My Amazon page! The gear I use here on the channel! - www.amazon.com/shop/metalcomplex Thanks so much for watching! You can support my channel on Patreon here - www.patreon.com/metalcomplex MC stickers! - www.redbubble.com/people/metal-complex/shop?asc=u
The frame is threaded for leftie clips, Flytanium has an option on their site for leftie drilled scales( not BladeHQ though) and they published videos on how to DIY drill your left inlay scale for a left mounted clip. Interesting solution between wanting to provide left handed carry yet avoiding what some may see as unsightly extra holes!
My arcade came yesterday... I loved from the get go and the more I play with it the more I love it... I was worried about buyers remorse considering the price tag but I can tell this will be my EDC for a long time so it's definitely worth the 200 bones (in my opinion)
I got mine from White Mountain Knives for $179.10. It didn't take long to break in. The inlays that are coming out titanium Damascus and more look awesome.
This is such a cool looking knife, and one that I’ve been interested in purchasing since it launched. One thing I’ve noticed since they came out however, is the lack of handle material near the back of the blade. It seems as if the tip of the blade is almost popping out of the handle when the knife is closed. There just doesn’t seem like a long sharpening life before the blade doesn’t get protected anymore by the handle. With that being said, I’ll have to take a look at one in person before being too critical. I love just about everything as far as the looks, and the fidget factor seems elite! Very nice review Metal Complex 🙌🏼
I waited to buy an AD 20.5 until I could get one in something other than AUS-10. As soon as the D2 blades dropped I picked one up at knife center for like 140 bucks. Immediately after taking it out of the pouch I decided to make it my dedicated work edc. I’ve been carrying that thing 4 or 5 days a week ever since and I’ve never baby’d it. Cardboard with staples, rubber hoses, plastic pallet straps. I’ve let my co-workers use it, I’ve used it to pry and scrape. I’ve carried it in 100 degrees Fahrenheit and -40. I’ve never tightened the pivot, not once. The lock up is as rock solid as the day I got it. Zero blade play, lock stick, pivot/detent lash, blade corrosion, etc. I’ve sharpened it twice. I strop every few months or so. Minimal maintenance, like basically just blowing the crud/dust out with compressed air and wiping the blade with WD-40. As a tool, I’m convinced this is the absolute best knife you can buy for under 200 bucks. I can’t say enough about the AD 20.5. It’s an absolute tank that will take on anything you throw at it (within reason) and keeps on going.
Just so everyone knows, the left handed clip holes are in the liners and you just have to ask in the comments at checkout and flytanium will drill the holes in the inlay for you (or you can just do it yourself since you don’t need to tap them)
I am happy that I ordered mine yesterday morning before this upload! The one I ordered is sold out now, probably because of this great review lol! Cant wait for some of the purple titanium bits to be in stock to customize it.
I just ordered the Void Black version from Blade HQ last Friday, in part because of the first video I saw you showcase it in. I cannot wait to get my hands on it along with the additional green titanium screws, inlays, and backspacer I have coming from flytanium. Love your videos , 6hsnk you for all the great content
A lot of potential with this knife. They should sell separate blades with different shapes, ones with opening holes or fuller, make it the ultimate customizable knife.
Just drill a hole in the liner if you want a left mounted pocket clip. Take it apart, mark the hole position through the scale hole, and drill. It looks to me like it was designed to allow for that. Best of both worlds. No visible left mounted hole, but the option is there for those who want it. I think that's ingenious!
