Some Condor fun in the Maine woods! (Viking, Bush Knife, and Rodan)

yeah - that bush knife looks pretty versatile.
I like the fact that you can reverse your grip on it - the D-guard on my woodsman's pal makes that difficult.
 
Yeah--don't even get me started on the Woodsman's Pal. It bears the dubious distinction of being the only machete "designed" for the northern climes, but it doesn't really do the job so hot--it's almost like they deliberately put "features" on it to impede its usage and versatility.

I have a design whipped up that's basically a broad--pointed--chopping blade with a small hooked blade on the backside for use as a brush hook, limbing tool, and pick. I don't think it'll ever get made, but I'm trying! We really need a GOOD machete made for the North! :D
 
Nah. The leuku may be able to chop, but it's no machete. I'm talking something the 18" blade range. ;)

We have everything from tall grasses and brambles up through beech, maple, oak, and other hardwoods. It's tricky to balance a design so that it can handle all of those things and still be practical. I think I managed it though. I just don't want to leak any more than that in case it somehow ever miraculously got made. :o
 
TheGame said:
You made me want a Viking, now. Well, maybe when I go to SMKW I will get one..
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How could you not have wanted one before? :eek: :D Seriously, it's an amazing and versatile chopper with a LOT of power for something its size and weight. I plan on decking mine out in canvas micarta at some point. :cool::thumbup:

metermatch said:
Great photos! What part of the state is that?
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Veazie. So not far from Bangor. :)
 
yeah - I was looking at the Condor site earlier and noticed there are 2 smaller versions of the Viking as well (different names but same pattern). The 16" version is pretty tempting -- 20" of blade is a bit much in most of the woody bramble in my back corner.

your "ideal northern 'chete" sounds like a long, pointed cane knife - would you put the hook all the way out to the tip, or more like halfway down the spine?
 
I've got a Condor bush knife myself, and I love the hell out of that thing. I pair it with a small (Izula, BRKT PSK) sized knife and I find that fills my needs pretty well. Though, my bushy has a greyish handle, not the bright blue. :D
 
1066vik said:
yeah - I was looking at the Condor site earlier and noticed there are 2 smaller versions of the Viking as well (different names but same pattern). The 16" version is pretty tempting -- 20" of blade is a bit much in most of the woody bramble in my back corner.

your "ideal northern 'chete" sounds like a long, pointed cane knife - would you put the hook all the way out to the tip, or more like halfway down the spine?
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I like 20-22" typically. With brambles especially reach is a good thing! :D

Very much like if you crossed a cane knife with a barong and set a small hooked blade more like that found on the Bush Knife 3 or 4 inches down the spine.

EMT_Lee said:
I've got a Condor bush knife myself, and I love the hell out of that thing. I pair it with a small (Izula, BRKT PSK) sized knife and I find that fills my needs pretty well. Though, my bushy has a greyish handle, not the bright blue. :D
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which means you have one of the later ones. They've since done away with all the blue handles.
 
vector001 said:
i have always loved the Bush Knife.

thanks for the great pics.

vec
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No problem! I think the Bush Knife is a severely under-appreciated woods tool. I'm pretty much the only one I ever see talking about it on here except Chewbacca, and I gave that one to him in a giveaway contest! :o

ratamahatta said:
great pics, I really like the viking!!!!
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I seem to have been making the Viking a lot of friends lately. :p And for good reason! It's one nice machete!

Both of you fellows have excellent taste. ;):D
 
Well I just got out of my class, and everyone enjoyed the tea! I think I just made a bunch of new wilderness fans! :D
 
It was nice though. Many of the silly people in my class had only been out in the woods once or twice! How sad! I think they might change their mind about that in the near future. :)
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
It was nice though. Many of the silly people in my class had only been out in the woods once or twice! How sad! I think they might change their mind about that in the near future. :)
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It always strikes me as exceedingly odd that most people — MOST PEOPLE — in our society have never spent a night in the woods, and have absolutely no desire to do so. They don't understand the attraction, don't want to get too far away from Starbucks or their local bar, in any case.

I feel sorry for them, but it means less clutter and traffic for those of us who do like the woods.:D

In the past I have taken people out to the woods who had never been there before. Some had a negative reaction ("oh, there are bugs here...yuck. What, you expect me to sleep on the ground?), and other have taken to it right away; they couldn't wait to go out again.

To each their own, I guess. I don't go to Starbucks, either, so I guess we're even.
 
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