JIMMY_MAC
02-20-2009, 06:09 PM
The Companion Model 1 was first released in early May 2002 and was produced through July 2002. This model was the Dalton shop’s modern version of the Italian Stiletto. The Companions feature an unusual side mounted release button on the front bolster/guard and have a linerlock. They did not come from the factory with a pocket clip and they were not serialized. Another unusual feature was the use of aluminum handle inserts in (most cases) contrasting colors. There were about 19 known variants of the Companion made. The first ones were a run of 113 pieces with satin silver handles and black inserts. They were etched “1st run/113��? on the blades. A few of these also had the PROTO marking. The second batch of Companions also had plain silver handles and black inserts, but of course didn’t have the “1st run/113��? etch. A few were marked PROTO for dealers that didn’t get their protos in the 1st run batch. There was also a small group of 24 pieces with silver beadblast handles and various blade markings. The third batch had silver handles and blue inserts. However, there was a twist – some of the handles were textured to give a finish similar to checkering. Later Companions were machined in this manner to improve the grip.
There were two other minor variations in that first run of 113 knives. Some of the earliest ones had the top swedge sharpenned after beadblasting, resulting in a razor sharp swedge. All of the later knives had the top edge sharpenned before beadblasting, which reduced the level of the swedge's sharpness. The second variation was that most of the first run pieces did not have a choil, though some of them did and all the later variants had the choil.
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/c640.jpg
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/comp2.jpg
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/comp3.jpg
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/companion10.jpg
The dimensions of the Companion:
Overall Length: 9��?
Blade Length: 3 – 15/16"
Blade Thickness: 0.126"
Handle Thickness: 0.682��? (across the inserts)
The next variants of the Companion had textured black handles and textured camo handles with various handle inserts.
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/companion8.jpg
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/companion6.jpg
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/companion4.jpg
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/companion9.jpg
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/companion5.jpg
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/companion7.jpg
Towards the end of the Companion production run, Mr. Dalton had one of his friends apply a ceramic coating to a single Companion blade. This ceramic coating was being used on motorcycle parts. Although the coating did not prove to hold up well under normal use, it was a very unique piece, being the first black bladed Dalton knife since a handful of black bladed Miller style SEALs were made in the early nineties.
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/bib.jpg
At least one full satin bladed Companion was made, though the existence of this variant was not generally known until the fall of 2004.
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/companionsatin.jpg
Following are the known Companion variations.
1. Smooth silver frame - black scales - PROTO 1st Run/113 marking
2. Smooth silver frame - black scales - 1st Run/113 marking
3. Smooth silver frame - black scales - PROTO marking
4. Smooth silver frame - black scales - Logo only
5. Beadblast silver frame - black scales - Proto 1st Run/113 marking (24 total beadblast handles among 3 blade
variations)
6. Beadblast silver frame - black scales - PROTO
7. Beadblast silver frame - black scales - Logo only
8. Smooth silver frame with blue scales - Logo only
9. Milled silver frame - blue scales - Logo only
10. Milled silver frame - black scales - Logo only
11. Milled camo frame - black scales - Logo only
12. Milled black frame - camo scales - Logo only
13. Milled black frame with blue scales - Logo only
14. Milled camo frame with camo scales - Logo only
15. Milled black frame with black scales - Logo only
16. Milled black frame with OD scales - Logo only
17. Milled silver frame with OD scales - Logo only
18. Milled black frame with black scales and black blade (1 of 1)
19. Milled silver frame with blue scales and full satin blade (1 of 1?)
Based on the Companion's full name "Companion Model 1" we can only surmise that Mr. D. intended to make another major variant of this model. Who knows - maybe we'll see one in the future. I'd sure go for an 11 inch version.
There were two other minor variations in that first run of 113 knives. Some of the earliest ones had the top swedge sharpenned after beadblasting, resulting in a razor sharp swedge. All of the later knives had the top edge sharpenned before beadblasting, which reduced the level of the swedge's sharpness. The second variation was that most of the first run pieces did not have a choil, though some of them did and all the later variants had the choil.
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/c640.jpg
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/comp2.jpg
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/comp3.jpg
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/companion10.jpg
The dimensions of the Companion:
Overall Length: 9��?
Blade Length: 3 – 15/16"
Blade Thickness: 0.126"
Handle Thickness: 0.682��? (across the inserts)
The next variants of the Companion had textured black handles and textured camo handles with various handle inserts.
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/companion8.jpg
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/companion6.jpg
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/companion4.jpg
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/companion9.jpg
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/companion5.jpg
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/companion7.jpg
Towards the end of the Companion production run, Mr. Dalton had one of his friends apply a ceramic coating to a single Companion blade. This ceramic coating was being used on motorcycle parts. Although the coating did not prove to hold up well under normal use, it was a very unique piece, being the first black bladed Dalton knife since a handful of black bladed Miller style SEALs were made in the early nineties.
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/bib.jpg
At least one full satin bladed Companion was made, though the existence of this variant was not generally known until the fall of 2004.
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/km4yk/companionsatin.jpg
Following are the known Companion variations.
1. Smooth silver frame - black scales - PROTO 1st Run/113 marking
2. Smooth silver frame - black scales - 1st Run/113 marking
3. Smooth silver frame - black scales - PROTO marking
4. Smooth silver frame - black scales - Logo only
5. Beadblast silver frame - black scales - Proto 1st Run/113 marking (24 total beadblast handles among 3 blade
variations)
6. Beadblast silver frame - black scales - PROTO
7. Beadblast silver frame - black scales - Logo only
8. Smooth silver frame with blue scales - Logo only
9. Milled silver frame - blue scales - Logo only
10. Milled silver frame - black scales - Logo only
11. Milled camo frame - black scales - Logo only
12. Milled black frame - camo scales - Logo only
13. Milled black frame with blue scales - Logo only
14. Milled camo frame with camo scales - Logo only
15. Milled black frame with black scales - Logo only
16. Milled black frame with OD scales - Logo only
17. Milled silver frame with OD scales - Logo only
18. Milled black frame with black scales and black blade (1 of 1)
19. Milled silver frame with blue scales and full satin blade (1 of 1?)
Based on the Companion's full name "Companion Model 1" we can only surmise that Mr. D. intended to make another major variant of this model. Who knows - maybe we'll see one in the future. I'd sure go for an 11 inch version.