RVW: Greco Companion

Chiro75

Chiro75

Joined
Feb 4, 1999
Messages
5,786
This review will be mainly cosmetic due to the fact that the knife belongs to a customer that I am making a sheath for, so cutting tests, etc are out. MR. Greco (first name John?) is a maker in Kentucky, I believe, who unfortunately doesn't have a website. I first saw his knives in Blade Magazine and had to look a few times at the ad to realize that the asking price wasn't a mistake! The Companion model is typically featured in his ads, and goes for somewhere in the neighborhood of $80-$90. The blade is 5" with about a 4.5" cutting edge and I guess it would fall into the clip point category, although the point tapers down at a constant angle fron about midway through the handle. It almost looks like a Persian fighter with a dropped instead of upswept point. The blade also features a nearly full length swedge along the spine giving it a nice appearance.
The stock is 1/4" and I think the knives are done in 1095 or O-1 or something. The knife appears to be hollow-ground, too. The point is quite thick, but still VERY sharp and strong. Being 1/4 stock I would assume this knife isn't the best slicer, but as a fighting knife it is well-balanced, very ergonomic, and simple-looking. Quite understated, as the knife is bead-blasted, giving the steel a dark grey color, and the handle is some sort of black composite that I can't figure out. Doesn't appear to be G-10 or Micarta as there is little evidence of layering, so I am mystefied!
Everything about this knife is very simple and understated, it is well ground and symmetrical with the exception of a little bobble on the swedge, and the knife looks absolutely bomb-proof! A VERY cool knife for the asking price, undoubtedly. The knife comes with a leather sheath made by the Grecos, and it is well-done, too. Again, very simple but it does the job! A+ for Greco knives!

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My Custom Kydex Sheath pagehttp://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/knifehome.html
Palmer College of Chiropractic
On Two Wheels
 
Make sure you check the ride on that sheath. If it's too high and uncovered, the Greco Companion's tang/butt can gouge a hip pretty good...
 
Chiro,

I believe Greco uses A2 for his Companions. I don't think the knife is bead-blasted though, I read it somewhere that it is some kind of a coating, but couldn't remember what it's name. And yes, it's one hell of a knife for the price.


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Reynaert
 
Well, it certainly is a finer texture than bead-blasted...I was thinking maybe a deep sandblast? Now that you mention it, though, the lanyard liner tube has the texture on the inside of the tube, too, so it was either a very fine particle blast or some sort of coating like you said. Too bad there isn't a website to check it out! DOh!
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A cool knife, regardless...

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My Custom Kydex Sheath pagehttp://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/knifehome.html
Palmer College of Chiropractic
On Two Wheels
 
The easiest thing to know this is of course to use the knife, and see whether the finish will peel or flake. I've never used my Companion, and I was about to try to scrap the finish with a small file. On a second thought, I think I'll have to rely on someone else's story for this
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.


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Reynaert
 
John uses a baked lacquer for the finish. Very durable and can be re-done.

Charlie
 
Yes, Greco uses A2 with laquer finish. His handle materials are either micarta or cocobollo. I have the micarta. As to the finish, I haved used the companion to hack at banches and stabbed at deadfall. The finish held up well (no visible scratches to the steel) and edge held.

I find the 1/4" a little too thick for my taste in a fighting knife and the sheath, though nice, is not for tactical carry. I consider the 1/4" Companion as a bomb proof, back woods, survival knife.

Greco is now making a 3/16" thick models, including his Companion. This thinner Companion is also a little shorter in OAL. I like this later model even better. It just needs a kydex sheath.
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I believe his asking price through August is $65.

Greco makes a good affordable knife.

sing
 
Hey, Sing, we'll see about that sheath once I finish your Madpoet, okay?
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The one I am making right now for the Companion is a pouch type sheath that will have regular vertical, horizontal (crossdraw and small of back), and in-the-waistband carry options. The 1/4" is a tough one on this because the handle is so dang heavy (thick scales and full thickness tang), so balancing the horizontal carry options is tricky. It's coming out well, too, and an added bonues is that you can use the leg tie-down holes with paracord for a Greco neck knife format! Like you'd want that thing hanging off your neck!
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If you want that I'll send my business card for clinic with you so you can get adjusted!

