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- Sep 10, 2015
- Messages
- 499
It's a little bit silly to have a generic title like this because of course the Demko AD-10 is a custom knife.
They are all different : The grind (can be convex, hollow, flat, etc), the profile (drop point, tanto, etc), the steel (3V, 20CV, etc), the scales (carbon fiber, micarta, G-10, etc).
So this post is only to compare my particular Demko AD-10 (black G-10 drop point version) to the new Cold Steel AD-10.
First some specs.
Cold Steel AD-10 :
Weight : 194 g (6.84 oz)
Blade thickness : 3,9 mm (0.153 in)
Blade length (straight from tip to scale) : 90 mm (3.54 in)
Steel : S35VN
Construction : tri-ad lock in steel, liners in aluminum, clip in steel.
Demko AD-10 :
Weight : 224 g (7.9 oz)
Blade thickness : 4,8 mm (0.189 in)
Blade length (straight from tip to scale) : 90 mm (3.54 in)
Steel : CTS 204P
Construction : tri-ad lock in steel, liners in titanium, clip in titanium.
Show side :
We can see that the stop pin visible in the scale is thicker on the Demko. I think they are both the same size internally but the extremity that go through the liners and G-10 is reduced on the Cold Steel. Prettier pivot on the custom.
The scales on my Demko are smooth compared to the rugged scales of the Cold Steel. But I must admit I prefer this rugged feeling and the grip is a little bit better on the CS. Both handles are very comfortable with contoured G-10 and no hot spots.
Clip side :
Same excessive stiffness for both clips. I find this annoying and I was forced to bend them a little bit to use them easily.
Obviously the sterile blade on the Demko is prettier compared to the branding on the CS.
Top view :
In this view you can see the thumbstuds are different. I think the Demko thumbstuds are prettier and have a better "feel" on the thumb but it's purely personal and the CS thumbstuds are perfectly adequate. The jimping is also more elaborate on the Demko. And of course we can see the thicker blade and thicker lock on the Demko.
Side by side :
Rear of the knives :
The Demko is more elaborate with the chamfering on the titanium backspacer. The production version is more mundane with a black aluminum (or is it G-10?) backspacer.
If we compare the production AD-10 to the current Cold Steel line up we can see it's right in the middle between an American Lawman (my version with heavily modified handle profile) and a SR-1 (my version with slightly modified handle profile) :
Same trio but top view :
Here you can see that the SR-1 blade thickness is insane compared to the AD-10.
So what is the conclusion?
First the Cold Steel AD-10 is an excellent knife. Superb handle with contoured G-10 (better feel than the flat scales of an American Lawman). Hollow grind with really good cutting performance. Very solid and dependable. Not too costly.
What are the arguments in favor of the Demko custom?
Well, not many. It can be argued that the Demko is tougher (due to the titanium vs aluminum liners or the blade and lock thickness or the full thickness of the stop pin). When you look closely the fit and finish is also better with smoother contouring and chamfering on the custom compared to the production version.
But the Demko's weight is also higher and for me it's difficult to EDC it in an urban environment. And of course the custom is much MUCH more expensive and difficult to order.
Both versions are very close and perhaps there is a risk to "kill" the Demko AD-10 with this production version by Cold Steel. Or perhaps the population of buyers is not the same at all?
At least I feel Andrew Demko will receive fewer orders for black G-10 drop point versions of his custom. Other versions are IMHO less threatened.
Proof : I'm still dreaming of a 3V/convex/micarta version and of a 20CV/tanto/orange G-10 version
They are all different : The grind (can be convex, hollow, flat, etc), the profile (drop point, tanto, etc), the steel (3V, 20CV, etc), the scales (carbon fiber, micarta, G-10, etc).
So this post is only to compare my particular Demko AD-10 (black G-10 drop point version) to the new Cold Steel AD-10.
First some specs.
Cold Steel AD-10 :
Weight : 194 g (6.84 oz)
Blade thickness : 3,9 mm (0.153 in)
Blade length (straight from tip to scale) : 90 mm (3.54 in)
Steel : S35VN
Construction : tri-ad lock in steel, liners in aluminum, clip in steel.
Demko AD-10 :
Weight : 224 g (7.9 oz)
Blade thickness : 4,8 mm (0.189 in)
Blade length (straight from tip to scale) : 90 mm (3.54 in)
Steel : CTS 204P
Construction : tri-ad lock in steel, liners in titanium, clip in titanium.
Show side :
We can see that the stop pin visible in the scale is thicker on the Demko. I think they are both the same size internally but the extremity that go through the liners and G-10 is reduced on the Cold Steel. Prettier pivot on the custom.
The scales on my Demko are smooth compared to the rugged scales of the Cold Steel. But I must admit I prefer this rugged feeling and the grip is a little bit better on the CS. Both handles are very comfortable with contoured G-10 and no hot spots.
Clip side :
Same excessive stiffness for both clips. I find this annoying and I was forced to bend them a little bit to use them easily.
Obviously the sterile blade on the Demko is prettier compared to the branding on the CS.
Top view :
In this view you can see the thumbstuds are different. I think the Demko thumbstuds are prettier and have a better "feel" on the thumb but it's purely personal and the CS thumbstuds are perfectly adequate. The jimping is also more elaborate on the Demko. And of course we can see the thicker blade and thicker lock on the Demko.
Side by side :
Rear of the knives :
The Demko is more elaborate with the chamfering on the titanium backspacer. The production version is more mundane with a black aluminum (or is it G-10?) backspacer.
If we compare the production AD-10 to the current Cold Steel line up we can see it's right in the middle between an American Lawman (my version with heavily modified handle profile) and a SR-1 (my version with slightly modified handle profile) :
Same trio but top view :
Here you can see that the SR-1 blade thickness is insane compared to the AD-10.
So what is the conclusion?
First the Cold Steel AD-10 is an excellent knife. Superb handle with contoured G-10 (better feel than the flat scales of an American Lawman). Hollow grind with really good cutting performance. Very solid and dependable. Not too costly.
What are the arguments in favor of the Demko custom?
Well, not many. It can be argued that the Demko is tougher (due to the titanium vs aluminum liners or the blade and lock thickness or the full thickness of the stop pin). When you look closely the fit and finish is also better with smoother contouring and chamfering on the custom compared to the production version.
But the Demko's weight is also higher and for me it's difficult to EDC it in an urban environment. And of course the custom is much MUCH more expensive and difficult to order.
Both versions are very close and perhaps there is a risk to "kill" the Demko AD-10 with this production version by Cold Steel. Or perhaps the population of buyers is not the same at all?
At least I feel Andrew Demko will receive fewer orders for black G-10 drop point versions of his custom. Other versions are IMHO less threatened.
Proof : I'm still dreaming of a 3V/convex/micarta version and of a 20CV/tanto/orange G-10 version
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