Condor Moonshiner: Rough, But Impressive?

[@Kishqui]

Have one of these. I ground the shoulder down to have a semi-finger choil, and now it's my favorite "Do Everything" knife.

[@jd-jw8hm]

Had one of these for a couple years.. You've convinced me to dig it out & attack some cardboard again..😁

[@michaelrizzo5523]

Definitely had to keen up the edge for cardboard (and food prep), but chopping wood is no problem.

[@jorgefernandez6407]

Excellent work on that Moonshiner Mike! I like Condor knives AND swords (I have two!). They're on par (in my opinion) with Cold Steel as far as getting the best bang for your buck! Great video here as always Mike! You've made "another" beautiful blade!!!

[@michaelrizzo5523]

Thanks!

[@michaelcohen9740]

Definitely great value and customer service,I had to return a condor and they paid for shipping to El Salvador and returned me with a brand new knife,I wish they still made the moonstalker ,I'd prefer a kydex sheath to their leather all day

[@richardhenry1969]

You brought up a good point i believe is why many big knives don't live up to expectations. I believe many new knives are tempered to hard. In my experience with big blades toughness is far more important then edge retention Im a kali student. But i love all edged weapons training. I personally like big knives or short swords. Im looking into the windlass DGuard bowie. It seems to be everything ive been looking for. Especially because windlass makes many coldsteel blades. I just wish i bought it when it was under $100. But such is life. I love your martial blade breakdown. Its always good to hear someone else's ideas.

[@martinsmith9054]

It's a very good blade shape, as well as being a finely crafted overall design.

[@longrider42]

With the exception of the handle on the Moonshiner, that blade looks more like what Bowie would have used. Except no top edge, and his knife was straight back. Oh, and the way the handle end on the Moonshiner is shaped, has since been dubbed the Birds Head pommel. And Bowie knives of today, well most of them, have a Birds Head pommel. At least all of mine do.

[@powerplay4real174]

Love these Big Martial Knives series Mike.

[@michaelrizzo5523]

Thanks! More to come!

[@rustyknifelover4463]

Cool knife, thanks for covering it.

[@JamesThomas-gg6il]

Well of you're taking requests, how about the Condor Iron Path? That's the one I'm currently looking at and may just break down and get it. I've only seen a couple of videos on it, but nothing from your prospective. So I'd definitely love to see that.

[@MQuinn-eb3zz]

More of a shortsword than a big knife - have you tried a qama? Its the national sword of Georgia (the country), and looks a bit like a miniture gladius. I have a windlass steel version, but there are other makers. I think it makes an awesome offhand with a sabre.

[@Zukikipu]

Thanks for the informative presentation.

[@michaelrizzo5523]

Now that I have a lot of trees to care for, this one is one of my most impressive choppers.

[@dp97303]

i want that moonshiner knife good woodsman tool

[@michaelrizzo5523]

Big solid chopper.

[@michaelcohen9740]

Great value for the quality it is usually around $70 or less ,try buying an American knife of similar quality or even Chinese that's as good

[@JCOwens-zq6fd]

Seems pretty nice. Id prob prefer it to the hudson bay & the becker tbh. The blades on those beckers are ok but i dont like anything else about them really.

[@michaelrizzo5523]

Yeah, I recently did some mods on the BK9 and the BK10 and will put out update videos soon. The BK9 does fit in the Condor sheath if I want to ditch the nylon one it came with. BK is indeed a better blade.

[@uticacrib1664]

If you like Bowie knife history. Look up the Edwin Forrest Bowie by Bark River. I think you'd enjoy that.

[@michaelrizzo5523]

I saw that one. Might try to get my hands on one someday.

[@minnesota-hk1vp]

Thank You for sharing! Would you consider the ironpath seems similar but different some call it a bolo idk if I see that?

[@michaelrizzo5523]

Haven't handled the Ironpath but it does look more bolo/machete-like

[@rtz549]

Pretty nice knife.

[@onesky8647]

Are you considering modifying the Hudson Bay near the index finger? I’ve seen some version where it was rounded off where it comes square from the factory.

[@michaelrizzo5523]

I did that very thing about a week ago and it was a massive improvement, giving it a curved relief cut that also moves my grip up closer to the edge. I tend to post my mod updates on my Facebook page, but will be putting out a series of short mod update videos soon.

[@glynnmitchell9253]

I had the Hudson Bay also. It would be interesting if you could sharpen the first few inches of the back side also to allow better penetration. I think the original Bowie knife also has some crosscuts on the handle to improve grip - the Hudson Bay feels slippery

[@michaelrizzo5523]

@@glynnmitchell9253 I did recently change the tip geometry to make it a bit more acute, and beveled (not sharpened) the back edge. Between that and the relief cut at the base of the blade, it does stab better now. Also draws smoother.

[@AlanWakeford]

Always wanted a condor low drag.. maybe too short for you though.

[@michaelrizzo5523]

Actually, the Low Drag is high on my Condor wish list.

[@jonathandiamond6801]

Oh yeah it looks ALOT nicer blued!

[@rsimeon77]

Nice review and tests. Whats your thoughts on the condor Atrox ?

[@michaelrizzo5523]

Thanks! I had the Atrox on my wish list, but then my luck with Condor quality dropped to 50/50, and I didn't want to take the risk. And I'd absolutely have to strip off the traction coating immediately. Others have really like it though.

[@michaelcohen9740]

I have an Atrox,and imo it's excellent! It's very sharp and huge! It's almost 12 inches long and the huge grips are 2 tone micarta,and the price is usually about $130 or so ,one of the best values in a monster size sword/knife and has a kydex sheath with leather back

[@YenzHouse]

Did you ever review its cousin, the “Moonstalker”???

[@michaelrizzo5523]

Looks like a nice knife, but never got the chance.

[@longrider42]

Okay, the Hudson Bay Knife, is not even close to what James Bowie carried at the Sand Bar Fight. I thought we talked about this?

[@michaelrizzo5523]

Yes, but I am about a month behind in getting the videos out. I'll have a Hudson Bay update with new mods coming out soon. The lingering question is: Is the Hudson Bay accurate to Hudson Bay Trade Knives of the pre-Bowie era?

[@longrider42]

The Hudson Bay Fur Company, was established in 1779. So I figure since they invented the knife for the trappers they hired. The knife came out pretty soon after. Oh, and the Hudson Bay Fur Company, is/was Canadian. So yes, it predated the Sand Bar Fight, but a long ways.

[@glynnmitchell9253]

According to Bowie’s brother, the Hudson Bay is closer to the sand bar knife than what is currently recognized as a Bowie knife. I would like to see Condor follow Resin Bowie’s description of the knife. I know of no reproductions of the knife other than custom knives.

[@michaelrizzo5523]

@@glynnmitchell9253 There's the Edwin Forrest knife, but that has a 12" blade. I'm not sure if anyone currently manufactures a Sandbar Bowie to original spec, other than custom knife makers.

[@tikkidaddy]

I know its impossible unless I make it or have it made but this knife, in A2😎😍...that would be perfect IMO

[@michaelrizzo5523]

Yes! I am getting really frustrated with their steel choice, thinking these knives COULD be so much better.

[@jacobsgarage1458]

Lmfao