Talk a Steel Snob into a Condor knife.

TheDandyLion

TheDandyLion

Joined
Mar 27, 2013
Messages
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I'm thinking about a Condor Bushlore and I just can't get passed the 1075. I love the 1095 that KA-BAR uses but there's something about 1075 that I just can't get passed. I'm just concerned about the edge retention in a wood working blade. Talk me into it or are my concerns completely valid. What are your guys's experiences with 1075?
 
I think 1075 is a great steel for a less pricey chopper. It has good toughness but can get be hardened almost as much as 1084. For something like the $50 Schrade Extreme one piece knives - probably a great deal. Thick blade, more obtuse edge.

For a thin bladed knife 1075 does seem less than optimal, and I keep hearing grumbles about edge retention and chipping. However, these knives have gone through changes in their production life, so I certainly wouldn't be surprised if newer ones are much better.

Overall, I haven't found them attractive for the asking price. Lots of people love them, but I think I'd rather just get a Mora for a more basic bushcrafter, or step up 25 bucks and get a BK16 with 1095CV (50100B) steel.


I will be watching this thread to also get convinced otherwise.
 
I have their khukri machete, and a small fixed blade.
Cut great, sharpen well, and just plain work. Made for heavy use.
Sheaths are very good quality also. Best bang for the buck imo.
I am not a fixed blade fan, only have a handful. Condor gets the most
use. The others are buck 119, crkt hawt-kat, and cheap survival knives
that were gifts.
 
I purchased the original version of the Condor Bushlore with its thick bar steel. It was heavy and overbuilt in my opinion. I moved it into a role as a work knife where I may be cutting things that are not normally intended to be cut with a knife. In my case, that means soils and soils contain rocks, and very rigid plastics.

The current version of the Bushlore has thinner bar steel and it is much lighter. I think the cost and the sheath justify the purchase. I don't use it much as I have other woods type knives. The sheath makes a good replacement sheath for the BK-16. I actually use my Condor Kephart sheath for that (same exact sheath). It does take a good edge, but I have not used it enough to give a serious comment on edge retention. However, I use the Pack Golok and it seems to have very good edge retention as a chopper. Give it a try. Doesn't cost a lot of money and worth the price for the sheath alone.

The newish Bark River Kephart is on my to buy list and it is certainly made in higher grade steel.
 
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They are not as fancy, they are not as cool looking, they are often not as polished as other names.

But they work.
 
I'm not sure it is a knife that would make a steel snob happy. I have one and like it, but I got it because I just wanted a solid, no-frills knife that would get the job done.
 
That is an apt description of the Condor Bushlore. I tend to agree with the steel snob comment as well. My thought is how many knives do you buy "just because"? I'd get the Bushlore and form your own impressions. The wood handle is just about perfect for my hands with sufficient heft to give me a feeling of strength. Yeah, I like the new Bushlore. Batonning would not be a problem with this knife.
 
I sure wouldn't buy one based on reviews I've seen where the blades get all twisted up and the knife cannot continue the test. Bottom line is 1075 is low cost cheap steel and that is why they use it. They can manufacture a whole bunch more blades on their tooling equipment for thing need to be replaced. 1075 is going to be a soft steel no matter what you do to it or how you advertise it. Buying a Mora Companion would be a thousand times smarter and you would have a great knife.
 
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