Checked out the Condor Hudson Bay with a couple of hawks

[TheGame]

Great review
thanks

Out of interest
What makes it a 'fun' knife
Why do you not see it as a serious knife

A knife can be fun and serious at the same time. I consider all my knives 'fun' as I enjoy using them, since it is fun to do so. That doesn't mean they are not serious knives though.

As far as the sheath, I haven't ever had an issue with mine either, and I use them quite a bit, especially the bolo since I got it back in April.

 

[upnorth]

I think it wouldn't hang as well on a belt, then. Instead of being able to hang pretty vertical it might want to lean into the leg. It's plenty tough, though--trust me! I've carried the 20" Viking, which is no lightweight, for years without any problem from the belt loop.

Okee doke. I jumped on it because you suggested that it should be replaced. If it is a non issue it's cool.

 

[upnorth]

A knife can be fun and serious at the same time. I consider all my knives 'fun' as I enjoy using them, since it is fun to do so. That doesn't mean they are not serious knives though.

As far as the sheath, I haven't ever had an issue with mine either, and I use them quite a bit, especially the bolo since I got it back in April.

Points well made. I think that my flippant wording was simply because I bought the knife casually for fun. If you guys figure that the sheath loop is tough enough as is with your experience, I'm ok with that.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

The reason why I think it needs to be replaced is because yours is excessively thinned. They ALL are thinned, but yours is kind of gimped up.

It should just be where the two ends of the leather meet that are skived. One side on yours (the outermost one) has the cut made way deep and way more far back than it should be.

 

[Bigfattyt]

How does the handle on the Hudson Bay feel while chopping??

It is a bit small for my hand when chopping. But it would work, and the handle overall is not "uncomfortable". It is not so much the overall length, I think, but might have to to with the width and smooth nature of the handle (with no side to side contours). You can see from comparison pics, that the handle it's self it not small compared to a SarQ or SHSH.

I use mine a lot in the kitchen.

Some pics in use (I stripped the black finish, and patina'ed it).

As you can see, mine is the earlier generation, with the smooth black epoxy/coating (which I removed).

For the money, it is a very solid value!

I am thinking about ordering another with the hammered finish.

As to the OP, with the thin skiving on the riveted loop, yours does look thinner than mine. If it bothers you too much, get it replaced. I would bet it won't cause any real problems, but it does look thin. The grain side of leather is where the real strength lies (ie the smooth skin part)

 

[upnorth]

The reason why I think it needs to be replaced is because yours is excessively thinned. They ALL are thinned, but yours is kind of gimped up.

It should just be where the two ends of the leather meet that are skived. One side on yours (the outermost one) has the cut made way deep and way more far back than it should be.

Okee doke. If a sheath comes my way, cool. If not I'll just see if it acts up. I can always get it permanently riveted at a shoe repair place, which was my original intent upon seeing it.

 

[upnorth]

It is a bit small for my hand when chopping. But it would work, and the handle overall is not "uncomfortable". It is not so much the overall length, I think, but might have to to with the width and smooth nature of the handle (with no side to side contours). You can see from comparison pics, that the handle it's self it not small compared to a SarQ or SHSH.

I use mine a lot in the kitchen.

Some pics in use (I stripped the black finish, and patina'ed it).

As you can see, mine is the earlier generation, with the smooth black epoxy/coating (which I removed).

For the money, it is a very solid value!

I am thinking about ordering another with the hammered finish.

As to the OP, with the thin skiving on the riveted loop, yours does look thinner than mine. If it bothers you too much, get it replaced. I would bet it won't cause any real problems, but it does look thin. The grain side of leather is where the real strength lies (ie the smooth skin part)

Thanks for the input bud. I'm not sweating the sheath really and maybe some good will come out of addressing this glitch on a basicly nice thick leather sheath. You said that you use yours a lot in the kitchen. Now that is interesting because thoughts like using it as a cleaver on meat etc. have come to mind after handling it.

 

[Bigfattyt]

Thanks for the input bud. I'm not sweating the sheath really and maybe some good will come out of addressing this glitch on a basicly nice thick leather sheath. You said that you use yours a lot in the kitchen. Now that is interesting because thoughts like using it as a cleaver on meat etc. have come to mind after handling it.

I took a bit more off behind the edge on mine. I use it as I would a santoku knife. It has enough blade clearance that it can rock and cop just fine.

I keep mine hair jumping sharp on a strop. Nice and polished. It won't ever compete with a quiality kitchen knife for slicing ability, especially with stuff with carrots etc, but I don't seem to mind, I hardly ever use my Cutco knives in the kitchen. That condor gets more use than anything else.

I really do need to get another with the hammered finish! It looks great!

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Okee doke. If a sheath comes my way, cool. If not I'll just see if it acts up. I can always get it permanently riveted at a shoe repair place, which was my original intent upon seeing it.

I like your thinking!

 

[PayetteRucker]

I love the leather on my Hudson Bay sheath, you must have got a lemon. In my experience the handle is really comfortable for chopping, and for much more precise and detailed tasks as well. It is a bit slippery though... I hand filed some checkering into the grips to make them more sticky. I have 0 complaints about the design and execution of the Condor HB, it's a fantastic companion knife and at a great price point. One of those users that will stay in your pile of tools for the rest of your life. I do think the steel and heat treat are as good as it gets for this kind of a knife, maybe just short of a handmade 5160 piece. Condor knocked this one out of the ballpark.

