Ok, I’ll admit it. I have a knife problem. Actually, it’s only a problem in the mind of my significant other, but I guess she could have a point. The real problem is that I know a good knife and a good deal when I see one, and the Condor Bushlore is no exception when it comes to bushcraft knives.
I use the term bushcraft to cover a wide variety of backwoods tasks that one might experience if they were heading out into the wilderness to survive long-term or just go camping for the weekend. I have found that bushcraft style knives do everything I need so that’s what I always strap on my hip.
The Bushlore is not a fancy knife and I like that. At about four and a half inches (blade length), it is similar to most bushcraft knives. The steel is the tried and true 1075 carbon steel that seems to last forever. The Scandi grind (my preference) holds a decent edge and is easy to sharpen. The handle is made from South American hardwood, has nice grips and a comfortable feel to it. If you have big hands like me, you’ll love it. The sheath alone is worth the reasonable price tag for this knife and it is better than some of my $200 knives. It is made out of quality leather and firmly holds the knife in place. I doubt you would lose it if you fell off a cliff.
As far as testing the knife, I put it through the usual abuse. It is well balanced and worked well for all my chores from chopping, drilling, splitting with a baton, to making delicate feather sticks for fire starters and gutting fish. It does everything that knives costing three times as much do and will surely last just as long.
Until now, I have gone back and forth between my $136 Enzo Trapper and my Tops Dragonfly ($115), and I must say that I have to add the Condor Bushlore to that list (oh boy, one more decision to make). Like the story of the three bears though, I think I like the Condor the best. While the curly birch handle and D2 steel make the Enzo really cool, the handle is a bit too small and not as comfortable as the Bushlore and there’s no hole for a tether cord. The Tops is a great knife but after a lot of carving, the Micarta handle leaves me with sore hands.
Once again, the Condor is comfortable enough to use all day and I wouldn’t kill myself if I dropped it off a cliff accidentally. Here’s the best part . . . the darn thing will only set you back $36. Yes, you read that right! Like I said, I would gladly pay that for the sheath alone and you get a great knife as well.
I read a few reviews on the Condor Bushlore and, all in all, the reviews were typical. You simply don’t have to spend the big bucks to get an exceptional quality bushcraft knife that will take care of all of your outdoor needs. At that price, I think I’ll buy a couple more, even though a certain someone might think that I’ve gone off the deep end. If that’s the case though, I’m gonna need a knife.
Photo credit: Rich Wright