I actually like lanyards and have them on every knife haha call me weird. And I appreciate when companies do this type of slot. Because small holes are impossible to get fancy nice lanyards with beads and things through. Unless it's a spyderco hole 😂
I am over here like, man. This is a 200$ knife that is gonna cost me 500$ in stuff to make it look cooler. I wanna get that one, but want the sharkfoot blade shape or similar
Just received mine yesterday. Hated the micarta, it arrived dirty and looking used. Thankfully It had the black g10 scales included, which I immediately swapped in and it totally makes me like the knife so much more
Is the blade ground better than the 20.5? The 20.5 is awful thick behind the edge. On top of the overly thick blade stock, it’s not that great for cutting. They improved on the pocket clip greatly, but until demko joins the new millennium with a nice thin blade/grind like all their competitors, I can’t justify paying that high a price for s35 and aluminum. It I will say they seem to be getting closer, the shark cubs are getting close. And the shark lock is pretty awesome, once the finger notch in the scales is opened up a bit for manly hands. I do carry my 20.5 often. I just feel I have to minimize its use because the behind the edge thickness is a few sharpenings away from being useless for daily cutting tasks.
I ordered the void version with black blade over the weekend. That variant looks really good with the ultem inlay and I feel like I'll end up carrying this more than my AD 20.5.
I love this knife. HOWEVER, I actually found the vision fg a little smoother to open and close cause the detent is not as aggressive as the arcade. Idk, maybe my arcade is still breaking in 🤷
MC, have you seen any of the AD22’s floating around?! You need to get one on the channel. Definitely my favorite Demko design. But they are SOOOO expensive. But the Magnacut blade, updated scales, peanut hole, and overall form factor are…. chefs kiss 💋.
@@metal_complex thanks for responding. I completely understand the general spirit of that argument. I’m not being fussy. For me, the AD20.5 is way too thick behind the edge for daily cutting tasks. I’m not the only person in the world to say this. Does the AD20.5 physically restrain me from making a cut? No. But it’s an expensive knife, and a regular old Ontario Rat slices through cardboard better than my AD20.5, so I just never end up using it. It’s my backup knife. BUT, if there was a knife out there with the shark lock and a thinner slicier blade, that would probably be my new go-to. Which is why I asked the question. Is the Arcade any different? Or is it pretty much the same?
Hey there, I love your reviews but I do have a question for you. I have recently been fortunate enough to acquire a Demko USA AD20 in 3V. Do you have any idea where I might be able to get some custom handle scale? any input would be appreciated. Thank you.
Absolutely love your videos man! Do you know of any other places that sell this knife other than their website? I'm having a tough time getting my hands on one
A bit annoyed that left handed clip carry is not available by default and requires the customer to drill their own hole, or buy new scales and ask for the left handed scale to be drilled for you. For the price of the knife w/ replacement scales, not accommodating something so trivial is unfortunate.
There is another flaw I think. The tip is barely housed in the handle of the arcade. After sharpening it a few times, the tip might no longer be beneath the handles and will begin to catch on things in the closed position.
I regret not saying this sooner, but… I used to pine for the PM2, the AD20.5, and the RL Stitch. I now pine for the Arcade and the RL Stitch. The Arcade just looks great to me, and especially the Void Black handle with stonewashed blade, which also kinda shares the same color scheme of the legendary dog Pokémon Raikou! 🐶 😸 ⚡️ More seriously, I’d been thinking of getting a Vision FG just to get a bigger knife with a different lock than my KCE Kizer Swagg’s Sway Back. But lately I’ve been thinking that saving for something just a bit nicer is probably the way to go. The only question I really have is whether I also want to get a purple backspacer for it, too, to add even more color and protect the blade a bit more, tho I would be nervous about my first disassembling of a knife when it would also be the most expensive knife I’ve ever owned. 😅
Thats aluminum... dang I been carrying it for a while now and hadn't knoticed. I just thought Flytanium its gotta be titanium. I feel dumb ..till think the scales were to sharp .
How much is a roughneck and a rigor and I do tree work now have always carried a knife and use it everyday could not imagine not having a knife in my pocket I was sold on case a long time after they started making all these modern things but watching these videos I have bought a lot of different knives and they're all nice but in my opinion the very best EDC that I carry all the time now and will never be without one for the rest of my life is the can onion Kershaw blur it is the perfect work knife and you can get it for $70 at Walmart
I have too many knives already, but this looks pretty badass. I’m hoping that at some point in the future, they offer this with Magnacut. If they ever do and the price isn’t ridiculous, I might jump on the train. Good review… thanks for your hard work (as always).
