Anyone tried a condor?

[HighDesertWalker]

Condor Tool & Knife makes some really interesting machetes. I've seen the brand mentioned here occasionally, but, as far as I can tell, no one has bought one and tried it out.

So I ordered a model called the Inca:

It hasn't arrived yet, but I'll post a review when it does. The blade is 12" of 2.2 mm (.087 in) 420HC high carbon stainless steel hardened to RC53. The only thing I'm not too fond of is the blue handle, but I can live with that if it works well. The only real downside is the ~ $34 price tag. But, again, I like the design, and if it works well what the hell. I've paid a lot more for bushies and nessies.

SPEAK OF THE DEVIL! My ridgeback just barked a warning, and guess what? Yep. It was UPS delivering my new Inca. I can tell you already this will be my favorite 12" machete. The handle is excellent; the high impact blue polypropylene handle is subtley textured and darker than in the photo above - not objectionable at all. The blade has a non-reflective satin finish and is sharper out of the box than any other machete I have ever handled. The edge is convex ground. And the Inca, as with all Condors, comes with a quality leather sheath. I've never seen a higher quality machete. The price of $34 is cheap for what you get.

Here's another model I'm interested in called the Puerto Rican:

That's a walnut handle and a 14.5 " blade of the same stainless described above. Notice the sharpened hook section on top of the blade. Also comes with a leather sheath. Now that I've seen the Inca, I'm gonna get the Puerto Rican as well.

Okay, gotta go play now. I'll be back with pics and a review.

Cheers,

 

[Md 25v]

I have the Puerto Rican. I love it, its my favorite panga shaped machete. I also have the Outback machete and it is my favorite machete hands down. I have a dozen or so machetes including ontarios, tramontinas(great value), a martindale, and even the new Ontario/Barkie hybrid which is the best balanced deepest cutting machete I've ever handled but then again it costs $160. I think the Condors are expensive when comparing them to other low end machetes but they out perform all of the low end and and comparably priced machetes. I hated the blue handle in the pic, but they really are much darker in person. They are very tactile but not soft enough to cause hot spots. I use my Condor machetes more than any of the others. This one is my favorite.
http://www.knifecenter.com/knifecenter/condor/images/2040b.jpg
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=CN2040B

 

[Sharp Eye]

Bill,
You might take another look at this review by Horn Dog.
He he found the Condor Puerto Rican to be the best chopper of all his machetes.

 

[HighDesertWalker]

Thanks Sharpie. I was aware of that review but, apparently, never made it to the machete finale. I'll definitely get a Puerto Rican now. :thumbup:

 

[udtjim]

I have four Condors and I love them all. Worth much more that they cost and how many things can you say that about? I will own more as time goes by. My Aztec Cleaver is my favorite all around camping tool. It really is a knife and hatchet rolled into one.