Demko AD20.5 vs Spyderco Paramilitary 2
89 facts in comparison
Based on 330 Reddit opinions. Too close to call.
330 opinions
Demko AD20.5
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

88%
A-
Based on
514 Redditors
Spyderco Paramilitary 2
~$157.63
143 opinions
tldr; King of full-size folders. Compression lock legendary. S45VN steel upgrade worth it. Hand filling ergonomics.
Check prices🔧STE
⚡ACT
⭐BUI
⭐LOC
✋ERG
27
Points
34
Points
Score by Category
Steel Quality
23%42%
Action & Deployment
32%30%
Build Quality
33%35%
Lock
29%27%
Ergonomics
26%34%
Why is Spyderco Paramilitary 2 better than Demko AD20.5?
- Better value (36% vs 21%)
- Better ergonomics (34% vs 26%)
- Better steel (42% vs 23%)
- S45VN/S30V steel options
- 3.44" blade full-size
- Compression lock icon
Based on 1,227 Reddit opinions
Too Close to Call
Reddit prefers the Demko AD20.5Demko AD20.5
Winning by 0 points (88% vs 88%)
Features reliable & strong Shark Lock mechanism.
Available in premium steels like 20CV &
Considered a solid and capable knife.
High confidence (1,227 mentions)
💬Reddit Sentiment
Based on 1,227 Reddit mentionsOverall Rating
Demko AD20.5
8.8/10
713 mentions
Paramilitary 2
8.8/10
514 mentions
LOCK
Demko AD20.52.9/10
Paramilitary 22.7/10
VALUE
Demko AD20.52.1/10
Paramilitary 23.6/10
ACTION
Demko AD20.53.2/10
Paramilitary 23.0/10
ERGONOMICS
Demko AD20.52.6/10
Paramilitary 23.4/10
STEEL
Demko AD20.52.3/10
Paramilitary 24.2/10
BUILD QUALITY
Demko AD20.53.3/10
Paramilitary 23.5/10
⚔️
Head to Head
| Topic | Demko AD20.5 | Paramilitary 2 |
|---|---|---|
Lock | 29% | 27% |
Value | 21% | 36% |
Action | 32% | 30% |
Ergonomics | 26% | 34% |
Steel | 23% | 42% |
Build Quality | 33% | 35% |
Category Wins
Demko AD20.5: 0|Paramilitary 2: 3
Head to Head
Demko AD20.5: 0|Paramilitary 2: 3
Lock
Demko AD20.529%
Paramilitary 227%
ValueParamilitary 2
Demko AD20.521%
Paramilitary 236%
Action
Demko AD20.532%
Paramilitary 230%
ErgonomicsParamilitary 2
Demko AD20.526%
Paramilitary 234%
SteelParamilitary 2
Demko AD20.523%
Paramilitary 242%
Build Quality
Demko AD20.533%
Paramilitary 235%
Demko AD20.5
88%
88%
Paramilitary 2
Demko AD20.588%
Paramilitary 288%
Dead heat - too close to call
Key Specs
| Spec | Demko AD20.5 | Spyderco Paramilitary 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Demko Knives | Spyderco |
| Manufacturer | Demko | Spyderco |
| Color | Carbon / Stonewash / Clip Point | Black Handle - Stainless Steel Blade |
| Weight | — | 0.29982867632 pounds |
| Height | — | 1.0 Inches |
Key Highlights
Demko AD20.5Winner
🔒 Features reliable & strong Shark Lock mechanism.
🔪 Available in premium steels like 20CV &
💪 Considered a solid and capable knife.
Spyderco Paramilitary 2
🔪 S45VN/S30V steel options
📏 3.44" blade full-size
🔧 Compression lock icon
✋ Perfect for larger hands
Topic Battles
Demko AD20.5: 0|Tied: 3|Paramilitary 2: 2
🔧Steel Quality
Paramilitary 2 winsDemko AD20.5
23%
Paramilitary 2
42%
⚡Action & Deployment
Demko AD20.5
32%
Paramilitary 2
30%
⭐Build Quality
Demko AD20.5
33%
Paramilitary 2
35%
⭐Lock
Demko AD20.5
29%
Paramilitary 2
27%
✋Ergonomics
Paramilitary 2 winsDemko AD20.5
26%
Paramilitary 2
34%
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 Paramilitary 2
No negative quotes found
3 more quotes available below
Sentiment Over Time
Demko AD20.5
Paramilitary 2
📈Historical Price Data
Demko AD20.5
Spyderco Paramilitary 2
Demko AD20.5
All-time low: $109.99(2024-12)
Spyderco Paramilitary 2
All-time low: $79.99(2014-02)
$4 below 90-day avg
Which is Better?
Too Close to Call
Both products have nearly identical approval ratings (88% vs 88%). Choose based on your specific needs and preferences.
Why Demko AD20.5
- 🔒 Features reliable & strong Shark Lock mechanism.
- 🔪 Available in premium steels like 20CV &
- 💪 Considered a solid and capable knife.
- More discussed (713 vs 514)
Why Paramilitary 2
- Better Value for Money (36% vs 21%)
❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown
Sentiment Breakdown
24%Positive
Positive
24%Neutral
73%Negative
3%Based on 712 Reddit opinions
Sentiment Breakdown
25%Positive
Positive
25%Neutral
72%Negative
3%Based on 511 Reddit opinions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Demko AD20.5 or Spyderco Paramilitary 2?
Based on 1,227 Reddit comments, both are similarly rated at 88% and 88% positive - too close to call a clear winner.
Should I buy Demko AD20.5 or Spyderco Paramilitary 2?
Both have similar approval ratings (88% vs 88%), 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 Paramilitary 2?
Reddit users highlight: S45VN/S30V steel options. 3.44" blade full-size. Compression lock icon. With 514 mentions and 88% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 1,227 Reddit comments: 713 about Demko AD20.5 and 514 about Spyderco Paramilitary 2. 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.
330 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 3/9/2026