BK62 in its Natural Habitat

Mike McCarter

Mike McCarter

Joined
Oct 20, 2016
Messages
189
Took one of my 62’s into Kephart Country .... well the Elkmont area of the GSMNP so just a stone’s throw away. A friend and I did a little hiking, fishing, and backcountry camping.

I’ve used the 62 mostly in the kitchen. This is the first time it’s been in the woods. Shaved some tinder but that’s about all. Of course, it excelled. My friend took his custom and I really like to see somebody get one of my knives dirty.

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The Little River near Huskey Gap Trail with an old bridge support in the background.

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I added a dangler loop attached with a D ring with removable pin. Makes waist carry with a pack a little easier and I didn’t have to alter the factory sheath. Dye matched well and the black nickel snaps are fairly close in color to the rivets in the sheath.
 
I like that dangler attachment, I went a little more rudimentary with my "danglar" attachement using a huge carabiner so I can get some of my big blade hip sheaths into a dangler configuration. I have a loop of leather for the other end of the carbiner. Clearly, you did a far better job. I like the removable pin idea. Usually I get snaps on the strap but the D-ring is left.

It's cool seeing your custom next to a BK62. Kind of what a replica looks like from hand made vs. manufacturing capabilities. Mike McCarter Mike McCarter is yours completely sans a ricasso? It looks really clean.
 
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bikerector said:
I like that dangler attachment, I went a little more rudimentary with my "danglar" attachement using a huge carabiner so I can get some of my big blade hip sheaths into a dangler configuration. I have a loop of leather for the other end of the carbiner. Clearly, you did a far better job. I like the removable pin idea. Usually I get snaps on the strap but the D-ring is left.

It's cool seeing your custom next to a BK62. Kind of what a replica looks like from hand made vs. manufacturing capabilities. Mike McCarter Mike McCarter is yours completely sans a ricasso? It looks really clean.

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Thanks! Mine have a small ricasso - a bit more so than the 62.

The carabiner is quick, easy and it works. I like the ability to add / remove a D ring, carabiner, etc.
 
I was in the Smoky's yesterday for the day. I just love the park. What a jewel! Last trip I took the BK-62, this time I took a handmade one. Carrying a Kephart there just feels right. It is certainly Kephart country.

Added: Nice photos Mike. They show both the knife and the country.
 
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Thanks, Aikiguy, and copy away. I think a lot of things could work - D ring, carabiner, key ring, etc.

I keep forgetting we are practically neighbors, Rimfire. Glad you got to the Smokies .... a jewel indeed. Elkmont Campground, Laurel Falls Trailhead, and Sugarlands Visitor Center were all extra crowded when we came out of the woods midday Tuesday. We’ve had a few trips planned this year so far and had to cancel for various reasons. I don’t get there nearly enough.
 
Mike McCarter said:
Took one of my 62’s into Kephart Country .... well the Elkmont area of the GSMNP so just a stone’s throw away. A friend and I did a little hiking, fishing, and backcountry camping.

I’ve used the 62 mostly in the kitchen. This is the first time it’s been in the woods. Shaved some tinder but that’s about all. Of course, it excelled. My friend took his custom and I really like to see somebody get one of my knives dirty.

YRLx5EA.jpg

Side x side

x5FvIOC.jpg

The Little River near Huskey Gap Trail with an old bridge support in the background.

G0sGuiF.jpg


xd2ese3.jpg

I added a dangler loop attached with a D ring with removable pin. Makes waist carry with a pack a little easier and I didn’t have to alter the factory sheath. Dye matched well and the black nickel snaps are fairly close in color to the rivets in the sheath.
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Really like the looks/quality of Your scales on your custom.... It's almost a year, I'm surprised we haven't seen aftermarket ones available? I really want to replace my factory soft ones with something more solid.
Your's look amazing.
 
Saw this Copperhead in the park Tuesday when I was out in the woods. Trying to remember the last time I saw a poisonous snake inside the park.... been a long time. It is a reminder to watch where you step when in the woods. Not the greatest picture (head is slightly out of focus), but I wasn't going to move it around to pose for the picture.
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Yikes! I’ve only ever seen one snake in the Smokies over the years - a good sized Timber Rattler a couple years ago. Stepped up on a rock overlook and saw him sunning down below.

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Saw 4 snakes, including 2 copperheads lying on the trail on my last trip to the Big South Fork. Every stick, vine and root looked like a snake on that trip.
 
I have no problem with snakes, poisonous or not.... but I don't really like to see them where I'm about to plant my next step. Big South Fork is no surprise with snakes as I spent years in SE KY and saw many timber rattle snakes and would run onto a copperhead from time to time. The copperheads tend to just lay there rather than moving. I have pictures over the years, but everything changed when things went digital and all of my old pictures are just stored in boxes (thousands of slides).

If you want to see lots of snakes potentially, go to the Red River Gorge in KY. That place is infested! It is a favorite of snake folks. Not for me.
 
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Mike McCarter said:
....I keep forgetting we are practically neighbors, Rimfire. Glad you got to the Smokies .... a jewel indeed. Elkmont Campground, Laurel Falls Trailhead, and Sugarlands Visitor Center were all extra crowded when we came out of the woods midday Tuesday. We’ve had a few trips planned this year so far and had to cancel for various reasons. I don’t get there nearly enough.
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I noticed that there seemed to be an awful lot of folks out and about for a Tuesday in the SMNP. I may make a run there before the 4th, but there will likely be even more people then. It is not the number of people, it's the wildlife traffic jams that happen because of a combination of lots of cars and people too lazy to get out of their cars and just stop in the middle of the road. I know I have been to that exact spot with the old bridge abutment. That is probably a remnant of the railroad in Elkmont during the early 1900's. I believe that was one of the last active logging operation areas in that part of the Park.

I always carry a knife when I'm there, but seldom really need to use one. You build a nice reproduction of the original kephart and probably closest to the original.
 
Thank you, Xr6x!

Yep, Rimfire, we thought that same thing about Tuesday. I bet it will be really crowded there this coming week. Hope you can work in a trip. I still have a couple dozen bug bites to remind of my recent trip...

I think I've read the Little River Railroad (and Lumber Co.) operated just a few more years after the park was founded in 1934. Thanks again!
 
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