Very bland statement with no pinpoint examples. A "nothing sandwich" The price of everything went up in the last few years. In the knife community, we saw this, but we also saw some of the LOWEST prices for quality OEM work in history with a few brands. Steels like S90V can be found properly heat treated on knives that cost under $180, Timascus and zirconium have also been used for far less than we typically see, and budget knives are in a place we couldn't have imagined 10 years ago. There are countless other examples. On top of that, we've seen some of the most innovative stuff ever from companies like Rike, Winter Blade Co., Serge Panchenko, and Hawk knives to name a few. Seeing some things become more expensive doesn't tell much of a story.
@metal_complex Your interactions with your fans suck, I made a simple statement, this is like the third time you've tried to take my head off, unsubscribed.
You might be alone on that one, or at least there is very few that are thinking this. The Arcade looks great. I want to get the OD green version with stonewash blade and pick up a bronze ti inlay and bronze backspacer. That will look sick!
My Amazon page! The gear I use here on the channel! - www.amazon.com/shop/metalcomplex
Thanks so much for watching! You can support my channel on Patreon here - www.patreon.com/metalcomplex
MC stickers! - www.redbubble.com/people/metal-complex/shop?asc=u
I have the AD 20.5 and just bought the Arcade with Void black and Ultem inserts and purple thumb studs and it’s my new fav carry knife. Looks AMAZING
The frame is threaded for leftie clips, Flytanium has an option on their site for leftie drilled scales( not BladeHQ though) and they published videos on how to DIY drill your left inlay scale for a left mounted clip. Interesting solution between wanting to provide left handed carry yet avoiding what some may see as unsightly extra holes!
ALSO, I sanded the corners shark fin on my first ad20.5 and I fully regret it, it gives it less grip on unlocking!! Do it if you want, I wish I hadnt!
My arcade came yesterday... I loved from the get go and the more I play with it the more I love it... I was worried about buyers remorse considering the price tag but I can tell this will be my EDC for a long time so it's definitely worth the 200 bones (in my opinion)
I got mine from White Mountain Knives for $179.10. It didn't take long to break in. The inlays that are coming out titanium Damascus and more look awesome.
This is such a cool looking knife, and one that I’ve been interested in purchasing since it launched.
One thing I’ve noticed since they came out however, is the lack of handle material near the back of the blade. It seems as if the tip of the blade is almost popping out of the handle when the knife is closed. There just doesn’t seem like a long sharpening life before the blade doesn’t get protected anymore by the handle.
With that being said, I’ll have to take a look at one in person before being too critical. I love just about everything as far as the looks, and the fidget factor seems elite! Very nice review Metal Complex 🙌🏼
I just wanted to say: I keep coming back to watch this video simply for the voice acting. MC, you have some talent!
Yeah. @4:41 Metal Complex does a good job with his backwoods hillbilly tough guy impersonation. Every time he does it I crack up!
Love seeing you say what could be sharp edges haven't bothered you, and that you can have lefty mount. Will now start saving up for this
I waited to buy an AD 20.5 until I could get one in something other than AUS-10. As soon as the D2 blades dropped I picked one up at knife center for like 140 bucks. Immediately after taking it out of the pouch I decided to make it my dedicated work edc.
I’ve been carrying that thing 4 or 5 days a week ever since and I’ve never baby’d it. Cardboard with staples, rubber hoses, plastic pallet straps. I’ve let my co-workers use it, I’ve used it to pry and scrape. I’ve carried it in 100 degrees Fahrenheit and -40.
I’ve never tightened the pivot, not once. The lock up is as rock solid as the day I got it. Zero blade play, lock stick, pivot/detent lash, blade corrosion, etc.
