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Condor Knife and Tool ??
- Thread starter Eric N.
- Start date
Some basic information about Condor Knife & Tool you can find here:
http://www.worldknives.com/wkcondor.asp
Andy
http://www.worldknives.com/wkcondor.asp
Andy
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2005
- Messages
- 217
I spent a few minutes in their booth at Blade looking at their knives. I don't think that I would buy any of them as my primay weapon or tool, but I am planning on purchasing a couple to test and see what they can do.
- Joined
- Oct 24, 2004
- Messages
- 3,318
From the above link: "...This line of knives and tools are made in El Salvador, but the origin of the company starts many years ago in Germany.
Condor Tool and Knife traces its history back to 1787, the year that the Gebr. Weyersberg company was founded in Solingen, Germany.
The quality of the swords, knives, agricultural tools and household cutlery that they manufactured in Solingen made that town famous around the world.
Over the generations the the world's largest manufacturer of swords and knives found it necessary to expand its operations to places outside Solingen to better serve its customers.
In the early nineteen sixties the company built a new plant in Santa Ana, El Salvador and filled it with state of the art German equipment.
Some of the original local employees who were sent back to Solingen for training forty two years ago are still working in the factory today turning out some of the finest quality machetes, shovels and other hand tools available anywhere!
Condor Tool & Knife's parent company, Imacasa, was formed in the 1980's when the company decided to sell the central and South American operations to local investors..."
I have to say I was intrigued by their Bowie design (http://www.worldknives.com/product.asp?produid=1269&manuid=52) - and I found the knife elsewhere on the net for a bit cheaper too. So I ordered one today. Should have it in a few days & I'll give a short review.
I like the concept of the "Jungle Bowie". A machete is essential the closer you get to a Tropical environment. I like my old Ontario Bowie/machete but was never crazy about the handle. I doubt this thing is going to win any strength contests versus carbon steel bowies (I wouldn't normally want a stainless blade over ~6") but I have a feeling it will be a very agressive cutter on tricky vines & 'fleshy' fiberous foliage.
...I'll let y'all know.
Condor Tool and Knife traces its history back to 1787, the year that the Gebr. Weyersberg company was founded in Solingen, Germany.
The quality of the swords, knives, agricultural tools and household cutlery that they manufactured in Solingen made that town famous around the world.
Over the generations the the world's largest manufacturer of swords and knives found it necessary to expand its operations to places outside Solingen to better serve its customers.
In the early nineteen sixties the company built a new plant in Santa Ana, El Salvador and filled it with state of the art German equipment.
Some of the original local employees who were sent back to Solingen for training forty two years ago are still working in the factory today turning out some of the finest quality machetes, shovels and other hand tools available anywhere!
Condor Tool & Knife's parent company, Imacasa, was formed in the 1980's when the company decided to sell the central and South American operations to local investors..."
I have to say I was intrigued by their Bowie design (http://www.worldknives.com/product.asp?produid=1269&manuid=52) - and I found the knife elsewhere on the net for a bit cheaper too. So I ordered one today. Should have it in a few days & I'll give a short review.
I like the concept of the "Jungle Bowie". A machete is essential the closer you get to a Tropical environment. I like my old Ontario Bowie/machete but was never crazy about the handle. I doubt this thing is going to win any strength contests versus carbon steel bowies (I wouldn't normally want a stainless blade over ~6") but I have a feeling it will be a very agressive cutter on tricky vines & 'fleshy' fiberous foliage.
...I'll let y'all know.
- Joined
- Oct 24, 2004
- Messages
- 3,318
Well fellas, let me just say WOW!!!
The Condor Jungle Bowie arrived on my doorstep today courtesy of knifecenter. With an ~11" blade, this is one large specimen...
"Hand crafted with pride in El Salvador" is what the sticker on the blade said. And it is obviously true. The cutting edge is obviously hand honed and is extremely sharp - top edge included. The blade has a constant curve and sort of reminds me of a Bowie version of the Smatchet
thumbup: ). With a wicked backedge. And an elongated point for thrusting...
The handle is very comfortable. I love the design and the texture has a 'soft' kraton-like feel. The lanyard hole is extra wide in diameter which I consider a plus.
Static balance: This knife will balance on the finger ~2" in front of the handle. However, as The Possum and Cliff Stamp have observed (and I now understand more fully myself) because the knife is so light overall, it "feels" very fast & manuverable in the hand despite such a "blade heavy" static balance. This would make for a comfortable 'machete' to swing all day and it would be very fast in the hand for someone of average strength to defend themselves with :thumbup: :thumbup:
Light brushwork: I trimmed back a few vines, fiberous plant stalks, new growth off some scruboaks and cut down a softwood plant (dogwood?) ~1.5" around with the blade. It cut very agressively - with the main edge & the back edge too.
Stiffness: By putting the blade in between the top drawer of my desk & the top I can flex the blade a few degrees without too much effort - IOW it has got that 'springy' temper that is appropriate for a jungle knife IMO. Condor says they temper the blades to ~53 on the Rockwell scale. Probably a good thing when you consider this is a stainless steel knife with such a large blade.
The sheath is nice & the knife rides comfortably. The light weight & machete-like performance will make this one a handy tool for the current storm season no doubt.
I'll report more as I use it more. So far I give it :thumbup: :thumbup:
The Condor Jungle Bowie arrived on my doorstep today courtesy of knifecenter. With an ~11" blade, this is one large specimen...
"Hand crafted with pride in El Salvador" is what the sticker on the blade said. And it is obviously true. The cutting edge is obviously hand honed and is extremely sharp - top edge included. The blade has a constant curve and sort of reminds me of a Bowie version of the Smatchet
thumbup: ). With a wicked backedge. And an elongated point for thrusting...The handle is very comfortable. I love the design and the texture has a 'soft' kraton-like feel. The lanyard hole is extra wide in diameter which I consider a plus.
Static balance: This knife will balance on the finger ~2" in front of the handle. However, as The Possum and Cliff Stamp have observed (and I now understand more fully myself) because the knife is so light overall, it "feels" very fast & manuverable in the hand despite such a "blade heavy" static balance. This would make for a comfortable 'machete' to swing all day and it would be very fast in the hand for someone of average strength to defend themselves with :thumbup: :thumbup:
Light brushwork: I trimmed back a few vines, fiberous plant stalks, new growth off some scruboaks and cut down a softwood plant (dogwood?) ~1.5" around with the blade. It cut very agressively - with the main edge & the back edge too.
Stiffness: By putting the blade in between the top drawer of my desk & the top I can flex the blade a few degrees without too much effort - IOW it has got that 'springy' temper that is appropriate for a jungle knife IMO. Condor says they temper the blades to ~53 on the Rockwell scale. Probably a good thing when you consider this is a stainless steel knife with such a large blade.
The sheath is nice & the knife rides comfortably. The light weight & machete-like performance will make this one a handy tool for the current storm season no doubt.
I'll report more as I use it more. So far I give it :thumbup: :thumbup: