Condor Bushlore. Any good?

[William_Montgomery]

Does anybody use a Condor Bushlore?

I'm looking at getting the blade blank so I can fit it out with some custom scales. But, I've not come across one in person, so I'm wondering if it's a decent enough blade.

https://heinnie.com/condor-bushlore-blade-blank

Thanks.

 

[gra_farmer]

I have one, and I really like it. It doesn't get take out as much as it should.

Very good choice, out of all the blade blanks you can get. Just a note, the blade is 2.5mm, so keep that in mind. Some prefer a 3mm thick spine on bushcraft knives

 

[Jay131]

I love mine. I did the same as you’re planning to from a blade blank. I have several more expensive knives (F1, Brisa Trapper, BRK Fox River) but the Condor is the one I absolutely always reach for. I have used it for all the regular camp tasks & made countless fires (she strikes a ferro rod really well). I have never held back from battoning with it (we have predominantly oak, so it takes a fair pounding). I’ve used it most weekends since I built it in lockdown 2020.

I love the length and the heft of the blade. It feels like it might chop well (especially if you were to add a lanyard) but I don’t tend to use it for that.

The scandi grind holds up really well. I’ve never had any chips or bends. The edge may not last as well a super steels but it is so easy to resharpen and strop.

Because I was able to custom the scales they are absolutely perfect for me. I returned to the sander several times in order to get the fit exactly as I wanted it - I suspect that the personalised handle is what keeps it my go-to fixed blade.

There are certainly better quality blades available (not sure about blanks), but I found the process of making it wonderful and I have a weird sense of pride each time I use it!

 

[William_Montgomery]

I have one, and I really like it. It doesn't get take out as much as it should.

Very good choice, out of all the blade blanks you can get. Just a note, the blade is 2.5mm, so keep that in mind. Some prefer a 3mm thick spine on bushcraft knives

Cheers, Gra. I've got a couple of thicker blades, so I wouldn't mind something on the lighter side.

 

[William_Montgomery]

I love mine. I did the same as you’re planning to from a blade blank. I have several more expensive knives (F1, Brisa Trapper, BRK Fox River) but the Condor is the one I absolutely always reach for. I have used it for all the regular camp tasks & made countless fires (she strikes a ferro rod really well). I have never held back from battoning with it (we have predominantly oak, so it takes a fair pounding). I’ve used it most weekends since I built it in lockdown 2020.

I love the length and the heft of the blade. It feels like it might chop well (especially if you were to add a lanyard) but I don’t tend to use it for that.

The scandi grind holds up really well. I’ve never had any chips or bends. The edge may not last as well a super steels but it is so easy to resharpen and strop.

Because I was able to custom the scales they are absolutely perfect for me. I returned to the sander several times in order to get the fit exactly as I wanted it - I suspect that the personalised handle is what keeps it my go-to fixed blade.

There are certainly better quality blades available (not sure about blanks), but I found the process of making it wonderful and I have a weird sense of pride each time I use it!

View attachment 78213

That sounds pretty good. A reasonable price and able to take a pounding.

Your sense of pride is well justified. It looks like a lovely knife. Did you make the sheath too?

I just finished carving my first axe handle, it's far from perfect, but it's now my first choice. There's a lot to be said for the process and the satisfaction of seeing your work holding up to the job.

 

[Jay131]

That sounds pretty good. A reasonable price and able to take a pounding.

Your sense of pride is well justified. It looks like a lovely knife. Did you make the sheath too?

I just finished carving my first axe handle, it's far from perfect, but it's now my first choice. There's a lot to be said for the process and the satisfaction of seeing your work holding up to the job.

I did make the sheath. It’s holding up well at the moment.

 

[steveab]

I agree with Jay and Gra_farmer. You'll enjoy making and using it.
I got some nice burr elm off ebay and kept myself busy in lockdown too!
I already had a premade one and made this as a gift for a friend.



Also the Woodlaw is nice and an easy one to handle, I actually prefer it. I did this in ash and kept it:

 

[William_Montgomery]

I agree with Jay and Gra_farmer. You'll enjoy making and using it.
I got some nice burr elm off ebay and kept myself busy in lockdown too!
I already had a premade one and made this as a gift for a friend.

View attachment 78247View attachment 78248View attachment 78249View attachment 78250View attachment 78251

Also the Woodlaw is nice and an easy one to handle, I actually prefer it. I did this in ash and kept it:

View attachment 78252View attachment 78253View attachment 78254

Nice. That's some pretty high standard work.

 

[Bearmont]

It's a nice leaf shape with plenty of handle length. Downside, it's only 1075, meaning it's very tough but it won't hold an edge for as long as some other steels. You won't get chips but it may blunt or roll.

Those handles look smoooth.

 

[Chinook220]

These all look fantastic, I’m looking at doing similar. I’ve never made a knife up before, how do get the correct shape to the scales? Not sure where to start

 

[Bearmont]

You lay the wood on the knife blank and draw the outline of the steel on. You can draw outlines in all dimensions prior to work as an easy reference for the shape you want, but obviously only one dimension matters in regards to fitting it to the tang. Then you start with a wood file or a saw to get the rough shape and remove as much excess material as you can. You can temporarily pin the scales together so you can more easily saw / file them both in a mirrored fashion. Then you usually progress to sanding and go up the grits.

 

[Mesquite]

These all look fantastic, I’m looking at doing similar. I’ve never made a knife up before, how do get the correct shape to the scales? Not sure where to start

As Bearmont said though what I would do is to put masking tape on the insides of the scales before securing them together with a couple small dabs of superglue

Quick video to give you and idea of what you need to do

A longer video from Ben Orford giving a more in depth explaination

A final video from Ben on how to shape the handle once fitted

 

[steveab]

Good advice above. Take your time and enjoy the process!

A pillar drill or some other way to ensure you are drilling perpendicularly for the pins is useful. I do the rest by hand using a decent Japanese rasp then sandpaper. Results have been variable but that's part of getting better. Maybe start with one of the easier shaped condor blades like the woodlaw or kephart - if you like them).

 

[Chinook220]

I agree with Jay and Gra_farmer. You'll enjoy making and using it.
I got some nice burr elm off ebay and kept myself busy in lockdown too!
I already had a premade one and made this as a gift for a friend.

View attachment 78247View attachment 78248View attachment 78249View attachment 78250View attachment 78251

Also the Woodlaw is nice and an easy one to handle, I actually prefer it. I did this in ash and kept it:

View attachment 78252View attachment 78253View attachment 78254

What size pin holes do these have? I want to order 3 Corby pins for my build!

 

[Fadcode]

What size pin holes do these have? I want to order 3 Corby pins for my build!

make sure you get the recess drill to match the bolts, it makes life easier

 

[William_Montgomery]

What size pin holes do these have? I want to order 3 Corby pins for my build!

I haven't got the blank yet, so I've not measured it. But, according to one of the reviews on Heinnie and someone on the bushcraftusa forum, they are drilled to 4.8mm.

 

[Chinook220]

I haven't got the blank yet, so I've not measured it. But, according to one of the reviews on Heinnie and someone on the bushcraftusa forum, they are drilled to 4.8mm.

Thank you, mine arrives tomorrow

 

[William_Montgomery]

Thank you, mine arrives tomorrow

It'd be good to see a picture and hear about the process once you've made it.

 

[Chinook220]

https://flic.kr/p/2onibZr

 

[Chinook220]

https://flic.kr/p/2onibSh