Designers
IN MEMORY OF ARLAN D. LOTHE (NOV 1943 - JULY 2011)
His designs and development philosophies are elemental: improve an existing product or create a new one to satisfy customer wants and needs. Arlan started A.D. Lothe & Associates, Inc. in 1988 as a consulting company for design, product development and marketing, specializing in knives, hand tools and kitchen items. Over the years Arlan designed for and consulted with many nationally known firms, and held over 20 patents, including but not limited to knives, hand tools, broadheads and knife sharpeners. He was an avid hunter, outdoorsman, woodworker, knife and axe thrower, and gourmet chef. His practical experience, as well as over 35 years of creative endeavors, led to numerous awards for his innovations. In 2006, Arlan was inducted into the International Knife Throwers Hall of Fame for “outstanding design.” He brought his vast qualifications to his partnership with Condor® in the development of first quality knives and tools for the outdoor market. He will always be honored and remembered.
JOE FLOWERS
Is responsible for many of the interesting blade designs throughout the pages of the Condor catalog. Joe writes for a myriad of magazines and publications, and contributes regularly to the outdoor community, concentrating in woodcraft and primitive living. His knowledge of outdoor gear led to consulting on equipment design and function for many companies. Joe holds a degree in Zoology with a minor in Entomology, and researches heavily into all things outdoors. Joe Flowers also teaches outdoor skills and survival classes around the US. Locally, he teaches fitness, martial arts, and organizes youth summer camps in his spare time. Joe is an avid naturalist, hunter, fisherman, herpetologist, videographer, beekeeper, knife thrower, guide, and regularly travels internationally in search of knife knowledge and unique animals. You can find Condor® on Joe’s side when he is deep in the Amazonian rain forest, or high in the deserts of Utah.
JUAN CAGAMPANG
Is a recent addition to the Condor design team. He is an outdoor industry veteran with almost fifteen years of experience designing, making and testing award-winning products that range from outdoor clothing, soft goods, tabletop, knives, tools and automotive aftermarket cargo management products. He even had a brief stint as a stuntman for a major motion picture. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including Outside and Adventure magazines, Popular Science and Uncrate. An avid and committed outdoor adventurer, Juan has rock climbed, skied, mountaineered, rafted and bike raced throughout the western United States and South America. He holds a degree in Archaeology, as well as a degree in Industrial Design. He currently lives and works in Portland, Oregon.
MATT GRAHAM
Has experience living off the land: he went for a walk one day and ended up spending six months on his own in the wild. He lives in a remote area of southern Utah where he primarily sleeps in rudimentary structures. ”You may have seen Matt use Condor products on TV. “ In 2015, Graham and Condor Tool & Knife teamed up to develop a special line of “Primitive Survival Tools”, combining Matt´s core knowledge of aboriginal skills and pioneer design with Condor´s old world hand craftsmanship. Our Primitive Survival Series Tools are built tough and will take you to the next level in your adventures.
WALTER A. MATTHEWS
Is a survival techniques specialist who also served as an officer for more than 20 years in the Chilean Marine Corps. In 2005 he founded in Chile the first Survival and Primitive Skills school. As an S.E.R.E. Instructor, he has also trained Special Forces operators on survival techniques. His tactical experience, self-reliance, primitive skills, and bushcraft tecniques in diferent locations throughout the world, give him the ability to design various types of knives and outdoor tools.
TONY LENNARTZ
Has been an icon in outdoor, survival and bushcraft for decades. His wide range of experience is based on his years of professional activity as a soldier and policeman, as well as on his lifelong passion for life in the wilderness. During many longer stays in Canada a close connection with the culture of the Native Canadians developed, whose techniques and methods he could learn there. The training courses of Tony Lennartz, which take place on a large area in the Eifel, have taught thousands of participants the foundations of survival in the wild for many years. Like no other, Tony Lennartz bundles the wilderness experience from decades and develops his strategies and techniques permanently. Thus his knife and axe designs are the essence of his knowledge and a clear commitment to his philosophy of uncompromising functionality.
JULIO DIEZ
Is the creator and sole handler of Diez Knives. He is originally from San Francisco, CA and was in the woodwork industry for 13 years before venturing into the knife world in 2010. His hobbies are generally centered around his love and interest in survival and the outdoors. His interest in gear making led him to the design and crafting of knife sheaths for right and left-handed users like himself. After much trial and error, Julio successfully made his first sheath and began to sell them online. After time, interest in his work began to grow. He then decided to officially start his company, with its original name, "The 710 Custom Sheaths", in the beginning of 2011. His skills grew continuously and after a few years, Julio made his first knife. His company name was later changed to "Diez Knives" in 2018, in order to reflect the broad spectrum of products he supplies. He now specializes in all varieties of knives, handles, and sheaths included. Each piece is made with care, creativity, and precision, whis is clearly reflected in beautiful craftsmanship.
JASON BREEDEN
He has spent his life in the hills of West Virginia. Jason grew up using knives and machetes in the Appalachian Mountains for cutting brush, surveying, making camps, canoeing, river rafting, hiking, hunting, fishing, and making trails. A true mountaineer always looking to get an “edge” on the situation, whether it be in the wilderness or on the street, Jason took to designing knives, for his adventures, over 25 years ago. Now, Breeden and Condor Tool & Knife are collaborating on designs for EDC (Every-Day-Carry), in the wilderness, on the water, or in the steel jungle. Whatever terrain you are exploring these models can get you through the challenge. These knives and tools are purposefully designed to complement each other in preparation for the most extreme tasks. Find a modern-day solution with experienced designs, real-world proven materials, and hand-made craftsmanship
GORAN MIHAJLOVIC
Goran Mihajlovic is well respected knife maker and Amazon jungle guide. For the past 24 years, he has lived in the Amazon region of Colombia. Originally growing up in Serbia and Germany, Goran travelled and lived across the globe in search of adventure. He found his home in the trees of the rainforest. There, he runs ecotourism with Tanimboca, fixes logistics for companies, and he designs and makes knives on his tree house property in the middle of the jungle. His knives are known throughout the US and Europe. Goran also works alongside Joe Flowers on knife-based bushcraft expeditions such as Bushcraft Global.
NEMANJA BOGDANOV
Nemanja was born during the breakup of what was once Yugoslavia and now calls the Republic of Serbia his home. From the harsh summers and freezing winters accompanied by a difficult first decade of life spent in the fog of war, he found refuge and comfort in the wilderness that surrounded him. Nowadays, he is a world acclaimed graphic artist, designer and traveler. Having experienced the farthest east of Japan, China and the Gobi Desert of Mongolia, to the treacherous colds of Siberia and the unique challenges of Chernobyl in Ukraine, all the way down to South America where he had the privilege to learn from the famed Matis tribe of the Amazon alongside the renowned expert in Joe Flowers.