Welcome Home...THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY

iKnife Collector

The online community of knife collectors, A Knife Family Forged in Steel

Vintage Condor 82 SSG

This Vintage Condor knife was designed by Philip Hoffman who also designed and produced Lakota knives. I have carried a Lakota Teal all stainless steel lockback knife for more than 40 years. Over the years I have posted numerous pictures of that specific knife and have also acquired numerous other Lakota knives. I have been hoping to get my hands on this particular Condor knife for quite some time now. As you can see it is a very stout looking knife that features an AUS 8a Stainless steel blade with what I believe is a canvas micarta handles, although it might be linen micarta? The bolsters and pins are also stainless steel with brass liners. The overall length is 7.5" with a 3" blade that is 1/8" thick.

Markings on the blade:
Signature etching of : Seizo Imai
SEKI JAPAN
A1-04724
Markings on the other side of the blade:
CONDOR
U.S.A.
82 SSG
PAT. PENDING
(The Pat. Pending mark and the green canvas micarta mean the knife – both handle and blade were made before 1986)

*Note: The A1-04724 marking indicates that this was the 4724th knife made from the first tooling.

I sharpened this knife for the first time since the original factory sharpening and it took a hair popping edge in hardly any time at all. I mean it is razor sharp now. However, AUS 8a steel will probably dull after very little use? Time will tell. For now, though, I am very impressed over how easy it is to sharpen and I love the way the knife allows me to choke up for up close work. It locks up like a bank vault and feels rock solid in my hand. The handle to blade ratio seems disproportionate at first glance. But the large handle allows for a great purchase and feels perfect in my hand. Of particular note is the very aggressive thumb ramp. With my index finger in the more than ample choil and thumb pressing hard on the thumb ramp the ergonomic design of this knife is fully appreciated and could not be more perfect! Kudos, Mr. Hoffman! I love your creation!

3 members like this

View Full Size

Tags: 82-SSG, Condor, Micarta, Philip-Hoffman, Seizo-Imai, More…Seki-Japan, stainless-steel

Add a Comment

You need to be a member of iKnife Collector to add comments!

Join iKnife Collector

Comment by John Bamford on October 2, 2016 at 11:33: It's a meaty knife to start with Ron and that ball bearing makes it a beast , I never thought of doing that !!

I guess it would be illegal here as well , most things are illegal here .

Comment by Ron Cooper on October 1, 2016 at 16:23: Thanks, John!

Actually, that lanyard makes this knife illegal to carry because it has a 3/4" steel ball bearing, a steely, woven into that "monkey's fist" - the ball on the end. Sailors use to carry these Monkey Fists, then called "Slungshots," as melee weapons. Here in the States they are regarded as saps or blackjacks.

This very thick and heavy knife when held upside down with the lanyard on top makes an ideal defense weapon - It becomes a fist load and a Slungshot - a lethal combination! And you never have to deploy the blade. Observe...

So you see, this knife will never leave the house. At least not with this lanyard attached, anyway.

But I will graciously accept your compliments on both the knife and the lanyard. For they are worthy of praise...just not in the eyes of our repressive legal system. lol

Comment by John Bamford on October 1, 2016 at 14:02: A great looking knife you have there Ron and a fabulous lanyard as usual .

Comment by Ron Cooper on October 1, 2016 at 13:05: Thanks, Dennis! I appreciate your comment. I guess because I have grown so accustomed to sharpening S30 or 35V super steels that I was actually shocked at how fast I was able to sharpen this AUS 8a. And when I say sharp, I mean...REALLY sharp!

Thanks, again, my friend!

Comment by Dennis Hibar on October 1, 2016 at 4:36: That is very nice Ron. Yes, the blade edge will dull somewhat quickly .... but, that said, I kind of like AUS 8. My favorite fall garden teardown knife has an AUS 8 blade. Cutting down plants and digging in stone filled dirt takes a toll on the blade ... dulling it and causing come edge chipping. Fortunately, it is very easy and quick to repair and resharpen to a superb edge.