Demko AD20.5 vs Kizer Militaw

79 facts in comparison

Based on 302 Reddit opinions. Close race—Kizer Militaw edges ahead.

302 opinions
Kizer Militaw leads by 3pts
Demko AD20.5
88%
A-
Based on
713 Redditors

Demko AD20.5

~$119.99
187 opinions

tldr; Reddit highly regards the Demko AD20.5, particularly for its robust Shark Lock mechanism and availability in premium steels like 20CV and Magnacut.

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VS
Reddit's Pick
Kizer Militaw
91%
A
Based on
431 Redditors
Winner

Kizer Militaw

115 opinions

tldr; The Kizer Militaw is positively recommended by Reddit users for its good size, smooth action, and perceived value, even in its more premium configurations.

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Steel QualityAction & DeploymentBuild QualityLockErgonomics
🔧STE
ACT
BUI
LOC
ERG
27
Points
35
Points

Score by Category

Steel Quality
23%26%
Action & Deployment
32%40%
Build Quality
33%42%
Lock
29%32%
Ergonomics
26%41%

Why is Kizer Militaw better than Demko AD20.5?

  • Higher Reddit score (91% vs 88%)
  • Better value (30% vs 21%)
  • Better action (40% vs 32%)
  • Better ergonomics (41% vs 26%)
  • Better build quality (42% vs 33%)
  • rec'd for its size & appeal ()
  • expensive configurations are $250 & below
  • ⭐ Available in "premium" versions ()
Based on 1,144 Reddit opinions
Too Close to Call

Reddit prefers the Kizer Militaw

Winning by 3 points (91% vs 88%)

Better value
Better action
Better ergonomics
High confidence (1,144 mentions)

💬Reddit Sentiment

Based on 1,144 Reddit mentions

Overall Rating

Demko AD20.5
8.8/10
713 mentions
Kizer Militaw
9.1/10
431 mentions
LOCK
Demko AD20.52.9/10
Kizer Militaw3.2/10
VALUE
Demko AD20.52.1/10
Kizer Militaw3.0/10
ACTION
Demko AD20.53.2/10
Kizer Militaw4.0/10
ERGONOMICS
Demko AD20.52.6/10
Kizer Militaw4.1/10
STEEL
Demko AD20.52.3/10
Kizer Militaw2.6/10
BUILD QUALITY
Demko AD20.53.3/10
Kizer Militaw4.2/10
⚔️

Head to Head

Head to Head

Demko AD20.5: 0|Kizer Militaw: 6
LockKizer Militaw
Demko AD20.529%
Kizer Militaw32%
ValueKizer Militaw
Demko AD20.521%
Kizer Militaw30%
ActionKizer Militaw
Demko AD20.532%
Kizer Militaw40%
ErgonomicsKizer Militaw
Demko AD20.526%
Kizer Militaw41%
SteelKizer Militaw
Demko AD20.523%
Kizer Militaw26%
Build QualityKizer Militaw
Demko AD20.533%
Kizer Militaw42%
Demko AD20.588%
Kizer Militaw91%
Close race - Kizer Militaw edges ahead by 3 points

Key Specs

SpecDemko AD20.5Kizer Militaw
Brand
Demko Knives
Manufacturer
Demko
Color
Carbon / Stonewash / Clip Point

Key Highlights

Demko AD20.5Winner
🔒 Features reliable & strong Shark Lock mechanism.
🔪 Available in premium steels like 20CV &
💪 Considered a solid and capable knife.
Kizer Militaw
📱 rec'd for its size & appeal ()
💰 expensive configurations are $250 & below
⭐ Available in "premium" versions ()
👆 Offers "smooth action" for a mid-tier knife

Topic Battles

Demko AD20.5: 0|Tied: 0|Kizer Militaw: 5
🔧Steel Quality
Kizer Militaw wins
Demko AD20.5
23%
Kizer Militaw
26%
Action & Deployment
Kizer Militaw wins
Demko AD20.5
32%
Kizer Militaw
40%
Build Quality
Kizer Militaw wins
Demko AD20.5
33%
Kizer Militaw
42%
Lock
Kizer Militaw wins
Demko AD20.5
29%
Kizer Militaw
32%
Ergonomics
Kizer Militaw wins
Demko AD20.5
26%
Kizer Militaw
41%

Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories

📈Where They Rank

💬What Redditors Actually Say

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Kizer Militaw

Best Praise
+9 pts
Awhile back I set a limit of 10 knives to enforce some accountability. My general rule is that if a new knife enters the fray, one needs to be sold or given away to others that would enjoy it. Which one would you drop? **Top Five Knives:** * **QC The Nine:** Sea Swirl insert, build quality, and action is out of this world * **Golden Designworks Caliber:** Such a simple, sleek, and HUGE knife. Thinnest depth wise, so fidgety! * **Null Voodoo:** One of the prettiest knives I have, the 'chonk' of deployment is unmatched, fun design. * **Berg Blades Sweeney:** Probably the knife that feels most 'me' in style, simple, clean lines, elegant. * **Kizer Militaw:** Pound for pound packs the most punch for the price. Incredible action, probably most frequent carry for me. **Bottom Five Knives:** * **Civivi Vision FG:** with custom aluminum scales = lightest weight knife of the entire collection, so good * **Drop Gavko Nurse:** such a fun knife, small knife, fully blacked out, my first 'expensive knife' purchase * **Militaw Mini -** Because the Militaw is just THAT good that a small version works better in some settings * **Civivi Spiny Dogfish -** Cheapest knife in the collection but I love it! Great action for a liner, love the funky format * **Spyderco PM2 -** Dyed the camo scales blue, super dependable, great action, not my normal style but there's a reason this one is in almost everyone's permanent collection. **Probably giving the boot:** * **Demko AD20.5 -** Love shark lock and the customizations I've made (textured aluminum scales, black titanium backspacer), but the blade to handle ratio has never really connected for me design-wise.
r/knifeclub
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No negative quotes found
3 more quotes available below

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Demko AD20.5

Best Praise
+10 pts
If you want a Shaman and don't need the M390 and orange micarta, [Freedom Knife Shop](https://freedomknifeshop.com/search.php?search_query=Shaman&section=product&aff=5) has probably the best price on them. The price drops significantly in cart when you get to the shipping method screen. Would leave you enough for a second knife, or if you wanted to order some aftermarket scales for the Shaman. My favorite Spyderco is the [Sage 5](https://freedomknifeshop.com/search.php?search_query=Sage+5&section=product&_bc_fsnf=1&in_stock=1&aff=5), so I'll never not recommend it. Like with the Shaman, leaves you room for a 2nd knife. If you're interested in REX121 steel, I think it's the only option out there for that. Insane edge retention, so an interesting one to try if nothing else. If you don't have one, the [Manix](https://freedomknifeshop.com/search.php?search_query=Manix&section=product&_bc_fsnf=1&in_stock=1) is an interesting option with the ball bearing lock. The [Para 3](https://freedomknifeshop.com/search.php?search_query=Para+3&section=product&_bc_fsnf=1&in_stock=1&brand=51&aff=5) is always worth a look, especially with all the different steel options it has nowadays. My favorite fudgeter is the [Demko AD20.5](https://amzn.to/4p8uTlv) is probably my favorite fidgeter. The one I have linked is the S35VN models, but they also have 20CV and 3V
r/knifeclub
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No negative quotes found
3 more quotes available below

📈Historical Price Data

Demko AD20.5
$120$150$180$210Mar '25Mar '25Apr '25Apr '25Apr '25Aug '25Sep '25Sep '25Jan '26Feb '26Low: $109.99Current: $119.99
Demko AD20.5
All-time low: $109.99(2024-12)

Which is Better?

Kizer Militaw Wins
91%
Militaw
vs
88%
AD20.5

Close race, but Kizer Militaw edges ahead by 3 points based on 1,144 Reddit opinions.

Why Kizer MilitawWinner
  • Better Value for Money (30% vs 21%)
Why Demko AD20.5
  • 🔒 Features reliable & strong Shark Lock mechanism.
  • 🔪 Available in premium steels like 20CV &
  • More discussed (713 vs 431)

❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown

Sentiment Breakdown

26%Positive
Positive
26%
Neutral
73%
Negative
1%
Based on 428 Reddit opinions

Sentiment Breakdown

24%Positive
Positive
24%
Neutral
73%
Negative
3%
Based on 712 Reddit opinions

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Kizer Militaw or Demko AD20.5?
Based on 1,144 Reddit comments, Kizer Militaw has a slight edge with 91% positive sentiment vs Demko AD20.5's 88%. The difference is small, so both are solid choices.
Should I buy Kizer Militaw or Demko AD20.5?
Both have similar approval ratings (91% vs 88%), so focus on specific features, pricing, and what matters most to you.
What do Redditors love about Kizer Militaw?
Reddit users highlight: rec'd for its size & appeal (). expensive configurations are $250 & below. Available in "premium" versions (). With 431 mentions and 91% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about Demko AD20.5?
Reddit users highlight: Features reliable & strong Shark Lock mechanism.. Available in premium steels like 20CV &. Considered a solid and capable knife.. With 713 mentions and 88% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 1,144 Reddit comments: 431 about Kizer Militaw and 713 about Demko AD20.5. Data was sourced from Pocket Knives community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.

302 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 3/7/2026