Condor vs Cold Steel Machetes?

BlackKnight86

BlackKnight86

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Hi, guys!

Just wanted to get some thoughts on the two brands of machetes, particularly from folks who own and have played with similar models from each (like the bolos, the double-edges, the barongs, etc.).

What do you think of each, with respect to balance and handling, edge-holding, cutting performance, etc? I have some Cold Steel machetes...they seem decent; certainly functional and pretty well made for their price point. I'd like to try a few Condors, because I've heard very good things about them.

Thanks, guys!

BK86
 
not a machete, but my condor kukri cuts and handles every bit as well as my carbon v CS Ghurka Lite Kukri - both have 1/8" thick blades about the same size overall, but the condor walnut handle doesn't cause any hot spots like the kraton on the CS.
I also like the condor parang a LOT better than the CS magnum kukri machete.
 
I own the CS Khuk machete & it does really well ! But I have handled the Condor & I think the Condor line is top notch compared to any of the production machetes...Condor will be my next machete !
 
I have a CS Kukri which is an OK machete.I had a CS Latin machete that was a POS.It was way too soft.I bent it all to pieces with moderate chopping.

I've owned 3 Condors and all are top notch.I am very impressed with the Condor 18" Eco Light.
 
I own several examples of machetes from each company. In short- Condor blows Cold Steel out of the water, in every possible way.

Condor has:
better fit & finish
better blade coating
better edges
better sheaths
better handles
better balance
better edge holding
better designs

The only area where Cold Steel has the "edge" by comparison is price. Condor machetes are leaps and bounds above every other production company on the market. The only machetes that come close, IMHO, are Imacasas, which are lower-grade models from the same company.
 
The carbon steel Condors are about the same price as CS. As far as Imacasa being lower grade,I suspect the steel and heat treat is exactly the same as the Condors.The Condors are just finished with a better edge and maby more attention to cosmetic appearence.Neither would concern me in a tool I intended to use.
 
Without a doubt try a Condor. I've got three machetes from them now and all are spectacular. You simply will not find a factory manufactured machete of equal or better quality. The factory edge is mirror finished, shaving sharp and the convex profile is very strong. The blades are thick, but not too much so, definitely built for hold-nothing-back beating. Handles are very durable, comfortable and grippy. Ontarios, Trams, Cold Steels are quality products but Condor doesn't have any shortfalls, like the rest of them.

I'll add some experiences. Went camping two nights ago to watch the solar storm, and took the Condor Khukri for processing firewood. It's a relatively short blade with a weight-forward tomahawk style balance to it. I own much longer machetes and none of them bite as deep with such a small amount of force. It's very controlled, very precise and very efficient chopping that is unparalleled in any large blade I've used. The Bolo is also a GREAT weight-forward machete-not as high performance for chopping but a better multi-task design. Large straight blade useful for drawknifing bark or feathering wood for kindling, a defined sweet spot for chopping and a false edge that's great for digging. I'd recommend these two machetes to anyone. The El Salvador is their most basic design, jack of all trades but master of none, and very well executed.
 
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R.H.Clark said:
As far as Imacasa being lower grade,I suspect the steel and heat treat is exactly the same as the Condors.The Condors are just finished with a better edge and maby more attention to cosmetic appearence.Neither would concern me in a tool I intended to use.
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Oh, I agree. When I said "lower grade", maybe I should have said "lower end", because they Imacasas are just less finely finished than the Condors. The materials and quality are still there. I love my Imacasas. :thumbup:
 
moonwilson said:
Oh, I agree. When I said "lower grade", maybe I should have said "lower end", because they Imacasas are just less finely finished than the Condors. The materials and quality are still there. I love my Imacasas. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

I figured that was what you ment.I just didn't want anyone considering an Imacasa to think they weren't a quality machete.
 
moonwilson said:
I own several examples of machetes from each company. In short- Condor blows Cold Steel out of the water, in every possible way.
Click to expand...
Except for catastrophic failure. There have been some threads lately of Condors breaking badly under normal usage.
 
If Imacasas were available at a price reasonable compared to what you get for a 20 dollar Condor, I'd buy a few. But the fact of the matter is when you can find a tram for 6 bucks and a Condor for 20, why spend 15, 16 17 bucks on an Imacasa when you get so much more for the money going either other direction?
 
sodak said:
Except for catastrophic failure. There have been some threads lately of Condors breaking badly under normal usage.
Click to expand...

All of which were the Stainless versions, and all of which were replaced no questions asked by the company. High carbon costs half as much as the stainless equivalents, and is much more suited for rough use, in my opinion. And you don't hear about Cold Steel breaks because most people write them off as disposable upon purchase anyway... you only hear about people griping about Condor failures because they love em so damn much.
 
PayetteRucker said:
If Imacasas were available at a price reasonable compared to what you get for a 20 dollar Condor, I'd buy a few. But the fact of the matter is when you can find a tram for 6 bucks and a Condor for 20, why spend 15, 16 17 bucks on an Imacasa when you get so much more for the money going either other direction?
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Imacasa offers some models that are different from the Condor models.My next purchase will be a 14" and 16" Imacasa.The 14" Condor carbon steel is a much thicker heavier blade.I would agree though that the Trams are the best buy in a quality machete.I wish they offered the 14" with an injected handle.

I think my carbon steel Condors have slightly harder steel than my Trams I suspect Imacasa would be the same.Since we are only talking a few bucks difference I like to own a few of each.
 
sodak said:
Except for catastrophic failure. There have been some threads lately of Condors breaking badly under normal usage.
Click to expand...

Mine was replaced within a weeks time, does CS have a lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects? No.

PayetteRucker said:
All of which were the Stainless versions,
Click to expand...

Not true. Not all of them were stainless.
 
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sodak said:
I'd rather it didn't fail in the first place, but to each his own.
Click to expand...

Everything manufactured is going to fail at a certain rate, nothing is 100% protected from failure. Newly manufactured designs are prone to a higher failure rate as the process is tuned.

I think its obvious that none want a failure, that goes wihtout saying.
 
ron_m80 said:
Everything manufactured is going to fail at a certain rate, nothing is 100% protected from failure. Newly manufactured designs are prone to a higher failure rate as the process is tuned.

I think its obviouus that none want a failure, that goes wihtout saying.
Click to expand...

Especially when it comes to machetes... they are designed to be cheap disposable beaters. I can tell you after putting mine through hell and back that they are not going to fail on me any time soon. I guess that's one reason to test your tools before extensively using them in the field.
 
Great, thanks, guys! I'm going to hunt down some Condor machetes!

One other question, if I could...when you mod a machete, and you need to remove some stock (let's say, more than just a bit on the edge), what do you use? Would a hacksaw work, or is this something that you'd need a grinder for?

Thanks!

BK86
 
I'd use light passes on a belt sander or file.
it's too easy to burn the metal with a grinder.
 
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