Condor 2013 line

SamuraiDave said:
My money will be that the Matagi knife is better than the CS bushman.

I haven't been very happy with the SK5 or whatever the Bushman is now made with.
When it first came out it was either 1095/Carbon V or something that actually held and edge and was easily sharpened.
The more recent one's I've been able to put my hands on I didn't like as much.
I wish I kept my early version.

However, from what I have seen, heard, and experienced. Condor is going to beat the britches off of several competitors with this line of knives/machetes.

I just wish their Barong came with a more Barong like handle, maybe a handle like the speed bowie.
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I have no problems with SK-5 personally, but I agree that the Matagi is going to give Cold Steel a run for their money, big time.

I also agree that it would be nice to put the Speed Bowie handle on the Barong--it was actually the first thing I thought when the Speed Bowie was unveiled! :D
 
A bunch of new condors are now available in online stores!!! Get em while they're hot!
 
I found one place that had all of the new ones except for the crocodilian machete. I didn't realize the discord machete was $100! :eek: I guess that's reasonable for what it is, but I wasn't really expecting it to be that much.

The sight I saw had the matagi for $44, bushcraft parang for $38, Garuda tanto for $59, speed machete for $47, tactana sword for $129, and the crocodilian machete for preorder for $50.
 
bigghoss said:
I found one place that had all of the new ones except for the crocodilian machete. I didn't realize the discord machete was $100! :eek: I guess that's reasonable for what it is, but I wasn't really expecting it to be that much.

The sight I saw had the matagi for $44, bushcraft parang for $38, Garuda tanto for $59, speed machete for $47, tactana sword for $129, and the crocodilian machete for preorder for $50.
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Sounds like you were at Knifecenter, we're allowed to name them here, lol. I can't say I'm surprised about the Discord, it's one of their micarta handled machetes...and a big one at that, those are always their priciest offerings. The Boomslang and the Warlock, are each around $85, so $105 for the Discord isn't too surprising for me. Costly, but man, it looks sweet.

Shame I don't get paid till the 4th...but once I do, I'll probably just grab up most of the Condor 2013 lineup, heh(not extremely interested in the sword or Garuda)
 
Just placed an order last night for the bushcraft parang and the crocidillian machete. Can't hardly wait. Next payday I'll probably order a matagi and maybe a golok machete or a woodworkers axe.
 
bigghoss said:
Just placed an order last night for the bushcraft parang and the crocidillian machete. Can't hardly wait. Next payday I'll probably order a matagi and maybe a golok machete or a woodworkers axe.
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I got my Crocodilian a couple days ago....you don't realize just how hefty it is till you get it in hand, I'll say that much! Still need to get a Bushcraft Parang and I'd like a Discord but that $100+ pricetag has kept me from pulling the trigger so far.
 
DShiflet said:
I got my Crocodilian a couple days ago....you don't realize just how hefty it is till you get it in hand, I'll say that much! Still need to get a Bushcraft Parang and I'd like a Discord but that $100+ pricetag has kept me from pulling the trigger so far.
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Yeah I guess the croc is about 1/4" thick, right? I got it from 42b and sprung for the special grade on both. Condor has a habit of grinding their edges really thick and all I have is a worksharp. When I get the others I'll spring for the same treatment. Yeah that discord looks sweet, until I saw the price. I'm sure it's worth it, but I don't like it that much.
 
bigghoss said:
Yeah I guess the croc is about 1/4" thick, right? I got it from 42b and sprung for the special grade on both. Condor has a habit of grinding their edges really thick and all I have is a worksharp. When I get the others I'll spring for the same treatment. Yeah that discord looks sweet, until I saw the price. I'm sure it's worth it, but I don't like it that much.
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6mm thickness on the Croc, according to 42B(I didn't measure it personally but I'll take his word for it), and yeah, I got special grade too. I made the mistake of ordering my Matagi elsewhere and it has the exact same issue you referred to. I was planning on ordering some Cold Steel machetes from him when I get paid this week(except for designs he doesn't stock, like their kopis machete, I won't order them from anywhere else), I may pick up a Pack Golok as well.
 
