS, and for that price, it would be worth putting a little wear on the thing - kind of like a well-used pistol...
 
There was a handful of the mgad10m released during the 12 days of christmas Demko sale. I missed the drop by about a minute, but got lucky finding one on the secondary. Cost more than I care to admit, but I've been hunting one of these for quite a while and I wanted the textured ti with a machine ground blade.

I'll have to snap some pictures, but i took some measurements last night compared to the standard ad10 s35vn from cold steel. I used a set of polymer based calipers to not scratch the blade, but they are only in the hundreths.

Blade thickness:
Ad10 .15
Ad10m .18

Blade width above thumb stud:
Ad10 1.37
Ad10m 1.37

Lockbar
Ad10 .18
Ad10m about .20-.21, i cant remember the exact measurement, but it was at least .2

Bte:
Ad10 .02 but visibly thicker and not alot of adjustment to .03
Ad10m .02, visibly thinner, and a bit more adjustment to knock it up to .03

Other things of note:

The cold steel is thicker than the ad10m, even with its thicker blade stock due to the two piece handle scale construction.

Ad10m does not have a swedge

The ad10 clips are not compatible with the ad10m. It uses a larger screw than the cold steel models. Cold steel is t10 pivot t6 screw, ad10m is t10 pivot, t8 screw. While the Ad10m does not include a lefty clip, you can order one from demko, im waiting on one to ship myself.

I believe it was mentioned in this thread, but there appears to be a decent amount of hand work in the ad10m. I havent disassembled mine, but looking inside, you can see some belt grind lines on the lockbar and spring.

Cold steel has a bit of the blade stick out in front of the handle when closed, the ad10m habdle front is shaped different and remedies this. Thumb groves are farther forward on the 10m and the handle center is shaped differently on the 10m. No hole in the guard either.

This came to me new in the box, and it is clean paper cutting sharp and the action is smooth.

Hope this helps anyone's curiosity!

20260107_103338.jpg20260107_103358.jpg20260107_103413.jpg20260107_103421.jpg20260107_103438.jpg
 
Last edited:
Back
Top