John Greco folder help?

cockroachfarm

cockroachfarm

Joined
Jan 6, 2001
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Just received a Greco "Grifon" frame lock folder. Problem: it's so hard to open I have to use two hands! Pivot pin has the standard hex slot, but the other end looks like it needs a 1/4-inch socket. Problem: that part is almost flush with the handle of the knife and a socket won't grab it.

Anyone else have this knife and been able to adjust the tension?

(but what a bargain! check out www.CQCKnives.com!)

Thank you.
 

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From the Greco website:

The Greco Birds of Prey series of folding knives are designed for heavy use, therefore they aren’t the fast opening slick pocket knives that most manufacturers make. The Birds of Prey will be a bit stiff at first, but with time, a drop of oil here and there, and a little bit of adjusting they will open easier. The pivot pins and stop pins can be adjusted to allow easier opening, which is why a hex wrench is included with the knives.
The liner lock is designed not to fold under pressure like cheap knives, assuring you that the knife is safe and strong. Because the lock is so strong it will also be stiff at first, but with repeated use it will be easier to operate.

Nice looking folders! What would you compare it to in terms of hand feel and weight?
 
Hi Cockroachfarm,

I have been carrying the Greco Falcon as my EDC for about two weeks now. As far as I can tell, the Falcon, Grifon, and Raptor, are basically all the same except for the blade style.

Yes, they are tight! However they WILL LOOSEN UP! I found that by 'working the blade' many-Many-MANY-times mine is at the point of being smooth and fairly easy too operate. I think CQC was very stand-up and straight forward in describing this on the webpage for Mr. Greco's folders. Although I did disasemble mine, I did it to check whether the blade was 'true' (straight)or not, and not to loosen it up.

To disasemble mine I used a 1/4" open end ignition wrench. I was able to get enough 'bite' on the hex head insert to break the pivot screw loose. It would have been easier if I had had an extra hand, but it is doable. I advise using LOCTITE MEDIUM to reasemble the screw\inserts-just keep it away from the pivot area. Just a drop is enough to keep it from working loose.

Again, any time I was sitting around I was 'working the blade', not to the point of engaging the frame-lock, just back and forth, back and forth. I put a coulple drops of REM-OIL on the joint and it is much better.

I intend on doing a mini-review of this knife, but do to an emergency at work I am behind on writing\posting it-my apologies for anyone that is wondering what happend!

Stick with it Cockroachfarm-it does get better! Check out my post over on the Gallery forum under "New Greco Folder".

BTW-GREAT CLOSEUP PICTURE MAN!!!

Mongrel
 
Peter Atwood:

Actually, I'm not a fan of fast opening folders that you can simply flick open. However, my "Grifon" (received yesterday) is more than a "bit" stiff - I need both hands just to open it and the edge of my thumb has a blister on it just from releasing the frame lock trying to close it! (I've taken delivery of several dozen folders over the past year and this is the first one I couldn't wrestle into submission.) The included hex wrench isn't doing much good for "dis-assembly" when the whole thing is "loc-tightened" (sorry, poetic licence ;) ) and I can't "grab" the female insert until I grind down a 1/4-inch socket. Why make it so difficult to disassemble a knife that is meant to be taken apart?

In terms of hand feel and weight I would describe it as a THICK blade held between two pieces of railway track.;) This is one tough mother. Handle "slabs" are a bit thin for my long fingers; doesn't feel like I could work with it for any extended time unless I was using leather gloves. I'm really looking forward to actually using it once I'm able to open it without help from my neighbour.


Mongrel:

I only received the knife yesterday and I can't "work" the blade with my thumb because my thumb is in shock! As I said, I don't WANT a loose blade - I'm not a Flicka, My Friend! :p

Looking forward to your review.
 
BTW, in case anyone might get the impression that I'm not pleased with my Greco knife, I forgot to mention that I also bought a Greco "MST Mk.IV" - and I LOVE it right out of the box! Plus, there will be several more Grecos ordered on Monday from CQC Tactical Knives. At 50 bucks a pop, better hurry before they wake up.:D (also -- great customer service and FAST shipping...and no, I have no connection to them whatsoever. I just love a bargain!)
 
Hey again Cockroachfarm...

Try it this way-open it up and grab the handle in one hand and pinch the blade between the two fingers and your thumb of the other hand. Now 'bend' it back and forth like you were trying to snap a piece of pipe or conduit in half-back and forth, back and forth. Good excercise while watching the tube...

It should loosen up sufficiently from this to begin working it with your thumb.

As to the frame lock...ahhh...let's just say it is a definate 'two hand closer' (at least for me so far!). Compare the Greco frame lock to a production liner lock-HAH! That thin little sliver of SS or titanium holding back a 3.5" + blade? Scary just thinking about it. The Greco puts better than an 1/8" of 8760 steel dead-center of the back of the blade on my Falcon-now that's ASSURANCE!! HEHEH. Then compare that "THUNK!" of the Greco lock-up to the little 'tink' of a production liner lock locking up....ahhhhh....not very reassuring... :D

I've never experienced such a solid THUNK on lock up. I made a comment earlier that this folder just made it to the top of my "will never close on me list" :D

re: CQC-the best. I feel like I know them personally. I've never spent as much in my whole life on knives as I have spent there since June 3 or whatever the sale date was! I still can't believe it.

Now if I could only get the La Duena! My 'collection would be close to complete...

