Demko AD20.5 vs Spyderco Military
81 facts in comparison
Based on 271 Reddit opinions. Close race—Demko AD20.5Demko AD20.5 edges ahead.
271 opinions
Demko AD20.5 leads by 5pts
VS
Reddit's Pick

88%
A-
Based on
713 Redditors
Winner
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.
Check pricesVS

83%
B+
Based on
516 Redditors
Spyderco Military
84 opinions
tldr; Reddit highly regards the Spyderco Military, with one user calling it their favorite, and it's noted for being available in various premium steels and materials.
Check prices🔧STE
⚡ACT
⭐BUI
⭐LOC
✋ERG
27
Points
17
Points
Score by Category
Steel Quality
23%21%
Action & Deployment
32%17%
Build Quality
33%10%
Lock
29%14%
Ergonomics
26%18%
Why is Spyderco Military better than Demko AD20.5?
- Considered a favorite knife by a user
- Available in S30VN steel with "spydie edge"
- Offered in S90V Carbon Fiber
Based on 1,229 Reddit opinions
Slight Edge
Reddit prefers the Demko AD20.5Demko AD20.5
Winning by 5 points (88% vs 83%)
Better lock
Better action
Better ergonomics
High confidence (1,229 mentions)
💬Reddit Sentiment
Based on 1,229 Reddit mentionsOverall Rating
Demko AD20.5
8.8/10
713 mentions
Spyderco Military
8.3/10
516 mentions
LOCK
Demko AD20.52.9/10
Spyderco Military1.4/10
VALUE
Demko AD20.52.1/10
Spyderco Military2.0/10
ACTION
Demko AD20.53.2/10
Spyderco Military1.7/10
ERGONOMICS
Demko AD20.52.6/10
Spyderco Military1.8/10
STEEL
Demko AD20.52.3/10
Spyderco Military2.1/10
BUILD QUALITY
Demko AD20.53.3/10
Spyderco Military1.0/10
⚔️
Head to Head
| Topic | Demko AD20.5 | Spyderco Military |
|---|---|---|
Lock | 29% | 14% |
Value | 21% | 20% |
Action | 32% | 17% |
Ergonomics | 26% | 18% |
Steel | 23% | 21% |
Build Quality | 33% | 10% |
Category Wins
Demko AD20.5: 4|Spyderco Military: 0
Head to Head
Demko AD20.5: 4|Spyderco Military: 0
LockDemko AD20.5
Demko AD20.529%
Spyderco Military14%
Value
Demko AD20.521%
Spyderco Military20%
ActionDemko AD20.5
Demko AD20.532%
Spyderco Military17%
ErgonomicsDemko AD20.5
Demko AD20.526%
Spyderco Military18%
Steel
Demko AD20.523%
Spyderco Military21%
Build QualityDemko AD20.5
Demko AD20.533%
Spyderco Military10%
Demko AD20.5
88%
83%
Spyderco Military
Demko AD20.588%
Spyderco Military83%
Demko AD20.5 wins by 5 points
Key Specs
| Spec | Demko AD20.5 | Spyderco Military |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Spyderco Military
✨ Considered a favorite knife by a user
🔪 Available in S30VN steel with "spydie edge"
✋ Offered in S90V Carbon Fiber
🔪 Available in a Salt Magnacut version
Topic Battles
Demko AD20.5: 4|Tied: 1|Spyderco Military: 0
🔧Steel Quality
Demko AD20.5
23%
Spyderco Military
21%
⚡Action & Deployment
Demko AD20.5 winsDemko AD20.5
32%
Spyderco Military
17%
⭐Build Quality
Demko AD20.5 winsDemko AD20.5
33%
Spyderco Military
10%
⭐Lock
Demko AD20.5 winsDemko AD20.5
29%
Spyderco Military
14%
✋Ergonomics
Demko AD20.5 winsDemko AD20.5
26%
Spyderco Military
18%
Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories
📈Where They Rank
💬What Redditors Actually Say
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§ion=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§ion=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§ion=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§ion=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
ViewNo negative quotes found
3 more quotes available below
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for Spyderco Military
Best Praise
+13 pts“Government-run Walmart that a lot of military bases have. They tend to have good prices because they're not operating for profit.”
r/knifeclub
ViewNo negative quotes found
3 more quotes available below
Sentiment Over Time
Demko AD20.5
Spyderco Military
📈Historical Price Data
Demko AD20.5
Demko AD20.5
All-time low: $109.99(2024-12)
Which is Better?
Demko AD20.5 Wins
88%
AD20.5
vs
83%
Military
Close race, but Demko AD20.5 edges ahead by 5 points based on 1,229 Reddit opinions.
Why Demko AD20.5Winner
- 🔒 Features reliable & strong Shark Lock mechanism.
- 🔪 Available in premium steels like 20CV &
- 💪 Considered a solid and capable knife.
- More discussed (713 vs 516)
Why Spyderco Military
- ✨ Considered a favorite knife by a user
- 🔪 Available in S30VN steel with "spydie edge"
❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown
Sentiment Breakdown
24%Positive
Positive
24%Neutral
73%Negative
3%Based on 712 Reddit opinions
Sentiment Breakdown
14%Positive
Positive
14%Neutral
84%Negative
2%Based on 516 Reddit opinions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Demko AD20.5 or Spyderco Military?
Based on 1,229 Reddit comments, Demko AD20.5 has a slight edge with 88% positive sentiment vs Spyderco Military's 83%. The difference is small, so both are solid choices.
Should I buy Demko AD20.5 or Spyderco Military?
Both have similar approval ratings (88% vs 83%), so focus on specific features, pricing, and what matters most to you.
What do Redditors love 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's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about Spyderco Military?
Reddit users highlight: Considered a favorite knife by a user. Available in S30VN steel with "spydie edge". Offered in S90V Carbon Fiber. With 516 mentions and 83% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 1,229 Reddit comments: 713 about Demko AD20.5 and 516 about Spyderco Military. 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.
271 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 3/6/2026