Best Kephart Knife?

[Blue Sky]

Picture... yes and no. Kabar has a video of Ethan Becker comparing his knife to the original that he based his design on. I provided the link although it's easy to find on the Kabar page. Virtually identical really.

Becker Kephart

Becker Kephart

www.kabar.com

Thank you! It is indeed very close to original.

Edit to add: thanks Lee D, perfect!

 

[afishhunter]

Condor Tool and Knife has a full size and a small at a price that won't bankrupt the bank. They also sell the large sans scales so you can put on whatever you want.

 

[Fonedork]

 

[mmyron1]

That is a thing of beauty.

 

[cbach8tw]

Like a Kephart style knife. My JK is,waiting to be used.

 

[Angus McGunnigle]

The becker is the most authentic, IMO. All others you have listed are wonderful knives that follow the idea well.

 

[craytab]

What are peoples thoughts on the 'best' Kaphart knife?

So far, it is the BK62.

Waiting on the Carothers version. I'll bet it is better.

 

[Danke42]

This kinda looks like it fits here.

 

[Blues]

^^^^^

Horace Kephart would hunt you down and kill you for that... D Danke42

I've visited his grave and have spiritually communed with him...so I know.

Now go and sin no more!

 

[Blues]

If you guys ever get a chance to hike along the Deep Creek trail in the Smoky's you can find Kephart's last camp and then visit the grave site in town (Bryson City).

Years ago we went by boat to try to find his old camp with a friend who had a boat on Lake Fontana. That was a fun day.

Another of Kephart's knives was very much like the Marble's "Woodcraft", a drawing of which is in the illustrations of his "Camping and Woodcraft":

The old Russell Green River "Dadley" was another knife with similar design and concept to what is often thought of as a "Kephart":

 

[Mister Coffee]

This kinda looks like it fits here.

If I'm not mistaken, that's the Horace Rambo model.

 

[Blues]

If I'm not mistaken, that's the Horace Rambo model.

He lived to regret that period...

"Rambo ain't got nothin' on me. I drew first blood!"

 

[Blue Sky]

Another of Kephart's knives was very much like the Marble's "Woodcraft", a drawing of which is in the illustrations of his "Camping and Woodcraft":

Interesting but curious, does this design come before or after the knife usually referred to as ”the Kephart”? If I read that correctly, it sounds like this one came later and replaced the others?

 

[Stelth]

Isn't that second knife a "nessmuk"?

 

[Blues]

Interesting but curious, does this design come before or after the knife usually referred to as ”the Kephart”? If I read that correctly, it sounds like this one came later and replaced the others?

I read it pretty much as you do...that the "Woodcraft" style knife was the answer he had not yet found among manufactured knives.

I believe the book was first published in 1914 or so, and Kephart died in 1931. I don't know how many years he worked on its writing.

The "Woodcraft" was introduced about 1915, so it fits that timeline.

From Field & Stream:

Around 1915, Marble made what some consider his greatest contribution to outdoor cutlery, the Woodcraft sheath knife. While Marble never gave him credit, a hunting writer named George W. Brooks claimed to have designed the first Woodcraft in 1914. The wide, upswept, 4-½-inch, flat-ground blade was his version of the perfect big game and trapping knife.

 

[Blues]

Isn't that second knife a "nessmuk"?

No, it was a Loveless design for Marble's called the Sport 99. Of course the blade pattern goes back in time.