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My Custom Kydex Sheath pagehttp://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/knifehome.html
Palmer College of Chiropractic
On Two Wheels
 
As the owner of the knife /client of Chiro,
let me add the following. The steel is A2, I think I mistakenly told Chiro/Steve something else.
I haven't carried the knife much (yet), but
it should fill the role I acquired it for well- a knife that I can carry, use and not worry too much about the $$ loss of the knife which has prevented me from carrying more expensive knives that I own.

I will try to relay the comments my Martial arts teacher had upon examing the knife-
any mistakes are my own.
Primarily a thruster- could use some thumb ramp serrations.
A little too thick to make it a great slicer
Balance is OK, could be lighter for a great fighter.

The thinner companion sounds like a great deal.

I'll post a review of the sheath when I get it a use it a bit.

Chiro/Steve has been great to deal with.

Sean

 
John also uses simple carbon steels on his knives, like 1095. He marks some of them, and this way you could tell for sure if you must know.

Ive always thought his knives were a very good value, something you could afford to use hard and not feel guilty about!!

 
Ahhhh....I was wondering about this mark. On the choil opposite the side with the "GRECO" stamp is a stamp of an "A". I thought there is obviously some sort of meaning to it, and it's probably for A-2 tool steel as someone else suggested. Cool!

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My Custom Kydex Sheath pagehttp://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/knifehome.html
Palmer College of Chiropractic
On Two Wheels
 
Here we go again, Steve. I keep seeing your name in this Forum and I have to open the thread! I did happen to see John's ad in BLADE and thought that would be a fun knife for camping/hiking (for cutting an improvised staff--my girlfriend has consecutively rolled her ankle on our last two hikes). And for the money--well, I thought it was a misprint, too, but after reading yor review and your client's comments, I'd have to say Greco would be comparable to Livesay in making affordable working knives. And just how long does it take to get ahold of one of those thinner Companions, anyway. And where do you get a brochure/catalog? I read a couple of snips about Greco regarding the sheaths his wife makes for the knives, and a little about the company in general, and hell, if my $80 helps them make more money, count me in! Truth to tell, I haven't found a production level knife besides the Emerson La Griffe that interests me. All of the ones that wow me are cutsom designs. Sadly, those are far and away from my financial arm's length. Not that high custom prices aren't unreasonable (okay, sometimes they are--what's w/ Elishewitz' $5-700 folders? I wouldn't use the damn things for fear of hurting them, and they're supposed to be "tactical?"), after all, most custom makers put their heart and soul in those knives, but for someone who isn't Daddy Warbucks, the dream just ain't happening. That's why is such a relief to find people like Greco, Livesay, and I think I might include Ernest Mayer (Black Cloud knives), and let's throw in Rob Simonich for good measure, who put good, usable knives in the hands of less well-to-do users (and collectors) like me. But dammit, Steve, stop making reviews like this! I don't have the money and the migraines from the want/need/can't have it anyway debate are insufferable! Seriously, though, thanks for adding to another apparently great (overall) knifemaker's name more well-known in the threads.
 
Thrawn,

I dont' think you'll have to wait too long for the thinner companion, if at all. Greco spent alot of time making the thinner models during the spring when I checked in.

Chiro, the 1/16" is noticably different. The thinner companion feels faster/livelier in the hand to me.

Talking about good affordable makers, I think Madpoet and Ed Schott fit in there as well. I am waiting on a Schott modified "small utility" to neck knife. I like Mel's stuff and am waiting to check out Ed's.

sing
 
Yay! I just made senior status! Yeah, I was thinking Madpoet knives should be put in there, too, but stupid me, I didn't have a list of links in front of me. Haven't seen any of Schott's work, so I can't say. I was thinking the Companion looked like a kitchen knife (chopping AND slicing ability), and that's why it attracted my attention. Anyway, I'd like to see a complete profile on the Greco's business, I'm always interested to hear a knifemaker's background. In many ways, if I like what I hear, it makes my money leave that much faster.
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