broke my bark river kephart...

H

halfcocked

Joined
Oct 21, 2007
Messages
88
Well, I guess this just goes to show why I don't own very many hidden tang knives. I was doing some "backyard bushcraft" and practicing my fireskills, when an inadvertant chop (forgot I was using a knife without a full-tang) resulted in a wiggly blade. I figured it was already loose, so I would see what would happen with another few chops. I didn't make it to chop four before the knife was done for.

Now, I know people will say you're not supposed to chop with a knife like this and I know that. It was a mistake and something you might easily do if you didn't have your wits about you in the wilderness and you're used to using knives that can take a little more abuse.

Anyway, I've seen talk on the forums that hidden tang knifes are just as tough if you baton with them level and hold your left leg off the ground while doing the sacred chant... but I've never seen this happen with a full-tang.

I'll be calling Bark River tomorrow to see if they'll fix it for me, or better yet, let me return it for something with a full-tang.

3001247530_d3265179b0.jpg


And I'm not sure if you can tell in the photo, but there is a fracture down the spine of the handle that is the width of the blade...

3001248264_fc87e79150.jpg


Oh, and the worst part? This was only my second time to use this knife. :(
 
UGh! So sorry to hear that man. The hidden tangs are rough sometimes. I'd be surprised if they didn't honor that under the warranty though.
 
Man, that's a bummer. I know it's hidden tang, but that tang still looks awfully short. Is the steel just epoxied in the handle, or is there any sort of pin or anything going through that hole in the tang?
 
I've seen the same thing happen with goloks and khukuris, but I'm suprised the micarta cracked.

Is the Kephart handle 2 peices glued together?

Suprising how short the tang is too.

I'm sure BRKT will fix you up if you talk to them.
 
Chopping should not be considered abuse. A fixed blade knife should be able to chop if needed. I'd agree with you on full tang knives, as that is generally the way I go.
 
Wow that tang is small, just goes to show ya never know exactly what is under the handle till it breaks eh !!!

I'm sure they will make things good for ya though !!!!
 
I'm sure BRKT will make it good. They are making some full tang Kepharts. Maybe they will just replace it with one of those.
 
Ha ha, sucka' (just kidding dude, that sucks)

Very surprising though, I've batoned a cheap little #510 (a mora) through piles of wood, and have batoned it tip first into a few ~5" saplings to fell them (this was during the 'test the new knife' period, lol)
 
major bummer man, but at least BRKT has an awesome warranty and will probably take good care of you.

i have one of their hidden tang knives, but based on the pins it looks like the tang goes all the way down to the end of the handle. i've batonned it a bunch and it has never flinched.

let us know how it goes with bark river
 
storl said:
Man, that's a bummer. I know it's hidden tang, but that tang still looks awfully short. Is the steel just epoxied in the handle, or is there any sort of pin or anything going through that hole in the tang?
Click to expand...

Just epoxy, no pin.


hollowdweller said:
Is the Kephart handle 2 pieces glued together?
Click to expand...

It's actually a 3 piece handle. It is two side slabs and a middle filler piece that has a cutout for the tang of the knife. It is the top of the middle piece that has broken loose.

Horn Dog said:
...full-tang Kephart...
Click to expand...

That would be the ideal solution. The knife cut great and was spectacular at making fuzz sticks, but I won't trust a hidden tang version again. I'm just glad it broke in the backyard and not the first night on the trail. :eek:
 
"It's actually a 3 piece handle. It is two side slabs and a middle filler piece that has a cutout for the tang of the knife. It is the top of the middle piece that has broken loose."

i think that a mortised type made with just two pieces with a slot cut into them would be much stronger and probably not give you any problems...
 
Question: If a full-tang Kephart replacement isn't possible when I talk to Bark River tomorrow, what do you guys feel is the best full-tang replacement option for general camping/bushcraft? Aurora? Northstar? Bravo-1? Canadian Special?

I'm kind of leaning towards the Canadian Special because I like the look of the blade shape, but I don't know whether those finger grooves would create hotspots during prolonged use...
 
I like BR knives, but I too am shocked at the minimal length of the tang. Is that a cost savings measure? Maybe the same thing would have happened even if the tang was longer, but I think a longer tang would have made it less likely to happen.

Seeing that makes me want to put some knives through the x-ray machine at work...
 
on the edge, you can just hold a magnet up to the handle to get an idea of where the tang ends...but yes, X-Rays are much more fun...if you do xray some knives please scan the prints and share with us ;)

as to the canadian special-i have held a couple before and they seem like good blades, but i feel like the finger grooves are left a little too square. if i were to buy one i would take a file and round them out some. as it is they might cause some hotspots until you get used to it.

if i were going to buy a bark river knife right now it would probably be the aurora. nice full sized handle and plenty of blade length for all kinds of bushcraft tasks. not too heavy but hefty and sturdy feeling.
 
Like everyone else has said, it's amazing how short that tang is. :eek: I'd probably pick the Aurora as a replacement if they give you the option.

hollowdweller said:
I've seen the same thing happen with goloks and khukuris, but I'm suprised the micarta cracked.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure that's G10 rather than micarta. You'd think they'd have at least put a pin through it.
 
Siguy is right about the canadian special handle, unless you have big hands, get a Fox River, or the Aurora which looks a bit more bushcrafty.
 
woah. That tang is extremely short.
 
Am I mistaken, or is that tang not the same length as the blank posted over at the BR forum ?





1164900343-Kephart_Blank___Knife.JPG
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top