CondorTool & Knife Swamp Romper - Camping Fixed Blade Knife - 1075 High Carbon Steel - Walnut Handle - Hand Crafted Welted Leather Sheath - Bush Crafting Knives - 4.5in Blade | 5.6oz

First of all, this is a great knife for the price no matter what the two and three star reviewers say. I'll explain.Some complain that the sheath is too tight. It is. It's new. It's supposed to be that way. The leather sheath will loosen when it gets broke in, sort of like leather shoes loosen up when you break them in. If the sheath fit perfectly out of the box it would be too loose when it gets broken in. Say thank you, Condor.Others complain about the edge and/or finish on the blade when they receive their knife. Yeah, it's icky but that's because Condor puts a clear coat on it at the factory. These knives are made in El Salvador and then shipped around the world. Left untreated 1075 steel will rust. Traveling halfway around the world on a boat and then shipped by truck to warehouses and then stored in warehouses and stores, the blades on these would undoubtedly rust if left untreated. You can easily remove the clear coat with alcohol or some other solvent. Say thank you, Condor.Some state that the knife is dull when they receive it. Sharpness is an arbitrary description. What is sharp to one person is dull to another. Three passes on a strop brought the edge of my knife up to hair shaving sharp.Some complain that the spine is not 90 degrees and it won't throw sparks from a firesteel.Clean the clear coat off and you will find the spine is perfectly ground and throws sparks like a grouchy spouse. If it is not to your liking, use a mill file to clean it up."The edge grind is rough" or "the fit and finish leaves a lot to be desired."This is a $50 bush craft knife, not $150 or $250. The sheath alone is worth at least $25. That leaves $25 for the knife. You're getting a good deal. The walnut scales on my knife fit perfectly. The grind was even and very useful. Did I mention three passes on a strop brought the edge to hair popping sharpness? Yes, I think i did. If you want a perfect knife expect to pay a perfect price.This is a very good knife. I would trust it with my life out in the woods. A gazzilion other people feel the same way. You could buy an LT Wright for $250 or buy five of these for the same money. Yes, I know, the LT Wright Genesis is made from A2 steel and is perfectly finished...and the sheath is just about the same. $50 vs $250. Your decision. You'll get what you pay for.5 stars because this is an EXCELLENT value. I haven't found anything near the quality for the same money and you won't either.Get one. Tinker with it and make it perfect.Thank you, Condor.Update:If your sheath fits too tight for you to safely remove the knife you can file down the nub of the finger guard a little. Use a small file or sand paper. Take a little at a time and test the results. Don't take too much because the leather sheath will stretch with use.

Condors Swamp Romper was purchased while on my quest for that “one” knife... This in mind, and pardoning my quest for nonexistent things; it really surprised me.The knife itself is well made albeit somewhat rough, with some flaws in the spine and wood handle. The grind is as expected, however came silly sharp and after ten passes with a 8000 grit stone, I was able to literally shave with it. I then decided to put it through the paces, using the spine to ignite fire steel (which it did with great success), batoning it through a 2” diameter peice of lumber (through which it passed with little effort), and finally testing the edge again, which it held.The sheath is actually very well made and durable. It’s fire steel loop is somewhat tight, so those using larger steels will not find this useful. The sheath has a dangler option, which may be tucked under and the belt loop configuration used in its stead. The knife fits very snugly in the sheath, but over time will loosen.Coincidentally, the sheath may also be used for other Bushcraft knives on the market, with the BOB and ESEE laser strike (Rowen) fitting interchangeably within.This said, I have about 20 Bushcraft type knives ranging in cost from $300.00 to $12.00. I would rate this knife similar to the Mora Bushcraft with a thicker blade and full tang. It is not as thick as the majority on the market, but the proof is in the function and this knife has done well for the limited amount of tasks I set before it so far.

I bought this knife a few weeks ago and have handled it much for, carving, slicing and food prep. I love the handle, it is just the right size and fits my hand perfectly. The Swamp Romper does not fatigue my hands during prolong use. The blade was extremely sharp out of box, and the scandi grind is very effective for bushcraft or camping or food prep functions (excellent for carving). The reason I'm giving it 4 stars is because of the poor finish on both blade and handle. The finish on the handle was spotty and rough so I took fine sandpaper and removed the finish and smoothed then oiled the handle. The finish on the blade was also spotty and discolored in places. But that was also easily corrected by rubbing repeatedly with metal polish. The outstanding performance of the Swamp Romper and the comfortable handle make it well worth the extra work to tune it up.Pros:Effective scandi grind - digs into wood with little effortCame very sharp out of boxEasy to resharpenVery ergonomic handle - fits large hands wellGood overall quality for the price pointExcellent leather sheathCon'sFinish problems on blade and handle - easy to correctBest uses - carving, bushcraft, camp knife, food prep

This is my third Condor tool, and man, as always, am I impressed. Battoning (oak, cedar, and pepper tree), feather-sticking, whittling... the Swamp Romper does it all. After use, I make a few passes with a fine stone, and it is ready to shave again. The spine is sharp and clean, and when run down a ferro rod, the sparks really fly! Besides the bushcraft work, I am looking forward to trying this blade out on some game skinning chores this fall.I read about some folks having issues with the sheath being too tight. Although the knife does fit nice and snug, I don’t mind, and like the security. Working the knife in and out of the sheath has improved the fit/ function. Speaking of the sheath... man, Condor does good work. Beautiful leather work and craftsmanship. I am not a fan of the dangler, so I took mine off. Love the sheath now.If you are considering the Swamp Romper, consider no more. Do it. You’ll be glad you did.