I’ve sharpened it twice. I strop every few months or so. Minimal maintenance, like basically just blowing the crud/dust out with compressed air and wiping the blade with WD-40.
As a tool, I’m convinced this is the absolute best knife you can buy for under 200 bucks. I can’t say enough about the AD 20.5. It’s an absolute tank that will take on anything you throw at it (within reason) and keeps on going.
I want the black and Ultem version. Very cool
Just so everyone knows, the left handed clip holes are in the liners and you just have to ask in the comments at checkout and flytanium will drill the holes in the inlay for you (or you can just do it yourself since you don’t need to tap them)
I am happy that I ordered mine yesterday morning before this upload! The one I ordered is sold out now, probably because of this great review lol! Cant wait for some of the purple titanium bits to be in stock to customize it.
Oh, did I mention I purchased my AD20.5 Drop Point Ultem 20CV Slicer from BladeHQ for $129. How much was the Arcade? :-) Peace, Stiletto :-)
you have to ask flytainium to make your scales left hand carry when you order and they will do it for you no extra cost
I just ordered the Void Black version from Blade HQ last Friday, in part because of the first video I saw you showcase it in. I cannot wait to get my hands on it along with the additional green titanium screws, inlays, and backspacer I have coming from flytanium. Love your videos , 6hsnk you for all the great content
A lot of potential with this knife. They should sell separate blades with different shapes, ones with opening holes or fuller, make it the ultimate customizable knife.
What i like are the customization options.
I love my black & orange arcade. She’s a beauty that works hard!
Just drill a hole in the liner if you want a left mounted pocket clip. Take it apart, mark the hole position through the scale hole, and drill. It looks to me like it was designed to allow for that. Best of both worlds. No visible left mounted hole, but the option is there for those who want it. I think that's ingenious!
I actually like lanyards and have them on every knife haha call me weird. And I appreciate when companies do this type of slot. Because small holes are impossible to get fancy nice lanyards with beads and things through. Unless it's a spyderco hole 😂
I can’t tell you how much your impressions of review trolls makes me laugh 😂, bravo. Wonderful review on a wonderful knife.
Wish there was a washer option
The black and ultem version looks badass. This is tempting.
I am over here like, man. This is a 200$ knife that is gonna cost me 500$ in stuff to make it look cooler.
I wanna get that one, but want the sharkfoot blade shape or similar
Just received mine yesterday. Hated the micarta, it arrived dirty and looking used. Thankfully It had the black g10 scales included, which I immediately swapped in and it totally makes me like the knife so much more
Complex ,are you saying my Spyderco lock back Native 5 is out dated?? I absolutely disagree if that’s what your implying. My thoughts. Thx
You are correct. I have both. Love the shark lock
Absolutely fantastic knife!
Is the blade ground better than the 20.5? The 20.5 is awful thick behind the edge. On top of the overly thick blade stock, it’s not that great for cutting. They improved on the pocket clip greatly, but until demko joins the new millennium with a nice thin blade/grind like all their competitors, I can’t justify paying that high a price for s35 and aluminum. It I will say they seem to be getting closer, the shark cubs are getting close. And the shark lock is pretty awesome, once the finger notch in the scales is opened up a bit for manly hands. I do carry my 20.5 often. I just feel I have to minimize its use because the behind the edge thickness is a few sharpenings away from being useless for daily cutting tasks.
I love when you rip on people that complain about the Shark lock or the Shaman nub.
Hey Metal Complex, Blade Ops has the Arctic Camo Signature Series Stitch in case you're interested.
Definitely adding to the wishlist.
Was waiting on this one!!
I love my arcade, 😊 I'll buy another one as soon as different blade steals are available. Hoping for m4
I ordered the void version with black blade over the weekend. That variant looks really good with the ultem inlay and I feel like I'll end up carrying this more than my AD 20.5.
