June 2008 Knife World Page 1 Eye of the Condor The Multi Knife is a distinctive knife with many good features. It is well made and very sharp. built a production facility wide. sible for the design and in Santa Ana, El Salvador. For the most part, development of the Many of the employees Imacasa has sold tools and Condor line. The tools and by Bob Campbell engineer who left were trained in Germany knives to American hard- knives are well made of Sometimes the history Messerschmitt in the on the new state of the art ware stores on the low bid. good material, and they of a tool or implement is as 1930s to come to America. machinery and a number But a few years ago, the oer a distinctive style interesting as the tool Likewise, this South are still at work there company introduced an that is geometrically itself. Such is the case American knife company after forty years or more. interesting and distinctive sound while oering visu- with the Condor knives. was founded by a German Today the company works line of knives. Respected al appeal. Knife geometry Condor Tool and Knife’s sword manufacturer. I had three shifts, shipping cutlery and tool designer appears simple – present parent company, Imacasa no idea, and the research knives and tools world Arlan D. Lothe is respon- Continued on page 2 of Costa Rica, has such a was very interesting. history. Just last week I Gebr. Weyersberg learned that the great Company was founded in British-American eort Solingen, Germany. As that produced the North you all know, Solingen American P-51 Mustang steel is respected the ghter plane (American world over – everything produced, English Rolls from steel atware to mil- Royce Merlin powered) itary knives have been also had a German compo- manufactured in Solingen. nent in the form of an In 1963, the company Sheeld Knifemakers Supply PO Box 741107KW, Orange City, Florida 32763 Phone 386-775-6453 A Major Source of Supplies to the Knife Making Profession STEELS 440C, D-2, A-2, ATS-34, 304, and 416 Brass (Bar, Sheet, Rod, Tubing) 18 Percent Nickel Silver (Bar, Sheet, Rod, Tubing) Handle Bolts (22 different sizes and types in stainless, brass and 18 percent nickel silver) Stag (Extensive selection of scales, sticks and crown) Exotic Hardwoods (12 different species) Popular and Current Cutlery Related Books Square Wheel Grinders, Baldor Buffers, Heat Treating Ovens, Cone LOC, Drum Sanders, Abrasive Belts, Soldering Supplies, Pakkawood (Extensive selection), Extensive Micarta selection, and Contact Wheels. Send $5.00 for Catalog Page 2 Knife World June 2008 Continued from page 1 the edge to the material that must be cut, while allowing a good grasp on the handle. A machete or axe requires slightly dif- ferent wrist and hand angles. Mr. Lothe seems to be a master of geometry. Designing a distinctive knife while maintaining real utility is no mean feat. Let’s look at some of the common attributes of the Condor line and the pecu- liarities of each. The Poszegrip is simply a spe- cially formulated Santoprene grip, a proper formulation with enough softness to act as a cush- Be cautious when drawing the Multi Knife. a bit of ion. The color of the grip is nesse is required to draw the knife at an angle and impregnated in the handle clar the retaining strap. to allow a distinctive look and to aid in locating the blade if it is laid aside in the eld. The Santoprene also has rubber inserts to aid in feel and eliminate harsh rebound. All Condor knives feature a full tang construction with the han- dle molded over the tang. The most interesting Condor of all is the Multi Knife. Mr. Lothe sought to design a distinctive, even unique knife with many good qualities. The Multi prex means multiple use. The Multi Knife features a curved nine inch blade. A 3-3/4 inch edge on the raised drop point is suit- able for use as a light axe. The curved inside radius behind that edge features a 2-1/2 inch cutting sur- face. This surface works well in cutting rope and vegetation. Be careful . Help us by becoming a FREE “Grassroots Supporter” today. We need your voice in South Carolina where an AKTI bill hopes to overturn their 2-inch weapons statute. Sign up today! Go to www.akti.org June 2008 Knife World Page 3 etation. The knife works two hundred years. The climbing. Overall, a great well and seems to hold the handles are an unusual idea for the outdoorsman. edge for long hours even combination seldom seen The Multi Knife is a with hard use. on modern knives, but good camp knife, no ques- The Condor tool that with