Condor's satin finished carbon steel...

PocketKnifeJimmy

PocketKnifeJimmy

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Aug 4, 2013
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In another thread, Condor was being discussed a bit, and it made me want to put this post up pertaining to Condor's decision to go satin finish, (bead or sand blasted), on many of their bare carbon steel blades.
Their machetes, (and other items), were being offered at very reasonable prices when they first hit the market. The quality to price ratio was indeed very good. But, those prices have steadily gone up, with their brand name now being pretty firmly established.
I was surprised when I noticed some of their offerings had went to the bead blasted finish look. I mean, the bead blast look can be attractive, but is a faux pas on carbon steel because it becomes easier for corrosion to form.
The bead blast look obviously saved them from the cost of applying a final coat of any sort of finish, but they managed to make that carbon steel more prone to rusting, and the prices still went up, not down.

On a related note... I have a Condor Swampmaster that is now discontinued. It was made using the 420hc stainless steel, with the newer version now being in the bead blasted carbon steel.
The finish done on my Swampmaster is a finish called Ultrablac, (or at least that's what Condor calls it). Whatever that black finish is on the 420hc stainless steel blade, it sure convincingly looks like it's parkerized. I guess it kind'a is like a parkerizing, (phoshate finish), for stainless steel? Don't know really what it is. Strange that Condor chose to add such a finish to the Swampmaster in stainless steel, but then totally leaves the new carbon steel model with no finish protection at all, (and bead blasts it to boot).
Just wondering what all your thoughts may be on Condor's satin bare carbon steel decision?

Also, if anyone can explain to me what Condor's UltraBlac finish is, I would appreciate your insight. I am very curious as to how it's done. I mean, it really does not look sprayed on or anything... It actually looks and feels like a phoshate/parkerized finish, where the finish is actually just converted surface steel.
 
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I have one of the earlier Bushcraft Basic 5" which came "black". It needed only some acetone to strip off most of the nasty paint (so, no, it wasn't parkerized, I think). The steel is 1095 and it's a hell of a dependable knife (one I wouldn't hesitate to baton, if needed). It wasn't eaten away by rust since, I just keep it dry and clean. But hey, they are Salvador based (heat and humidity abound), so I understand the coating on carbon steel. Black coating on 420HC sounds looney, on the other hand. Well a lot of people like black blades and it keeps the look consistent troughout the range, so there's that.
 
herisson said:
I have one of the earlier Bushcraft Basic 5" which came "black". It needed only some acetone to strip off most of the nasty paint (so, no, it wasn't parkerized, I think). The steel is 1095 and it's a hell of a dependable knife (one I wouldn't hesitate to baton, if needed). It wasn't eaten away by rust since, I just keep it dry and clean. But hey, they are Salvador based (heat and humidity abound), so I understand the coating on carbon steel. Black coating on 420HC sounds looney, on the other hand. Well a lot of people like black blades and it keeps the look consistent troughout the range, so there's that.
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I believe we are talking two different finishes here. There is/was the Condor UltraBlac found on their 420hc blades, and there is/was Condor's sprayed on black finishes (powder coat?).
I don't believe the Ultrablac is/was a sprayed on paint/epoxy finish, but rather a steel treatment that transforms the steel's exposed surface, (like hot bluing or parkerizing does on steels).
I could be wrong, but I will wait and see if more info pops up here about it :)

Btw, I have a 14" Condor "El Salvador" model machete and a Condor throwing axe with the black painted on finish. These painted surfaces are definitely a different animal than the Ultrablac on the Swampmaster.
As you mentioned, the "black look" is likely why the Utrablac was applied on the 420hc stainless steel, not likely for any added extra protection.
 
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Can't say that I have looked into what specific material Condor uses for their black coating on their machetes and knives. Generally speaking, I prefer a unpainted finish on my knives and machetes. But it is not an absolute kind of thing.

Yesterday I visited a really overgrown house and was driving my pickup instead of my work van that contains the 14" Puerto Rican..... gosh I was wishing I had a machete with me. I couldn't even get into the driveway without a lot of black berries and brush hitting the side of my pickup.... hence, I whipped out my SAK and started slashing the briars. There weren't that many really, but I don't want to scratch up the paint for the hell of it on my new pickup. Future solution... think I am going to add my black coated unused El Salvador model machete to the pickup or maybe just the Kumunga (10" chopper).

Added: Just placed my Kumunga behind the seat in my pickup. I'm set for little chopping or wacking tasks for now. I have carried the Kumunga on my belt in the woods a few times. It's big, but is slender and works okay for randam use in the woods without being really visible to people that might find a big knife offensive or threatening.
 
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22-rimfire said:
Can't say that I have looked into what specific material Condor uses for their black coating on their machetes and knives. Generally speaking, I prefer a unpainted finish on my knives and machetes. But it is not an absolute kind of thing.

Yesterday I visited a really overgrown house and was driving my pickup instead of my work van that contains the 14" Puerto Rican..... gosh I was wishing I had a machete with me. I couldn't even get into the driveway without a lot of black berries and brush hitting the side of my pickup.... hence, I whipped out my SAK and started slashing the briars. There weren't that many really, but I don't want to scratch up the paint for the hell of it on my new pickup. Future solution... think I am going to add my black coated unused El Salvador model machete to the pickup or maybe just the Kumunga (10" chopper).

Added: Just placed my Kumunga behind the seat in my pickup. I'm set for little chopping or wacking tasks for now. I have carried the Kumunga on my belt in the woods a few times. It's big, but is slender and works okay for randam use in the woods without being really visible to people that might find a big knife offensive or threatening.
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I carry a machete and file to keep it sharp in the truck for exactly that. dont need it every day but the handful of days a month I do it pays off.
 
I carry a lot of emergency stuff in my pickup including tow straps, tow rope, jumper cables, tarp, tie down straps, and so forth, BUT didn't have the machete with me. In the past I had a 12" Ontario behind the seat in my old pickup, but I absolutely hate that machete. It is just about the most uncomfortable "good" machete I have used. No shortage of machete choices at my house.
 
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