Definitely buying an Arcade at some point but i literally just ordered an ad20.5
They will make Left EDC for you when order , just ask ! 🤘🤩💥💥💥
wondering if there is a milled clip available for this knife.
Sharp knife. I think I'll add it to the list. I want the ultem one
These start at $200 on for S35VN and aluminum? Are you looking at different prices than the rest of us?
I love this knife. HOWEVER, I actually found the vision fg a little smoother to open and close cause the detent is not as aggressive as the arcade. Idk, maybe my arcade is still breaking in 🤷
MC, have you seen any of the AD22’s floating around?! You need to get one on the channel. Definitely my favorite Demko design. But they are SOOOO expensive. But the Magnacut blade, updated scales, peanut hole, and overall form factor are…. chefs kiss 💋.
Is this thinner behind the edge? That’s all I care about. The AD20.5 is way too thick behind the edge for me. It just doesn’t slice well.
I carry the 20.5 all the time and it has stopped me from doing exactly 0 cutting tasks. No thoughts or extra effort involved. Cut, forget, repeat.
@@metal_complex thanks for responding. I completely understand the general spirit of that argument. I’m not being fussy. For me, the AD20.5 is way too thick behind the edge for daily cutting tasks. I’m not the only person in the world to say this. Does the AD20.5 physically restrain me from making a cut? No. But it’s an expensive knife, and a regular old Ontario Rat slices through cardboard better than my AD20.5, so I just never end up using it. It’s my backup knife. BUT, if there was a knife out there with the shark lock and a thinner slicier blade, that would probably be my new go-to. Which is why I asked the question. Is the Arcade any different? Or is it pretty much the same?
@daven8905 if it's thinner, it's only by a bit. I can't really tell them apart to be honest
@@DaveH8905 Shark Cub with Slicer Blade🔪
Hey there, I love your reviews but I do have a question for you. I have recently been fortunate enough to acquire a Demko USA AD20 in 3V. Do you have any idea where I might be able to get some custom handle scale? any input would be appreciated. Thank you.
Got the Demko AD 20 & 20.5 already. Have to grab this one as soon as I can afford it 😂
this really is such a good knife
Not enough blade to handle ratio for my taste. I do like this lock style.
What thumb studs can you change on with the Arcade?
I've heard that Flytanium's bugout thumbstuds fit the Arcade, so there is tons of options on that front.
Im waiting for a blade shape more like the Shark's foot. I already own 3 20.5s and I love the design; but I hate drop points...
Please make a comparison video between de Ohlone Goat AXL VS Flytanium Arcade.
Absolutely love your videos man! Do you know of any other places that sell this knife other than their website? I'm having a tough time getting my hands on one
BLADEHQ has a ton of options
Ordered!
Super Dope Knife MC ! Might have to try that out. I have 7 Demko’s. Time to make #8 I guess.☝🏼 🤣✊🏼
I'd really like vosteed's nightshade with a sharklock. I really like the blade profle and need more sharklocks!
That FUD accent was great! 😂
I hope they release one with a sharksfoot blade
saw a tanto ad 20.5 in s35 and g10 on dlt i believe
I think I would have been more excited about this knife if it was titanium instead of aluminum, especially at the 200$ price pount.
I am left handed and I exist!
Me too!
Sending thoughts & prayers 🙏🏼
Fully ambidextrous lock…right handed knife…😢
Get well soon
Just mention it in the comment box at the end of the order process. Flytanium will drill the extra hole for you.
Is the detent as mushy as the 20.5 or better?
It's pretty similar
A bit annoyed that left handed clip carry is not available by default and requires the customer to drill their own hole, or buy new scales and ask for the left handed scale to be drilled for you. For the price of the knife w/ replacement scales, not accommodating something so trivial is unfortunate.
There is another flaw I think. The tip is barely housed in the handle of the arcade. After sharpening it a few times, the tip might no longer be beneath the handles and will begin to catch on things in the closed position.
I regret not saying this sooner, but…
I used to pine for the PM2, the AD20.5, and the RL Stitch.
