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- Mar 19, 2007
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Bark River Kephart and Kephart Companion:
Kephart Companion:
Steel: A2
Rockwell Hardness: 58 Rc
Handle Material: Black Canvas Micarta
Overall Length: 6.757
Blade Length from tip to Ricosso: 2.697 Inches.
Handle Length from butt to Ricosso: 4.060
Steel Width at Spine of Ricosso: 0.140
Steel Width at blade in front of Ricosso: 0.125
Blade Height at Ricossa: 0.889
Handle Height at Butt: 0.862
Handle Height at Palm Swell: 0.779
Handle Height at Finger Swell: 0.640
Handle Size at Butt: 0.680
Handle Size at Palm Swell: 0.649
Handle Size at Index Finger Swell:0.574
Overall Impressions:
This is my second BRKT knife so I have come to expect a certain amount of quality with their knives. Although I picked this one up pre-owned it was unused. I personally do not understand people that collect BRKT knives as I feel they are meant to use - but hey - that is me, and I am sure collectors get enjoyment out of examining their horde!
I was not disappointed as I examined this knife for the first time. The scales melt into the steel and the pins fit perfectly. I know there is likely to be some shifting in this material over time - but a little shifting is to be expected.
Then I got the knife - the first thing I did after inspecting the craftsmanship was excellent. The only thing that I noticed with this knife, as I did with my Aurora, is that there has been no stropping to the edge of the blade.
I am not sure you can see it in the picture above - but the edge was a little rough. It is a total nit pic, and the edge was smooth the thumb nail, but I do with they had one person sitting with a strop and some compound to make the edge nicely shined and sharp when it comes to you.
The first thing I did was to sharpen the blade. I love to do this to get to know the knife, get to know the edge, and put my edge on it. I ran it on 600 grit wet dry to set my edge, then 1000, then 2000. I brought it over to my JRE Strop Bat and ran it on Black, Green, White, then blank leather.
This took about 20 minutes because of one rough spot in particular on the blade. This was simply a slight angle correction and I did not have to remove a lot of material to do so. I love taking my time when I do this - it is just nice to spend some time with your new steel.
Here is what it looked like when I got done with the edge:
I also cleaned up the handle with some baking soda as the polishing process can make the handle really slick. This was no exception - but after just a little cleaning I had a grippy handle. It makes tiny swirl marks on the rivets - but again - this is a user.
It was ready to be tested at that point.
Using the Companion:
I ordered this as a true companion to the Kephart FT that I have coming in. With that said - this knife is a capable little knife. There are two important design additions that really make this knife work like a knife much larger than it could.
The first thing is the butt of the knife. The butt has rear quillion that allows your palm to grab this plunge when making a hard cut. When you cut a lot of material, some smaller knives can feel like they want to slip out of your hand because the butt portion of the knife is either even to the rest of the height of the handle or it even tapers. This knife, using the rear quillion at the butt allows for a very good grip.
Another thing that I liked about this knife is that the front quillion leaves the handle and becomes part of the Ricosso. This Ricosso / front quillion allows you to get your full hand on this small knife (I have size L gloves) and make larger cuts than you normally could.
When you put your hand on the knife and try to make a large cut the knife always requires that you put your thumb along the spine to add pressure to the blade going forward. In this configuration you can make larger cuts than you should with a small blade. It is not comfortable to do for a long time - but in a pinch this knife would get through many a problem.
Because of the thinner blade stock (in comparison to my Aurora and I would wager my FT Kephart) the blade really slices easily. I used it to take the bark off of a piece of wood and it did so very easily. The Aurora can take more material and it able to hog material off easier, of course, but the Companion was quite capable.
Where it really excelled was in the fine work. I cleaned up my trap portions with it, sharpened sticks, and made dimples with it. I even battoned the little guy when making a shelf for my split stick deadfall.
This is where Horace was really thinking. This little knife gets into all those places where a larger blade cannot. The spear point makes drilling, cutting, and fine work a breeze. It also means that you have more control because the fine portion of the knife is closer to your hand. When your thumb is on the back of the spine, you can really see where the fine details are made easier and with a lot of control.
The edge retention is excellent and after a lot of work still sizzled through paper. A little strop and it is good as new. I love D2 for this quality. When I used it to eat later than night, of course, you need to watch anything getting on this blade that will discolor it. A little steak sauce with vinegar can add spots. I don't really care as this was meant to be a user, and you can buff it out VERY easily - but it is a possibility with this type of steel.
The Sheath:
This sheath is a Sharpshooter, like all have been from BRKT for the last few years. This was made like the rest, 6-7 ounce leather stained a light brown while at the tannery, machine sewed with 4 ounce white nylon, and riveted with 3/16 lanyard tubes. It came with a firesteel loop. The welt was made either too short or with a drain hole (this is the first to have a drain hole - but since this is more of a fish and foul I could see the use of a drain hole).
The knife fit fairly well (a little loose) and was very competent. I looked a little out of square and sort of rounded toward the top. This sheath would serve a lifetime and I am anxious to try out its piggy back to the Kephart sheath.
Overall Impressions:
This knife is like what I am used to from BRKT. A nice user, easy to maintain, nicely priced, and well suited to its tasks.
