Another Classic. This, a Very Inexpensive One.

L

leghog

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Aug 10, 2013
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As many here know I'm whittlin' my collection down to scout patter folders (and a select very few others) and fixed blades (mostly what I consider classic patterns).

I've wanted to pick up a Kephart, but everything other than the Condor offering was just not quite right. So I broke down and ordered a Salvadoran Condor Kephart. Sure seems true to style, and that was important to me.

0000 steel wool and Brasso and a little elbow grease took off the painted on black blade finish in short order. Another bundle of 0000 steel wool soaked in mineral oil smoothed out the hardwood slabs (reminiscent of walnut) in just a few minutes. Wet forming the sheath is presenting a challenge, and it needs to be formed as the sheath has absolutely no retention. Tip the sheath over and the knife slides right out of it. In a few days after I get the sheath formed I'll reprofile the blade tip (sharpener missed that detail) and sharpen the edge so I can see if the knife is satisfactory in work.

As far as design I'm happy with it as it certainly measures true to proper form. And at less than $31 after taxes and shipped, I'm so far happy with it. I do think I'll have a truer-to-form sheath made for it if I can find a sheath maker around here.

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Leghog...been often tempted by the Condor, but yup had to put some elbow grease on it. You did a very job on that. Classic already!
Could remind me on the spec's of a true Kephart?thanks
 
4.25-4.5" blade of 1/8"carbon stock 1" wide with 4.5" walnut handle with 3 pins on full tang taper toward tang with integral lower guard incorporating both the steel and the handle.

From Horace Kephart's Camping and Woodcraft:

"Its blade and handle are each 4 1/2 inches long, the blade being 1 inch wide, 1/8th inch thick on the back, broad pointed, and continued through the handle as a hasp and riveted to it. It is tempered hard enough to cut green hardwood sticks, but soft enough so that when it strikes a knot or bone it will, if anything, turn rather than nick; then a whetstone soon puts it in order. The Abyssinians have a saying, “If a sword bends, we can straighten it; but if it breaks, who can mend it? ” So with a knife or hatchet.”

“The handle of this knife is of oval cross-section, long enough to give a good grip for the whole hand, and with no sharp edges to blister one’s hand. It has a 1/4 inch knob behind the cutting edge as a guard, but there is no guard on the back, for it would be useless and in the way. The handle is of light but hard wood, 3/4 inch thick at the butt and tapering to 1/2 inch forward, so as to enter the sheath easily and grip it tightly.”
 
That Condor Kephart has the makings of a sweet camping knife.

The black finish came off mine fairly readily with acetone. The Condor sheath holds the knife fairly well. If I hold the sheath upside down and shake it, the knife will rattle a bit and come out about an inch in thirty or forty seconds of shaking. I think I could get it to fall all the way out, but it would take a while. I can see where there could be enough variation among individual examples that a sheath might not hold a knife in, or where mine could loosen up in use.

If I had to do it over, I would spend a little bit more and buy the knife from Baryonyx. For a few bucks, Benjamin (Forty-two Blades) will thin and sharpen the blade to an edge that is way beyond my meager skills. He just sent me an Old Hickory butcher knife/machete that is 14" of disarming* hair-shaving goodness. As it is, my Condor Kephart remains a work in progress. I am sure it will be worth the effort, as the knife feels so light and good in the hand.

*If you saw Elstin Limehouse wield his BBQ knife in Justified, you will know what I mean.
 
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