According to google 6mm=.236". So pretty much 1/4". Yeah I got a condor Rodan and Hudson Bay Knife. The Rodan isn't horrible, being only 3/16ths" thick but the hudson bay knife's edge was way to thick. Working on reprofiling it on the worksharp but it's slow going.
 
bigghoss said:
According to google 6mm=.236". So pretty much 1/4". Yeah I got a condor Rodan and Hudson Bay Knife. The Rodan isn't horrible, being only 3/16ths" thick but the hudson bay knife's edge was way to thick. Working on reprofiling it on the worksharp but it's slow going.
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I got my Hudson Bay from 42B, so no issues on that one for me either :D
 
42 Blades has a pretty good service going. If you are set up for it, it is not difficult. I will probably buy my next Condor machetes from him just so he can touch them up before I see them.
 
22-rimfire said:
42 Blades has a pretty good service going. If you are set up for it, it is not difficult. I will probably buy my next Condor machetes from him just so he can touch them up before I see them.
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Yep. I know some people like fixing up their own machetes, putting their own workable edge on it and stuff, and that's cool. For those of us who don't, and want one nice and ready to go out of the box 42B is the way to go.
 
Just got my Bushcraft Parang and Croc machete in from 42b. Somthing I didn't realize until I got it in hand, the croc machete handle is oval as shown in the pics. I figured it would be round but this is better, keeps the blade from turning in your hand. However the front portion of the handle is a little too flattened and thin. It would be more comfortable if it the front area was left a little more rounded. Also, the handle wrap is cheap knockoff paracord, some of the worst I've ever seen. But still leaps and bounds over the shoelace or whatever a lot of companies use for lanyards and leg ties and such.

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If you are looking for light machetes for green vegetation, these ain't it. Sure you can cut grass and the like with them no problem but the weight is going to tire you out quickly because you have to stop all that weight after your swing. The Croc is so heavy I don't think it would be good for clearing even thick, heavy brush. I bet it would be really good for busting up and chopping up stumps looking for fatwood though. It's thick enough you could bury it into a stump and pry on it (within reason, of course) and tear the stump open. And it's not so unruly that you couldn't make shavings or a feather stick to get your fire going.

These can be useful tools, particularly the parang, but they don't feel like real good all-arounders like a standard machete. I think they're going to be a bit more of a niche tool for dealing with wood. The Bushcraft parang is going to be a little more well-rounded with it's thinner stock and lighter weight. It would have helped if Condor had not brought the edge back quite as fall, allowing you to choke up more on the blade. Keep in mind I haven't had a chance to actually use these yet, I'm going off of previous experience and my opinion may change once I actually test them out.

Hopefully next payday I'll be able to order the matagi and maybe something else. I'd like to get a Golok machete but I'm also wanting an Ontario machete and a Cold Steel Bowie Machete.
 
I consider the Crocodilian Machete as almost being more of a really big chopping camp knife. It would do very well in that sort of role. Personally I find that I get the most comfortable grip on it if I pinch with my forefinger and thumb just above the socket, which then fills out the rest of the hand. :)
 
DShiflet said:
6mm thickness on the Croc, according to 42B(I didn't measure it personally but I'll take his word for it), and yeah, I got special grade too. I made the mistake of ordering my Matagi elsewhere and it has the exact same issue you referred to. I was planning on ordering some Cold Steel machetes from him when I get paid this week(except for designs he doesn't stock, like their kopis machete, I won't order them from anywhere else), I may pick up a Pack Golok as well.
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I love the pack golok - it has outchopped several far more expensive blades and the only thing I've found that made it hesitate was some well seasoned osage orange -- ended up with a wobble in the blade right at the sweet spot, but no denting/blunting.
 
Lots of real-estate for mods there on the Parang. Choil, jimping or no choil & jimping or modify front bottom of handle & jimping. Give it a chance. Looks like an EXCELLENT design to me. The design also makes it able to be used as a cleaver if need be for food prep.
 
1066vik said:
I love the pack golok - it has outchopped several far more expensive blades and the only thing I've found that made it hesitate was some well seasoned osage orange -- ended up with a wobble in the blade right at the sweet spot, but no denting/blunting.
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I got it on the way. I've been looking at it for ages, finally decided to go for it.
 
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