TF
Kephart Companion:
Steel: A2
Rockwell Hardness: 58 Rc
Handle Material: Black Canvas Micarta
Overall Length: 6.757
Blade Length from tip to Ricosso: 2.697 Inches.
Handle Length from butt to Ricosso: 4.060
Steel Width at Spine of Ricosso: 0.140
Steel Width at blade in front of Ricosso: 0.125
Blade Height at Ricossa: 0.889
Handle Height at Butt: 0.862
Handle Height at Palm Swell: 0.779
Handle Height at Finger Swell: 0.640
Handle Size at Butt: 0.680
Handle Size at Palm Swell: 0.649
Handle Size at Index Finger Swell:0.574
Overall Impressions:
This is my second BRKT knife so I have come to expect a certain amount of quality with their knives. Although I picked this one up pre-owned it was unused. I personally do not understand people that collect BRKT knives as I feel they are meant to use - but hey - that is me, and I am sure collectors get enjoyment out of examining their horde!
I was not disappointed as I examined this knife for the first time. The scales melt into the steel and the pins fit perfectly. I know there is likely to be some shifting in this material over time - but a little shifting is to be expected.
Then I got the knife - the first thing I did after inspecting the craftsmanship was excellent. The only thing that I noticed with this knife, as I did with my Aurora, is that there has been no stropping to the edge of the blade.
I am not sure you can see it in the picture above - but the edge was a little rough. It is a total nit pic, and the edge was smooth the thumb nail, but I do with they had one person sitting with a strop and some compound to make the edge nicely shined and sharp when it comes to you.
The first thing I did was to sharpen the blade. I love to do this to get to know the knife, get to know the edge, and put my edge on it. I ran it on 600 grit wet dry to set my edge, then 1000, then 2000. I brought it over to my JRE Strop Bat and ran it on Black, Green, White, then blank leather.
This took about 20 minutes because of one rough spot in particular on the blade. This was simply a slight angle correction and I did not have to remove a lot of material to do so. I love taking my time when I do this - it is just nice to spend some time with your new steel.
Here is what it looked like when I got done with the edge:
I also cleaned up the handle with some baking soda as the polishing process can make the handle really slick. This was no exception - but after just a little cleaning I had a grippy handle. It makes tiny swirl marks on the rivets - but again - this is a user.
It was ready to be tested at that point.
Using the Companion:
I ordered this as a true companion to the Kephart FT that I have coming in. With that said - this knife is a capable little knife. There are two important design additions that really make this knife work like a knife much larger than it could.
The first thing is the butt of the knife. The butt has rear quillion that allows your palm to grab this plunge when making a hard cut. When you cut a lot of material, some smaller knives can feel like they want to slip out of your hand because the butt portion of the knife is either even to the rest of the height of the handle or it even tapers. This knife, using the rear quillion at the butt allows for a very good grip.
Another thing that I liked about this knife is that the front quillion leaves the handle and becomes part of the Ricosso. This Ricosso / front quillion allows you to get your full hand on this small knife (I have size L gloves) and make larger cuts than you normally could.
When you put your hand on the knife and try to make a large cut the knife always requires that you put your thumb along the spine to add pressure to the blade going forward. In this configuration you can make larger cuts than you should with a small blade. It is not comfortable to do for a long time - but in a pinch this knife would get through many a problem.
Because of the thinner blade stock (in comparison to my Aurora and I would wager my FT Kephart) the blade really slices easily. I used it to take the bark off of a piece of wood and it did so very easily. The Aurora can take more material and it able to hog material off easier, of course, but the Companion was quite capable.
Where it really excelled was in the fine work. I cleaned up my trap portions with it, sharpened sticks, and made dimples with it. I even battoned the little guy when making a shelf for my split stick deadfall.
This is where Horace was really thinking. This little knife gets into all those places where a larger blade cannot. The spear point makes drilling, cutting, and fine work a breeze. It also means that you have more control because the fine portion of the knife is closer to your hand. When your thumb is on the back of the spine, you can really see where the fine details are made easier and with a lot of control.
The edge retention is excellent and after a lot of work still sizzled through paper. A little strop and it is good as new. I love D2 for this quality. When I used it to eat later than night, of course, you need to watch anything getting on this blade that will discolor it. A little steak sauce with vinegar can add spots. I don't really care as this was meant to be a user, and you can buff it out VERY easily - but it is a possibility with this type of steel.
The Sheath:
This sheath is a Sharpshooter, like all have been from BRKT for the last few years. This was made like the rest, 6-7 ounce leather stained a light brown while at the tannery, machine sewed with 4 ounce white nylon, and riveted with 3/16 lanyard tubes. It came with a firesteel loop. The welt was made either too short or with a drain hole (this is the first to have a drain hole - but since this is more of a fish and foul I could see the use of a drain hole).
The knife fit fairly well (a little loose) and was very competent. I looked a little out of square and sort of rounded toward the top. This sheath would serve a lifetime and I am anxious to try out its piggy back to the Kephart sheath.
Overall Impressions:
This knife is like what I am used to from BRKT. A nice user, easy to maintain, nicely priced, and well suited to its tasks.
TF
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