 

[brewcitymike]

My sheath doesn't thin out either and I loved the knife for chopping medium size firewood but I didn't like the fact that the blade edge had about 2 inches of tiny chips and burs after splitting about 15 logs. And in the pic I saw of it right before I bought it, it looked like it had a black coating just like Condor's bushcraft knives but then I got it and it has a very rough forged look but it wasn't done very well and it just looks poorly made and finished. I see now in a lot of pics that it has that finish most of the time but I do still see pics where it looks like a solid black coating. Either way for the $33 or so I paid for it I still feel like I got more than my money worth cuz it still has a lot of life in it and for the price you can run them to the ground and just get another. though my next condor buy will be either a Boomslang, Thai Enep knife, or Speed bowie.

 

[upnorth]

I took a bit more off behind the edge on mine. I use it as I would a santoku knife. It has enough blade clearance that it can rock and cop just fine.

I keep mine hair jumping sharp on a strop. Nice and polished. It won't ever compete with a quality kitchen knife for slicing ability, especially with stuff with carrots etc, but I don't seem to mind, I hardly ever use my Cutco knives in the kitchen. That condor gets more use than anything else.

I really do need to get another with the hammered finish! It looks great!

Interesting. I believe that a knife is a knife. So I also use mine at home, beside the outdoor use. I used my Becker BK-5 a lot at home. Man that sucker can rock n, talk. Goes through a cabbage wonderfully. Interesting aspect of the finish on the stippled H.B., is that it doesn't seem to scrub off so far with battoning. They all do eventualy but much more will likely be retained because of the mottled recesses. Should look even cooler with time.
:thumbup:

 

[upnorth]

Originally Posted by upnorth
Okee doke. If a sheath comes my way, cool. If not I'll just see if it acts up. I can always get it permanently riveted at a shoe repair place, which was my original intent upon seeing it.


I like your thinking!


I don't know how to do that multiple quote thing, anyway........ I took my Becker BK-2 sheath to a shoe repair a couple years back. I had the single sheath retainer cut off and had a small custom piece sewn on. Cost very little and I had a custom fit double snap retainer. BK-2 altered sheath on the far left.

 

[upnorth]

I love the leather on my Hudson Bay sheath, you must have got a lemon. In my experience the handle is really comfortable for chopping, and for much more precise and detailed tasks as well. It is a bit slippery though... I hand filed some checkering into the grips to make them more sticky. I have 0 complaints about the design and execution of the Condor HB, it's a fantastic companion knife and at a great price point. One of those users that will stay in your pile of tools for the rest of your life. I do think the steel and heat treat are as good as it gets for this kind of a knife, maybe just short of a handmade 5160 piece. Condor knocked this one out of the ballpark.

Cool, I have many similar impressions. When I first handle the grip it's a touch slippery, then with a touch of palm moisture I'm good to go. I have considered moding, but I like the look. As for a lemon sheath, I got the last one in stock and maybe it was there for a reason. The woman retailer said that she couldn't keep them in stock. Easy fix though, no sweat.

 

[upnorth]

My sheath doesn't thin out either and I loved the knife for chopping medium size firewood but I didn't like the fact that the blade edge had about 2 inches of tiny chips and burs after splitting about 15 logs. And in the pic I saw of it right before I bought it, it looked like it had a black coating just like Condor's bushcraft knives but then I got it and it has a very rough forged look but it wasn't done very well and it just looks poorly made and finished. I see now in a lot of pics that it has that finish most of the time but I do still see pics where it looks like a solid black coating. Either way for the $33 or so I paid for it I still feel like I got more than my money worth cuz it still has a lot of life in it and for the price you can run them to the ground and just get another. though my next condor buy will be either a Boomslang, Thai Enep knife, or Speed bowie.

Ya bud, I think that we got a good trade for the $$$. And occasional variances in QC seem to occur. The line is fun though and I might grab that revised Boomslang, or whatever they call it in 2012. Almost grabbed a Kumunga, and might still. Fun blades.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Almost grabbed a Kumunga, and might still. Fun blades.

Do it. It's a great knife. I like carrying it when carrying a full blown machete is either not possible or inappropriate. Batons like a champ when needed, too. :thumbup:

 

[TheGame]

Do it. It's a great knife. I like carrying it when carrying a full blown machete is either not possible or inappropriate. Batons like a champ when needed, too. :thumbup:

I grab the Kumunga when I might need a machete, but I might need a chopper. It doesn't do either of them the best, but it is great for if you may need both.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Yup! It's a great "might have to" chopper.

 

[upnorth]

Do it. It's a great knife. I like carrying it when carrying a full blown machete is either not possible or inappropriate. Batons like a champ when needed, too. :thumbup:

Yes, I considered it precisely for battoning because of its length and seemingly indestructable handle.

 

[upnorth]

I grab the Kumunga when I might need a machete, but I might need a chopper. It doesn't do either of them the best, but it is great for if you may need both.

Makes sense though if I want limited gear to hump or canoe. I'm supposed to have a little ESEE coming in. Maybe after I'm done lusting over that it will be Kumunga time, you never know.