Am I the only one?

R

Rapt_up

Joined
May 4, 2012
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...who thinks the Kephart style knife design is unattractive?

It seems to me like the bare minimum to give a functional knife shape. Don't get me wrong I love drop points, but I like some taper and some curve, not just a bar with scales and the bare minimum grind to acheive a tip and edge.

I know it will work I can see that, it just seems like its more aimed at making a knife as easy to make as possible to maxiimize production or minimize cost rather than being optimal for any job... and ugly in my eyes to boot.

I dunno maybe I'm just a cynic... or weird... or both... :) Since it seems to be popular...
 
I understand the elegance of simplicity, and don't get me wrong its something I think is vital to good design, I'm not a bells an whistles kind of guy.

But I just don't see that it does it that well, instead it looks to me like taking a shortcut rather than elegance... But maybe thats ok too... :)

Ah hell... I guess its just me... ;) I'm ok with that.
 
On the bottom, the one that gets used and who cares what it looks like, it works very well, indeed. I wanna look at a knife I have other stuff to just look at! :D

f0arg1.jpg
 
Rapt_up said:
I understand the elegance of simplicity, and don't get me wrong its something I think is vital to good design, I'm not a bells an whistles kind of guy.

But I just don't see that it does it that well, instead it looks to me like taking a shortcut rather than elegance... But maybe thats ok too... :)

Ah hell... I guess its just me... ;) I'm ok with that.
Click to expand...

Would some sort of extra added design element let it do what it is supposed to do better? Do you perceive it as not being able to do what anything it is designed to do?

Don't get me wrong...if it doesn't "work" for you, that's cool. I'm just not getting what you don't like about it. And you brought up the subject! :D
 
It is a simple design meant for pure function. Not only was it meant to be a skinning knife and meat processor, but Nessmuk (Sears) wanted a knife that could double as an eating utensil. You don't want too aggressive a point or edge to eat your canned peas with!
 
I'm with ya, OP. I'm sure they work for their intended function, but I've never found them visually appealing at all. Life's too short to buy ugly knives. :D
 
I feel the same way about*wharncliffe blades to me they are ugly and pointless I use my tip and belly on my blades more so then the flat edge. The Kehphart is a spear point though not a drop point I do prefer drop points as I've found them to be the best blade shape for me followed by spear points.
 
jill jackson said:
On the bottom, the one that gets used and who cares what it looks like, it works very well, indeed. I wanna look at a knife I have other stuff to just look at! :D

f0arg1.jpg
Click to expand...

I love Blind Horse Knives. I gotta get me another one... I miss my small cascade. AFAIC, that's the prettiest one of the three in that pic.
 
CWL said:
It is a simple design meant for pure function. Not only was it meant to be a skinning knife and meat processor, but Nessmuk (Sears) wanted a knife that could double as an eating utensil. You don't want too aggressive a point or edge to eat your canned peas with!
Click to expand...

'Homer, what do you want?'

'Peas'

'Well that's what we all want, but what is the best way to get peace?'

'With a knife!'
 
I have to admit that a lot of knives being sold today under the name Kephart are unattractive to me, too. However, if you look at the original Kephart design, you will see that most of these are Kepharts in name only. I gave Ray Laconico an ad picture of the original Kephart and asked him to make me a copy with a 4" blade, and he did a good job. It is a simple, graceful design.
11-1-09004.jpg


In this thread you can see an image of the original ad, along with a surviving example (well used and sharpened); click on the thumbnail in Bernard's post

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/396991-Horace-Kephart-s-Colclesser-Brother-s-knife
 
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The Laconico above and the knife in kephart in the top picture are completely different as far as visual appeal.
Many knives can get praised for handling their intended purpose, but only some can do it while lookin" good
 
lambertiana said:
I have to admit that a lot of knives being sold today under the name Kephart are unattractive to me, too. However, if you look at the original Kephart design, you will see that most of these are Kepharts in name only. I gave Ray Laconico an ad picture of the original Kephart and asked him to make me a copy with a 4" blade, and he did a good job. It is a simple, graceful design.
11-1-09004.jpg


In this thread you can see an image of the original ad, along with a surviving example (well used and sharpened); click on the thumbnail in Bernard's post

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/396991-Horace-Kephart-s-Colclesser-Brother-s-knife
Click to expand...

Now thats nice looking, notice the subtle curves in the top line, and the sweep of the belly. That is a sweet simple elegant design as opposed to ones with a bar straight top line until the curve for the tip, and a blocky handle.. if they all looked like that I'd admire them too..
 
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