I now pine for the Arcade and the RL Stitch.
The Arcade just looks great to me, and especially the Void Black handle with stonewashed blade, which also kinda shares the same color scheme of the legendary dog Pokémon Raikou! 🐶 😸 ⚡️
More seriously, I’d been thinking of getting a Vision FG just to get a bigger knife with a different lock than my KCE Kizer Swagg’s Sway Back.
But lately I’ve been thinking that saving for something just a bit nicer is probably the way to go.
The only question I really have is whether I also want to get a purple backspacer for it, too, to add even more color and protect the blade a bit more, tho I would be nervous about my first disassembling of a knife when it would also be the most expensive knife I’ve ever owned. 😅
Looks good
Thats aluminum... dang I been carrying it for a while now and hadn't knoticed. I just thought Flytanium its gotta be titanium. I feel dumb ..till think the scales were to sharp .
How much is a roughneck and a rigor and I do tree work now have always carried a knife and use it everyday could not imagine not having a knife in my pocket I was sold on case a long time after they started making all these modern things but watching these videos I have bought a lot of different knives and they're all nice but in my opinion the very best EDC that I carry all the time now and will never be without one for the rest of my life is the can onion Kershaw blur it is the perfect work knife and you can get it for $70 at Walmart
I have too many knives already, but this looks pretty badass. I’m hoping that at some point in the future, they offer this with Magnacut. If they ever do and the price isn’t ridiculous, I might jump on the train. Good review… thanks for your hard work (as always).
They should make a ti version
Once you said Taiwan, I am more inclined to buy it.
I don’t love inlays. I wish I could just get a G10 or plastic scale set
There's TONS of different scales you can get for this.
@@TerminalM193 I just want one whole piece, no inlays. Is that a thing?
Titanium coating 7:15
I think the arcade looks great, but I'm not paying $200+ for a non-US made knife from a US company
4:40 😂
Is the arcade titanium?
Do people care if it's Made in Taiwan vs China. Doesn't China make some of the best knives. Idk love my reate sbd knives.
2023 has hurt my wallet extremely bad 😂🔪🔪
2023 was terrible for the knife community look at these prices yikes
Very bland statement with no pinpoint examples. A "nothing sandwich"
The price of everything went up in the last few years. In the knife community, we saw this, but we also saw some of the LOWEST prices for quality OEM work in history with a few brands. Steels like S90V can be found properly heat treated on knives that cost under $180, Timascus and zirconium have also been used for far less than we typically see, and budget knives are in a place we couldn't have imagined 10 years ago. There are countless other examples. On top of that, we've seen some of the most innovative stuff ever from companies like Rike, Winter Blade Co., Serge Panchenko, and Hawk knives to name a few.
Seeing some things become more expensive doesn't tell much of a story.
@metal_complex Your interactions with your fans suck, I made a simple statement, this is like the third time you've tried to take my head off, unsubscribed.
You literally can just drill a hole in the g10…..
Great knife but this lock can open in ur pocket and cut ur hand, be careful guys
Not if you carry it correctly. Blade spine should be pressed up against the back seam of your pocket. This prevents it from being opened.
Good video. Ty
Made in Taiwan! (Republic of China)
this just doesn't do it for me...maybe a different blade shape would...
Taiwan is China... unless you ask someone from Taiwan.
I can't be the only one who finds this thing ugly as hell. It is nice though.
You might be alone on that one, or at least there is very few that are thinking this.
The Arcade looks great. I want to get the OD green version with stonewash blade and pick up a bronze ti inlay and bronze backspacer. That will look sick!
It’s your fault I bought one lol
i could barley flick this arcade
Thanks
Yo, you seen the new Morad by Ameight/Miguron? S90V, better looking inlay, more ergonomic scales, SAME price as the last one. Check it out.
LMAO. China, Taiwan, same thing….
They are not the same. Taiwan is not part of China. Look it up.