Another thing, if you are really not satisfied with the Grifon-I'm sure they will take it back and refund your money. They claim 'customer satisfaction guaranteed'. David Bata (the owner)already offered to take mine back when I asked about the 'bent blade syndrome'. I had already been smitten so I declined the offer.

Did you hear of the micarta scales for them? I haven't seen\heard about Mr. Greco making them available. Someone (SkigSkag?) mentioned in the other Greco folder thread.

Also-how do you like the blade shape of the Grifon? I have the falcon (2 actually), and I've been thinking about picking up a Grifon-'just to have'.

Re: loosening the pivot-do you have an open end wrench in 1/4"? That's what worked for me.

Keep in touch...

Mongrel
 
almost forgot....:D

Mr. Atwood, I guess the closest thing weight wise would be a Buck 110!

Seriously, they are listed at 4oz. and they 'feel' every bit of it. They have no pocket clip, but do ship with a rather nice two position carry nylon pouch (and an allen wrench).

They are surprising though as they are a full AFCK G10 scale width slimmer than my BM800 AFCK, maybe a wee bit more (sorry, going by memory not a ruler).

Best described imho as an INDUSTRIAL FOLDER. For a 'blue-collar' maintenance man like me, I'm pretty darn happy to find this kind of knife at this price. It just suits my personality to a T. Actually, that's what attracted me to John Greco's work in the first place, he's a 'working mans knife maker' in my opinion. No bells, no whistles, no finnesse. All business-all 8760 steel. Mine has 0 and I mean ZERO! blade play. And ZERO side flexing at the scales (by hand anyway). When I compared it to my AFCK...let's just say-no comparison.

Obviously not for everyone, but I like it a helluva lot. To put this in perspective though, the 'highest end' folders I have handled have only been Benchmades and Spyderco's. I have never touch a Sebenza or any other makers 'custom' folder. I know I have never seen or handled ANY prodcuction piece that is like this though.

To me at what we are picking them up for, the sky is the limit as far as exeperimentation\hand work goes. A little tweak here, a little tweak there, who knows.... :)

Mongrel
 
Mongrel,

I'm still not sure...is Greco considered custom or production??

Thanks,
RL
 
I don't really know how the 'community' views his knives. The first time I heard of John Greco's work was in a TAC-KNIVES from 1999. He was a featured Blademaster Profile. From the perspective of that profile he is certainly a 'custom' maker (as we define it today-see below). I have seen other work by him that does not resemble most of what we see offered. In other words, he is very capable of making 'more custom looking' knives.

I consider his knives to be handmade. That is as far as I know he forges, cuts, grinds, heat treats, and assembles all of his own stuff-and that's good enough for me ;). I have never bought or owned any other knife that has been made this way, so it is all a very new experience. I do get great satisfaction from buying a knife from a guy like John Greco (this would apply to any other person who makes them by hand). It is very satisfying knowing that his hands have been on the knife I am holding and not just some computer directed machine. Bob Loveless once said something to the effect that a true CUSTOM knife is a knife that is designed by a customer and produced by a bladesmith\knifemaker. Most of what is touted as being custom today, are actually handmade, knifemaker designed and produced pieces, and according to Jimmy Lile anyway not truly custom at all.

I plan on looking into John Greco further as he has really caught my attetion. I have only had his work in my hands for about a month now so this is all very new to me :)

As to the above, I am more than willing to stand corrected on any of it, it is just my opinion\observations\guess\theory :)

Edited to correct a quote mistakenly attritbuted to Jimmy Lile.

Actualy quote is by Bob Loveless: "The majority of people, including some collectors and a lot of knifemakers, tend to confuse the terms, custom and benchmade," he insists. "I make benchmade knives. So do alot of other makers. That means we make a knife of our own or even a standard design by hand-on the bench, so to speak. A custom knife is created when a customer comes to a maker with his own design and that knifemaker agrees to build the knife to the customer's design and specifications. Custom is when you are giving the customer specifically what he wants and is willing to pay for."

The above quote is from The Gun Digest Book of Knives all new 4th edition copyright MCMXCII by Jack Lewis and Roger Combs

My sincerest apologies...

Mongrel
 
David Bata of CQC has also offered me a refund on the Grifon. No way! I just placed another order for a few more knives. What AMAZING bargains.

IMHO (and from the description given by David) these are indeed "hand made" knives; "custom" would require at least some input from the buyer. Wow!

If the other fixed blades are anything like my MST Mk.IV....I am one HAPPY camper!:D
 
I picked up a Greco folder at the Blade Show. My second Greco: I already had a mini hand axe. No problem with stiff opening there -- just slide it out of the sheath! The axe is a great piece of equipment, tough and sharp and comfortable in hard use.

The folder is ... stiff. I can't use it like this. I got the pivot to loosen up enough to open by grasping it further toward the tip of the blade. I tried to work some CRK fluorinated grease into it, but without being able to disassemble it, it's questionable as to how much got in. The thumbstud is out of the question, no motion pushing on that at all. The lock is so tight that it's unsafe. I almost think I need a prybar to close it.

I put it aside for a while. I'll try it again sometime. It looks like a great working knife. The handle is comfortable, for me, a reliable grip -- not having a clip may help, not having that digging into my palm.
 
Originally posted by cockroachfarm
also -- great customer service and FAST shipping...and no, I have no connection to them whatsoever. I just love a bargain!
Click to expand...

I'll second that. I bought a Green River from CQCKnives and David and his wife both e-mailed me to keep me up to date on what was happening with my order. They were out of stock on the Green Rivers when I ordered and I still got mine within 4 working days. Top notch service.
 
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