Hey everybody. I am back from Blade Show and we have a real treat in store for you today. I have known Andrew Demko a for several years now, and have always wanted to feature him in our 5 from the Grinder series. But I know he is a busy guy. Frankly, he is by most metrics a bigger deal than we are. So I made an exception and offered to do his via audio recording. He is the second person to be so honored, the first being Murray Carter. So please pardon any hiccups in the transcription. I have tried to clean it up as best as I can, but I still find a thing or two each time I go through it.
Andrew is a legendary designer and maker. His knife and lock designs were one of the keys to Cold Steel’s success, and he has contiued to innovate with designs such as the Shark Lock mechanism now that Demko Knives is completely independent. He continues to design for others as well, including OCASO Knives, founded by his former Cold Steel boss and coworker Ric Valdez. You can always find the Demko booth at Blade Show, just follow the crowd as the show floor opens.
Despite this success, Andrew, John, and the whole Demko team have remained humble and among the most approachable people at Blade Show.
I won’t waste anymore of your time, you are here for Andrew, not for me. But if you are a maker who would like to be featured yourself, click on this link to find out more.
Please introduce yourself and let us know what led you to making and designing knives.
My name is Andrew Demko. I’ve loved knives ever since I was a kid, but it really started in 7th grade. In metal shop we forged chisels, and the shop teacher told us, “This is exactly how you would forge a knife.” We took octagon stock of O1 tool steel, forged the blade, and then had to heat treat it. To get a good grade, the chisel had to cut through a piece of mild steel and then survive being hit with another chisel without cracking or shattering. That was it for me. I immediately went home, built a forge, and started hammering out knives in 7th grade.
What knife makers and designers have been your biggest influence and do you have any mentors?
My biggest influence in how I actually make knives was R.W. Wilson. I met him right after high school, around 1995. I was in college and already making knives with homemade grinders, but I really didn’t know what I was doing. There were no YouTube videos or online resources back then — just Blade and KNIFE magazines.
I found out there was a knife maker close by, so I reached out. R.W. built all his own grinding machines and even sold belt grinders. He taught me how to properly cut out blades, grind them, heat treat, polish, and finish. I still have the 2×72 grinder I bought from him in 1996 for $600. You’d pay around $2,500 for a comparable one today, and we’re still using it.
What is your favorite knife pattern or style from history?
That’s a super tough question — I’m not sure I have just one favorite. I’m a huge fan of swords, but I also love Civil War-era tomahawks and belt axes. That was a time when people actually had to rely on these tools instead of using them as a hobby. For knives specifically, I think the most dramatic designs are probably a falchion or a kopis — something right in between a knife and a sword.
What is the next big thing in knife making and what direction do you see the industry going?
I wish I knew — I’d get a head start! I hope the next big thing is more small-scale and boutique manufacturing. That’s what we try to do at Demko Knives. We’re not one of the big factories, but we do as much as we can in-house, and I hope the industry continues heading in that direction.
Is there a knife from your lineup that you feel best exhibits who you are as a knife maker/designer in terms of design elements, aesthetics, or techniques used?
Right now I’d say the AD20 model. It’s the most refined design we’ve done and very practical for everyday use.
What is your personal EDC and why?
I usually carry at least two knives, depending on what I’m doing. If I’m at work, I typically carry a regular-size AD20. When I’m out and about, I always have my 6-inch Megalodon with me. I try to spend as much time outside as possible — hiking, rocking, and in the woods — so I like having a big knife that I can actually chop and use.
Find out more:
Instagram: @demkoknives
Facebook: KnivesbyDemko
Website: www.DemkoKnives.com
If you are a maker who would like to be featured in a 5 from the Grinder, click below. (You can say you were featured alongside Andrew Demko!)
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