a proud tradition. tion about that. The surprised and impressed These are oil tanned Combat Axe is interesting my son the most is the leather handles. It would but admittedly a special- Condor Combat Axe. This be a simple matter to ized tool with appeal axe takes some getting replace the handle with mostly to collectors of such used to, in fact it reminds the wood of your choice, implements or those going me of one of the legendary but the leather handles in harm’s way. And despite Vietnam Tomahawks. The seem perfectly suitable. not having a traditional head of the axe features a There is also a long machete’s look, the rugged piercing point and knife that Lothe calls the Combat Machete will do razor sharp edge. This is Combat Machete. Think of the same job and is a must an axe to be conjured a Roman short sword, but have for those who are with. The rst thing lighter and quicker, and trekking along remote Matthew noticed was that made of modern materi- stretches, especially there is no separate han- als. This is a well propor- where vegetation is heavy dle forced into the axe tioned knife with a or when you may have to head – the head and the thoughtfully designed make a hasty shelter. handle are all one piece. leather sheath that allows I nd the Condor Tool This neatly solves the a great deal of adjust- and Knife products good problems of recutting the ment. The swing swivel on examples of the breed, handle or soaking it in the Combat Machete’s well executed of good water to be certain of a sheath is far simpler than material from outstanding proper t. The Condor those often found on designs. I predict they will Combat Axe is certainly Kydex sheaths and there nd a place in many up to camp chores and is simply nothing to go homes and camps. joins that small group of wrong with this swivel. For more information, combat axes that have The sheath swivel allows contact: Condor Tool & seen service with our for a cross draw or for Knife at 407-876-0886 or Rangers and British spe- drawing the knife against by visiting their website at cial services for well over the leg when driving or www.condortk.com. The Condor Knife and Tool Combat Axe is a well designed axe with full tang construction. There is no need to worry about the handle cracking or failing to properly seat in the axe head. Knife Auction! Featuring 100 Exquisite Rare Case Green Bones from the Bob Wurzelbacher Collection! Plus Over 150 other selected lots of knives. Friday, June 13th, 2008 Tennessee Aviation Museum Sevier County Airport, Sevierville, Tennessee Less than 10 minutes from Smoky Mountain J. BRUCE V OYLES , A UCTIONEERS Knife Works. (depending upon trac). All P. O. Box 22007 Aviation Museum exhibits will be available Chattanooga, TN 37422 for viewing at no charge to auction atten- dees! (Regular admission is $12.50). 423-238-6753 email [email protected] The leather sheaths of the Condor tools are well Beginning at 6 p.m. Preview prior to auction. TN License # 4860 designed. This swivel allows a wide range of adjust- See many of these at NKCA Show in TAL Firm #4016 ment and comfort when wearing the axe or machete. Shepardsville and at the Blade Show! visit our website for regular updates! with this edge! When rst distinctive hole in the drawing the Multi Knife blade creates a stylized www.jbrucevoyles.com from the sheath, I cut the “eye of the condor.” A say- safety strap about half in ing in El Salvador is that two. You must be aware of ‘If one travels through life the diverse cutting ability under the eye of the con- of this knife. dor they will be safe, The blade is crafted sound and victorious in from 420 stainless steel. battle.’ It works for me! Most of the Condor knives The Multi Knife fea- Accepting consignments for our August Handmade Catalog Auction are nished in a black tures a full guard. Knives already consigned for that auction includes: R. W. Loveless, Randall oxide nish that is partic- Considering the hard use (Leschorn), Jess Horn, Ron Lake (2), Buster Warenski, James B. Lile (2), Lloyd Hale (3), ularly well suited to out- a good knife is sometimes Bill Bagwell (2), Steve Johnson (3), Jim Ence, George Herron, Ralph Bone, Clyde doors work. The blade is put to, the full guard is an Fische r, Harvey Draper, Clay Gault, Red Watson (2), Ruana, Rod Chappel (2), Corbet hardened to 53 Rc. This is excellent idea. I have used Sigman, Fred Carter and others. Call now to add your knives to this important auction. neither too hard nor too the Multi Knife in various soft for outdoors use.