Buck Kephart?

Uncle Timbo

Uncle Timbo

Joined
Nov 23, 2005
Messages
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I was wondering if Buck ever made a Kephart inspired knife? So I sent them an email and was told to check out the Compadre Camp Knife which I did. Being as fond as I am about the Kepharts, the Compadre just doesn't do it for me. Nice knife, don't get me wrong, but it's not a Kephart.
Do you think Buck ever will create one?
 
Horace Kephart (d.1931) is sometimes referred to as the founding father of Bushcraft. A writer, outdoorsman, and frequent contributor to Field & Stream. Even though it is not to your liking as a faithful reproduction of an original Kephart, the Compadre is still not a bad representation of the type of camp knife he would embody. Other manufacturers may make more exact copies of known examples of his knives. I'm kinda impressed that someone at Buck knew what a Kephart was enough to recommend the Compadre.

But overall the design of most of the Kephart knives involves a handle made out of wood that is about 4 to 5 inches long and has a butt that is 0.75 inches thick. Then, the length of the blade is also the same as the handle with a width that is about 1 inch and a thickness that is about 1/8 inches.
Klephart knife.jpeg

The 9.5" Compadre has a 4.5" drop point blade .15" thick. SK Blades had a full flat grind version in D2 steel called the Frontier.
Compadre.jpg
 
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funny ya post this. i was gonna the other day...as a come on Buck give us a 5160 Kephart....

I have a Carothers in aebl and micarta...and its maybe the best built Kephart out there....they have a delta 3v version too and in walnut if wanted for original sake. I also have a Becker 62 and its a great version as well...modeled off an original Kephart......

id like to see Buck do a run in 5160 and wood...id be all over a couple of them. for anyone who hasn't handled this knife...it is just a great design.

20220717_160423.jpg
picture of the Carothers for ref.....cause i had one on my phone of it.....
 
I'm kinda impressed that someone at Buck knew what a Kephart was enough to recomend the Compadre.
DeSotoSky DeSotoSky -- loved this thought.
The Compadre is a wonderful knife and I love that it comes in 5160 steel. But it's just not a spear point. I'm sure that I would be well prepared if I was lucky enough to have one strapped on my side out in the wild blue yonder. I guess I like more of a conventional type.
Same knife in both photos.
 

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A nip here and a tuck there is all it would take. Buck could make a Compadre Kephart for sure. But will they...

Stephen at SK Blades would have heard us. Here is his Frontier, our Frontier. We helped make this. A great knife.


Buck%2B104%2B110%2B501%2B-%2B04.jpg


Buck%2B104%2B110%2B501%2B-%2B03.jpg
 
Uncle Timbo said:
I replied back to Buck and said, maybe it's time has come? We'd love to see Buck come out with a Kephart inspired knife in 5160.
Maybe if enough of us send an email to them?
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they are kinda popular enough right now....if bark river can sell out of them quickly at their price points and not so great history.....Buck should be able to sell some. I know id buy two minimum, if close to original design......
 
BuckShack said:
A nip here and a tuck there is all it would take. Buck could make a Compadre Kephart for sure. But will they...

Stephen at SK Blades would have heard us. Here is his Frontier, our Frontier. We helped make this. A great knife.


Buck%2B104%2B110%2B501%2B-%2B04.jpg


Buck%2B104%2B110%2B501%2B-%2B03.jpg
Click to expand...

Even thought I was a relative newcomer to SKBlades just before their swan song from Buck cutting them off, I do miss them as well and what might have been if
Buck had continued to support them.

I consider myself lucky to have found them in time to at least get the Frontier and the Ranger.
 
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caquino said:
Geez... :rolleyes: My brain said SKblades but by the time it got to my fingers, BKblades came out... fixed it. The brain is a bit scrambled lately... been taking lessons on learning Morse Code and studying for the test to get a Technician class Ham radio license.
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No problem brother. I get tired of my phone changing what I say. I'm very guilty of not proofreading what I type.
Good morning to all you Bucksters. I wonder if anyone sent Buck an email about the Buck Kephart?
 
I have and like my Frontier, but it is not very close to a Kephart at all. There are a lot of great Kephart knives available.

They have a limited market, because they seem overpriced and plain. It takes a special person to appreciate the design and realize the subtle details that make it great and worth the price.

I don’t think a Buck Kephart would sell well.

I like the idea of a DM113 more. jbmonkey jbmonkey
 
eveled said:
I have and like my Frontier, but it is not very close to a Kephart at all. There are a lot of great Kephart knives available.

They have a limited market, because they seem overpriced and plain. It takes a special person to appreciate the design and realize the subtle details that make it great and worth the price.

I don’t think a Buck Kephart would sell well.

I like the idea of a DM113 more. jbmonkey jbmonkey
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DM113.
I think that would sell.
I've been thinking of replicating it myself.
I was thinking 5160 would be nice. As I recall David liked that steel.
But I'm thinking his knife was probably 420hc.
I gotta just buy a 103 and put a belt on the Ken Onion sharpener and go for it.

If it doesn't work out, a drop point 103 might be interesting.
 
GPyro said:
DM113.
I think that would sell.
I've been thinking of replicating it myself.
I was thinking 5160 would be nice. As I recall David liked that steel.
But I'm thinking his knife was probably 420hc.
I gotta just buy a 103 and put a belt on the Ken Onion sharpener and go for it.

If it doesn't work out, a drop point 103 might be interesting.
Click to expand...
think David's knife was 440c but I dont remember for sure.....

David did like Bucks 440c and 425m. 425m is kinda harder to get but a 440c version would be great.....
 
Funny my vegetable stand has a knife store with a local knife maker inside. I always say i bought $90 worth of vegetables and got a free knife.3EE72425-CCB6-4FE9-8FF3-246BA926C054.jpeg
He did a small run of about 20 kepharts and had 6 not spoken for. I bought a micarta handled version and then this one.
 
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I bought the Compadre and love it. A month ago i asked the knife maker about his axes and he said he wasn’t making anymore axes but had some kepharts in production. So i looked it up and then realized it reminded me of my compadre? Being from the Mountains here in NC where Kephart lived it just seemed a no brainer. I find i wear fixed blade as do a lot of men here in this area. I am enjoying wearing my kephart. Sorry buck but make a kephart with a simple open brown sheath with a non shiny blade. Mine is 1095 acid wash finish.C8510DDA-455B-4566-935A-6FC0112AE810.jpeg
Picture of the axe for reference. And he sold them all before i could get one 🥴😢
 
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Buck did a Nessmuk collaboration with Thompon Center years ago. I had one, sold it to another member here IIRC. Think they only made 150 of them or so. Nice knife and I think they could make some $$ on a knife like that.
 
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