Greco mini Hatchet?

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GC

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Does anyone have any experience with the Greco mini hatchet? I'm an outdoorsman, hunter, backpacker, hiker, and this seems to be the idea tool for such use. It's small, only 8 1/4" inches long, lightweight at 12 ounces, A2 powder coated steel, micarta handles. I think this will ride easily, almost unnoticed in a pack, and serve a wide variety of functions. Opinions? Any experience with Greco's tools would be appreciated. Thanks!
 
I have never seen the hatchet you are looking at. I do have a Greco knife called a companion, and I think the materials sound the same. It is made of A2 steel, 1/4" thick, with a black coating and black micarta scales. It has been my EDC since I got it, supplemented with various folders.

First impressions are:

Heavy! But who says that's bad? As long as it's tough, I don't mind some extra weight, and this thing is DEFINITELY tough.

Sharp. The blade is not hard to sharpen, and holds a very sharp edge for a long time.

Nice construction. These things are built to last. The handle is fitted well to the tang, and the grinds are nicely done. Mine came with a nice leather sheath.

Value. I got a VERY good deal on mine from a fellow forumite (thanks Dan!). Even at regular price - where can you get a very tough custom knife for that price?

Durable. These things will take a beating. They will do anything you need them to.

Bottom line - very tough, and a great value.
 
Greco knives are very solid and meant to be used, but are not "art knives" by any stretch of the imagination. Function over form is the rule with them.

I have handled the hatchet and it is smaller than it looks. Still would be a handy thing to have. Might pick one up the next time the Greco knife people come down to a show here...

A2 is a tough metal that is well suited to this application
 
Thanks for the replies gentlemen. I actually had an opportunity to handle one of these little tools at a stocking knife shop last week. It was an amazing thing, the balance was there for such a small chopper. The whole thing is dimensionally small, but feels big. Does that make sense?
 
The whole thing is dimensionally small, but feels big. Does that make sense?

It means the piece is balanced correctly. I have a few knives like this and I love it. Unfortunately, not enough makers/users focus on balance.

N2S
 
I picked one up at the Blade show. I think it would come in handy for backpackers and such. I think it would also make for a nice urban defense piece.
 
Yikes Dennis! I haden't even thought of this as a defensive weapon. It's a scary thought the sort of damage that thing might inflict. I know that's not a consideration when a bad guy is trying to cause you harm, but it would be messy I woiuld think. And really I'm talking after the fact in the civil lawsuit.
Mine will see duty in the woods and in my pack. I think it will be a perfect companion in the outdoors. This should be able to do a variety of chores well, and take some of the burdon off my Dozier fixed blade sheath knives.
 
I will admit that it would likely get messy. It would no doubt be very devastating though. A wise man once told me "It is better to be tried by twelve than carried by six"
 
I have to disagree with bandaidman a bit here. I do so from my perspective on what constitutes art. I believe that where function truly follows form, is enhanced by form, that you have art. Fancy doodads, filing, engraving, do not make art in my mind. They may well enhance an artistic design, but no amount of silver/gold/gems on an ordinary design constitutes art, IMHO.

I think several of the Greco knives I've seen pictured exhibit form following function very well. Much more so than the typical design of most of his peers and competitors.

But, taste is pretty subjective. There certainly are many folks who consider blackvelvet Elvis paintings to be the height of artistic expression. I'd rather have a good towel or shop rag.

Closer to home, I don't find most fantasy knives artistic, because they do not allow function. They are pure form, and useless to me. They do not capture any "essence" of knife, IMO.

My $.02 worth.
 
Bugs3X,
I'd tend to agree with you. I can somewhat remember writing a paper about "Art" in a college humanities class. If I recall correctly, I summed up my paper with something like, "Art would be anything that satisfies mans.........." along the lines of what you said! Wish it had been that easy 15 years ago!

BTW, I did get an A on the paper! :D
 
Bugs you may have misinterpreted me here.

I have handled pretty much the entire Greco knife line. They are fine cutting instruments. Being inexpensive custom knives you should expect more cosmetic flaws than your typical custom knife. Doesn't effect their performance though. My only complaint with them is that they tend to be on the heavy side. However, many other people consider this to be a desirable feature.

Good value for the money nonetheless.

edited for piss poor spelling secondary to it being the middle of the night!
 
i have one of the greco mini hatchets that i bought from his ex wife who is his current sheath maker...i picked it up from her at a show in memphis....it has been sitting at my custom sheath maker's house or in his shop for about two or three months and he has been beta testing several sheath designs out of kydex for it....the hatchet itself is well made with A2 steel and micarta handle scales....interestingly enough the grind is alsmost like a hollow grind with concave sides instead of the uaual convex sides one usually sees in a chopping tool....i have been told it has become really popular with the deer hunters for processing....i haven't had the chance to use it yet but when i get it back from the sheath maker i will post a review...as far as a defensive/ tactical tool is concerned the first time i picked it up off the table i thought it would be a nice hideout in a shoulder sheath or to carry in the truck....it would be small enough to conceal but devasatingly effective in the right hands....feverdoc
 
I used my companion last night to clear a bunch of vines and even did a little chopping with it. It still shaves! No edge damage at all.

:D :D :D
 
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