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Hey there, knife nuts and wannabe wilderness warriors! It’s time for a Condor Bushlore review. As one of the interweb's premier bushcraft artists (pause for dramatic effect), I've mastered such crucial skills as the pointy stick (for booby traps, of course), the feather stick (for the birds, naturally), and batoning (for the fallen ones... the branches around my yard).
You're probably thinking, "Are you sure you know what you're doing? It seems like you're the kind of guy who turns on the computer and makes it up as he goes." Well, let's find out!
In This Article
- Pros and Cons
- Dimensions and Specs
- The Blade
- The Handle
- The Sheath
- Comparison
- Video Review
- Conclusion
Key Takeaways
- The Condor Bushlore is a stoutish fixed blade perfect for pointy stick crafting and feather sticking.
- It's got a 4.25-inch blade with a spear point style and flat grind.
- The hardwood handle is bulbous-ish and comfy, even for crusty hands like mine.
- Comes with a thick leather sheath that'll outlast your outdoor enthusiasm.
- It's a solid choice for general outdoor use without breaking the bank.
- The Micarta version might be worth the extra cash if you're into serious batoning.
Pros and Cons
| PROS | CONS |
|
|
The Nitty-Gritty Numbers Game
To accomplish all these important bushcraft tasks, you need a decent, stoutish fixed blade like the Condor Bushlore. Not to be confused with the mini Bushlore, which is, well, mini-er. Let's break down the specs:
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Overall Length | 9.25" |
| Blade Length | 4.25" |
| Weight | 8.00 oz. |
| Blade Material | 1075 |
| Blade Style | Spear Point |
| Blade Grind | Scandi |
| Finish | Bead Blast, Satin |
| Edge Type | Plain |
| Handle Length | 5.00" |
| Handle Material | Wood |
| User | Right Hand, Left Hand |
| Sheath | Leather |
| Knife Type | Fixed Blade |
| Country of Origin | El Salvador |
Note: There's a pricier Bushlore with Micarta scales. I ain't got that kinda money because of my knife habit. Or wait, maybe that means I do?
The Blade: More Than Just a Pointy Bit
The Made-in-El-Salvador (El Salvador being Spanish for "the Salvador") Condor Bushlore boasts a very useful blade size north of 4 inches. It's a spear point style with a bead-blasted and satin-finish combo and a flat grind. I snagged this one used but in "Instagram use only" condition, and it was sharp as shit.
This blade features no jimping anywhere, which is fine by me. I prefer no jimping to bad jimping or diarrhea. The spine has a 90-degree angle, perfect for striking a ferro rod for all you traditionalists who scoff at matches and lighters. You know, despite matches being invented before the ferro rod.
Handle With Care (Or Don't, It's Pretty Tough)
The hardwood handle is nice and bulbous-ish with a decent grip area that works well for my hand size and larger, manlier, crustier hands, too. You're probably thinking, "I think yours are crusty enough." It's smooth and has a lanyard hole in the back for your survivalist paracord sculpture. Hell, you could even dangle your ferro rod from there.
I don't foresee any hotspots and didn't notice any during the crafting of the bush. Bushes. Limbcraft. Ok, let's move on.
Sheath Dreams Are Made of These
Let's take a gander at the sheath. It's a thick leather-welted and riveted-style designed to last as long as the knife and well after you put it up on some knife swap in a B- or C+ condition for $45 . It has an imprint of the Condor logo on it, which is an interesting touch. You're thinking, "I wouldn't use 'interesting' either."
The knife is held in by the tight fit of the leather or "friction," as science folks say. However, it isn't hard to remove from the sheath. It may become looser as it breaks in. The sheath ain't dangly, which is something I've become preferential to because they often sit a bit lower on the hip.
How Does the Condor Bushlore Stack Up?
Let's contextualize this Condor Bushlore review with some comparisons:
Moschus Tanto
Bigger, heavier, and more ornate for fancier bros. I prefer the less flashy and more useful curve of the Bushlore's belly. Some people prefer a tanto blade for prying, I assume. You're like, "I've replaced all my kitchen knives with tantos."
Vangedal Rover
My go-to camping knife, with a similar price range to the Bushlore. But the Rover’s made in Denmark. The clip point might be friendlier for game prep, but the Bushlore could give it a run for its money.
ESEE PR4
Pricier, made in the USA, with a thinner, unusual handle. I prefer the more bulbous natural hand grips of the Condor and the Rover.
ESEE 6
Larger blade with no finger guard (some folks like that, not me). Comfortable handle, but the Bushlore still wins in my book.
Video Review
The Final Cut: Wrapping Up This Condor Bushlore Review
Knife reviews are odd beasts. We often judge them before we've really put them through their paces. Mine included. I do use them and make observations, but it isn't until down the road, when you've had several other knife styles to compare them to, that you begin to appreciate or hate things about one design over the other.
The Condor Bushlore is the style of knife I prefer in a fixed blade—provided you're interested in my opinion. Larger than 3 inches, not extremely heavy like a Chinese tactical fixed blade mercenary knife. I mean, those have their place—like on some schmuck’s YouTube channel.
The handle feels right, though the Micarta version might offer more grip. But who has an extra cash? As an anecdotal observation, a fellow knife reviewer broke the wood handle on his Condor fixed blade (not the same model, but similar wood). Micarta has always seemed to be a bit less likely to fragment, as I've had a few wood handles split over the years. But that’s just me.
If you're batoning through a large piece of wood, hitting a wood handle with a wood baton really increases the chances of splitting, and it also deforms the handle. That's why you'd buy the Micarta. It's more resistant to whacks.
Before I do anymore word vomiting, just know that the Bushlore is a good choice for a general-purpose outdoor knife that is relatively affordable, has a nice easily sharpened carbon steel blade, and looks to be a useful non-talking companion in the outdoors... other than a case of beer.
If you've made it this far in my Condor Bushlore review, congratulations! You now know more about this knife than you ever thought possible. Happy bushcrafting, and may all your sticks be pointy!
