Becker Crewman or Becker Companion?

Triquetra

Triquetra

Joined
Mar 7, 2002
Messages
759
Does anyone have any experience with these models. What are the differences aside from looks?. I hear more about the Companion but the Crewman always seems to be cheaper and appears to be about the same in features. What is their forte or niche? I know they can't chop like the larger models but are the decent. Companion looks possibly like a better slicer.
 
I've got no experience with the Crewman, but I have the Campanion in my B.O.B.

It one weekend, I used as a wedge to split larger logs for the fire, using the back side of an ax, and later split the pelvis of a whitetail. About a dozen swipes on each side with a medium stone, and I could shave hair again.

They are damned tough knives. I won't part with mine.

Anyone know the real diffence between the new Crewman, BK7. and BK10's and the old Campanions, Brutes, etc? There seems to be quite a price difference.
 
I don't have the Crewman but I have an original Blackjack Campanion (it's 'Camp" not 'Comp" BTW) in 1095. You could skin a Buick with this; in fact, I bought it after reading a review where someone did just that, using a sledge hammer to drive it along the sheet metal. It's 1/4" thick and still takes a scary edge, so you can slice with it... pry... hammer it. The Becker line uses 50100B, which is a step up from 1095 in some ways (the gang at Camillus knows their heat treat); it has a touch of vanadium which helps in edge holding qualities. I think it's the same as Carbon V, which is major Good Stuff, one of the best high carbon steels. The Crewman blade is a tad thinner, I believe, 3/16", so it actually ought to be a better slicer. Don't have one (yet) but the grind appears to me to be higher in the pix I've seen. Doubt if you could break either without really trying to. Dang good knives.
 
I did notice when doing a little research that the Crewman was a little thinner. I also noticed that it comes with I believe a cordura military style sheath whereas the "Campanion" comes with a Kydex. If that's the only real differences, it seems that the much cheaper price would point towards buying the Crewman. I don't really do any skinning but the Campanion seems to have more curve to the end of the blade. Maybe better for this purpose?
 
I have and love my Companion. This is one tough knife. I second what both farmboy and Alberta Ed said. I keep this in my "traveling" vehicle, the one I use for family road trips. I have every confidence that I can deal with most emergencies on the road with this. Those that can be dealt with a knife, that is. It has lots of belly, and a slightly hollow grind, or so it seems. It's almost a high flat or high saber grind, depending upon how you look at it.

The Crewman, as I understand, is basically a short CU/7. That would be a high flat grind. Very good knife also, probably a little thinner.

You are correct on the sheaths. The Companion has a nice kydex sheath, and the Crewman has a nylon sheath with a kydex insert.

If you're looking for skinning, or more delicate knife tasks, then the Crewman is probably what you want. The Companion is a brute. The steel on both is great.
 
I also have a Campanion. I wanted rugged and durable. It is. I have had it for a year and a half and its dug, pried, cut, hammered and been batoned with no problems. I am not bad mouthing the Crewman because I have never used one.
 
I haven't found anyone yet on any of the forums with the Crewman. Strange with the lower price. I personally think that I would like the sheath better for camping too.
 
well the only thing that really maters in you desicion is the style you like better. im sure both of these knives are of equal quality. ive owener a bk-7 before and its really a great knife. usually a companys products dont vary much in quality.
 
I had a Campanion for a while that I purchased off Ebay for around $60.00. It is a slab of a knife- very thick, very heavy. IIRC, it was nearly 1/4" thick, and weighed nearly a pound. That said, it had a thin, sharp edge that worked surprisingly well in the kitchen (which is sadly where my knives spend the most time :rolleyes: :D ). The kydex sheath was nice, too- not the greatest kydex I've seen, but very good for a $60.00 knife. If you need an indestructible log-splitting prybar of a knife, and have a sturdy belt, get the Campanion. The Crewman is lighter and thinner, so will carry easier and perform better as a slicer.

Jeremy
 
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