Condor Tool and Knife

Yeah, they've priced themselves out of their own market. For their current prices, there are too many better alternatives. If they're going to charge a lot more, their products have to match in quality.

 

The Libertariat and Darien in ESEE's Expat line are made by Condor. MSRP on the Darien (12 3/8") is $100, and it retails around $65-70; the Libertariat's (9") MSRP is $82, and retails around $55. Both have "Condor Classic" hardwood handles and blackwash finish. From a brand standpoint, it's tough to have your main product line have pricing that's radically different from where the stuff you produce for others is selling.

 

Indeed. As budget minded went, they were one of the best values on the market for a while. They were never really my 1st choice; either pay more for something nicer or just rock out with another Mora, but always did seem like you definitely got more then you paid for. Factory edge always lacked, and handles were never really refined, but both those issues were easily remedied, and they had a pattern for everyone...

You hit it on the head though, jacking up their prices, but still offering the same product, definitely moved them down a rung or 2. Not they are "bad" persay, but paying more for the same lack of refinement does them no favors...

I will say, the one Condor I do own wasn't "cheap", but is a pure tank against brush, once I put an acceptable edge on it, (and the leather sheath really was a nice bonus over the nylon crap most budget friendly knives come with.).

 

In a nutshell, you used to be able to get a solid $40 knife for $30, and that was awesome!
Now you gotta pay $50 for that exact same $40 knife, and it's not near as great...

 

It's such a bummer they discontinued the eco parang and golok. I had the world's last one in my cart saturday, didn't pull the trigger, went to buy it sunday and it was out of stock! The bushcraft parang is my favorite blade once i put a rasp to the handle and thinned the edge a little bit. I really want that eco parang though.

 

I have about a dozen machete/knives and 4 are Condors. While I do like to mess around with the handles and sometimes thin the grind just a little bit, I hold these blades in high regard for their devastating chopping performance, unique & well engineered blade design, and those thick leather sheaths.
...someone sell me an eco parang!

 

I had a couple Rodans and a Golok. All good. Like everybody else is saying, I lost interest when they doubled in price for the same stuff.

I bet the knives are still good, it’s just hard to swallow something jumping in price that much with zero improvements or changes.

 

Molokai Rider - I was at Young Guns in HNL last year and they were telling me there was no Condor rep/supplier for the Hawaii market at that time. Not sure the status now but maybe there's been some turmoil.