A representative example of one of Arlan Lothe’s wild
-and-crazy designs for Condor Tool & Knife is the
Bush Knife. With its hatchet/machete edge on one side
and a brush hook on the other, the tool is specifically
designed for chopping through heavy cover. By
combining two tools in one, the need to carry both is
eliminated. Special note: Lothe said the Bush Knife
is sold to Boy Scouts in Europe in place of an axe.
$59.98.

When the winners of the most unusual and functional fixed blades are named—should there ever be such a contest—Condor Tool & Knife would be a sure bet to be at or near the top of the list.

For example, the exact purpose of several of their knives is not immediately apparent. In fact, upon first look you might ask, “What’s that used for?” Actually, to understand the purpose of such models as the Pipe Knife, Multi-Knife and Bush Knife, I had to speak directly with the designer, Arlan Lothe.

Over the years, Lothe noted, he has acted as a consultant and designer for Fiskars, Gerber, Wusthof-Trident, Warner Manufacturing, Woodworker’s Supply, Outers Laboratories, Condor Tool & Knife and many others. His design work is supported by a personal collection of over 3,000 knives, more than 300 axes and a library of knife and tool books, as well as antique cutlery catalogs from around the world.

In addition to designing cutlery, Lothe is an avid hunter, outdoorsman, woodworker, gourmet chef (he lays claim to designing some of the best-selling chef’s knives of all time), and a knife-and-axe thrower. Many of his cutlery designs come from his more than three decades of practical experience and creative endeavors. In all, he said he holds over 20 patents on items such as knives, axes, hand tools, broadheads, knife sharpeners and others.

His design and product development philosophies are elemental: Make an item better or develop something that satisfies the wants and needs of the end user, all while providing perceived high value and distinctive design that rises above the competition.


(LEFT) The Condor Chopping & Splitting Belt Hatchet offers a 5.5x2.75-inch head of 420HC stainless made via the company’s vacuum-assist, investment-casting process. Weight: 1 pound. Overall length: 12 inches. $79.98. (RIGHT) Offering a choice of three different finishes—here in the UltraBlac2—the Condor Multi Knife employs 420HC stainless blade steel and the blue Poszegrip handle. Weight: .75 pounds. Overall length: 14.25 inches. $54.98.

Furthermore, his aim is to provide the client with engineering that can be produced at above normal profit margins that sell well and produce repeat business. Since Lothe is a self-professed “knife nut,” he understands what it takes to create “got-to-have” designs, even when the buyer already owns a broad selection of cutlery.

Take, for example, the unusual Pipe Knife in Condor’s lineup. Lothe based the design for it on an ancient ceremonial knife he saw that was made from a hollow bone. He really didn’t have a purpose for the knife, he said, he “just thought it looked cool.”

However, the design caught on with wild boar and feral pig hunters who needed an effective blood-letting sticking knife. Without going into the gory details, let me say that those who use the Pipe Knife hold it in high esteem. Moreover, a version of the knife can actually be used as a spearhead for even more versatility.

The Multi-Knife is another singular Lothe design. He said the knife is a “little bit of this and little bit of that.” It has a long, sweeping edge that runs entirely over the top of the point, along the blade spine and into a curved portion that looks like a billhook.

My first impression of the knife can be encapsulated in one word─weird! Lothe said the knife was designed to meet the needs of those who want a multi-medium cutting, chopping and brush tool. While the knife may look unusual, the 9-inch blade performs quite well for its host of assignments.
In the same vein, the Condor Bush Knife combines several cutting functions. With its hatchet/machete edge on one side and a brush hook on the other, the tool is specifically designed for chopping through heavy cover.

              

(LEFT) The 18-inch blade of the Condor Jungle Saber Machete is 420HC stainless in a bead-blast-satin finish. Weight: 1.14 pounds. Overall length: 23 inches. $64.98. (RIGHT) Condor’s Pipe Knife Dagger features an 8.75-inch blade of 1075 carbon steel coated in a “hybrid polyepox” black powder. Weight: .45 pounds. Overall length: 13.5 inches. MSRP: $69.98.

By combining two tools in one, the need to carry both is eliminated. Special note: Lothe said the tool is sold to Boy Scouts in Europe in place of an axe.

Another feature of the Condor line is that while other manufacturers tend toward carbon steel for machetes and other bush-type knives, for corrosion-resistance purposes, Condor uses 420HC stainless steel on a number of its blades, heat treated and annealed to a Rockwell hardness of Rc 53. (Editor’s note: Condor also offers 1075 carbon steel on some models.)

In addition to a broad line of fixed blades and machetes, Condor also makes several different axe models. The axe heads are produced through a vacuum-assist, investment-casting process that eliminates voids and impurities.

The process also allows the axe wedge—the piece that keeps the head on the handle—to be incorporated directly into the head itself rather than being a separate piece. The process provides for the creation of different head widths according to function (chopping, splitting, etc.). 

A prominent feature of Condor axes is that many have an etched damascus-look finish. Though not actual damascus, the finish reportedly etches away some of the surface of the axe head, thus reducing surface friction in use.

As a result, Lothe noted, the axe does more work with less user effort. It is similar in nature to the irregularities found on butter-and-cheese knives and gives Condor axes a notable look.

The company’s knives boast several blade finishes, including bead-blasted satin. The Ultrablac2 finish is a black-oxide process that provides both enhanced metal protection and a more subdued tactical look. The unusual Mystic Camo finish is a random black-and-grey-blade pattern that Lothe said is part of the blade itself and will not wear off.

One of most distinctive features of the Condor line is the blue “Poszegrip” handle. The material is a special molded Santoprene rubber that provides both strength and softness for a cushioned grip. The blue color was selected to make the tool easy to locate when laid down, especially in heavy foliage. The molded handle material goes directly onto the full-length blade tang.

Condor price points are kept low through manufacturing in a Central America cutlery factory. Established in 1964 in Santa Ana, San Salvador, the facility was founded by Gebr. Weyerberg and the deutsche Entwicklungsgesllschaft (DEF) from the Federal Republic of Germany, Adela Investments from Luxemburg and a group of Central American investors, mainly Salvadorans. When revolution came to El Salvador in the 1980s, local investors bought the plant and manufacturing has continued ever since.

Condor makes a wide range of small fixed-blade hunting knives. My favorite is the Classic Hunter. However, there are half-a-dozen other hunting models that fit the bill. While the blue handles may look a little out of place in hunting camp, every model is more than able to deal effectively with game care.