Fabrication of a Kephart Knife.

[Mk-211]

From Blade magazine.

Kephart Knife: Options In The Outdoors Do-All

Four repros emulate the knife Horace Kephart made famous. See what's available in this outdoors do-all.

blademag.com

 

[Nate’s Knives]

So…according to the article, a true kephart repro must be forged, not stock removal and 1095. I personally hate 1095 or Id try my hand…interesting

 

[Mk-211]

So…according to the article, a true kephart repro must be forged, not stock removal and 1095. I personally hate 1095 or Id try my hand…interesting

Mine is 80CrV2, for the added durability, other than that, it has the tapered spine, and all of the other dimensions of an original.

 

[Crag the Brewer]

They look so basic…no offense.

That's.......what makes them So Good!

 

[Blues]

The only rule is there are no rules. Otherwise, we're back to the debate as to what constitutes a "custom" vs. a "handmade" knife.

Enjoy the range.

 

[Uncle Timbo]

You know how you kick yourself for that one knife that you had and you let slip thru your fingers?.Mine is a Kephart from Mike "Sarge" McCarter.
Unfortunately he passed a few years back. Way to soon in life.
House Mountain Blades by Mike McCarter

 

[Nate’s Knives]

That's.......what makes them So Good!

I…like what ya did there please don’t take offense guys. I ask because I don’t know. Only been making knives for 2.5 years. A lot yet to learn.

 

[Alberta Ed]

Like my bare bones Electra Glide, Kepharts have everything you need and nothing you don't.

 

[transmaster]

The kephart knife reminds me of a duct knife we used back when I did HVAC work. Made quick work of the insulation and tubing with those knives.

Nate, thanks for the heads up on the Duct knife. I was looking at them. Very interesting. One reviewer commented that you shouldn't let your wife get their hands on one because you will never get it back. Duct Knives cost about $17 bucks, Klein, Milwaukee, Estwing, and others make them. I consulted with Grok and found out that only one brand is made in the USA, the Malco DK6S. 4.7 stars across 1171 reviews. $16.95, It will be here next Saturday.

 

[transmaster]

The contemporary camp knife to the Kephart is the Nessmuk, né George Washington Sears, 1821-1890, knife it is about the same size as the Kephart. The Nessmuk is more common on the antique market because, for many years, it was the official knife of the Boy Scouts. I am looking to get one, but have not yet decided from where.

!!! look at this !!! Introduced in 2023
The Kabar BK19 Becker Nessmuk, it is nicknamed the Beckmuk

 

[Blues]

My Nessmuk Trio...from several years back.

 

[Crag the Brewer]

The contemporary camp knife to the Kephart is the Nessmuk, né George Washington Sears, 1821-1890, knife it is about the same size as the Kephart. The Nessmuk is more common on the antique market because, for many years, it was the official knife of the Boy Scouts. I am looking to get one, but have not yet decided from where.

!!! look at this !!! Introduced in 2023
The Kabar BK19 Becker Nessmuk, it is nicknamed the Beckmuk

View attachment 3113629

I love Beckers.....just not this one, doesn't speak to me, idk why

 

[transmaster]

I love Beckers.....just not this one, doesn't speak to me, idk why

I don't like the scales, and as good as it is, I don't like the sheath, both of which can be changed. I ordered it, and will have it next Saturday. The design would make a nice kitchen utility knife.

 

[Arathol]

The contemporary camp knife to the Kephart is the Nessmuk, né George Washington Sears, 1821-1890, knife it is about the same size as the Kephart. The Nessmuk is more common on the antique market because, for many years, it was the official knife of the Boy Scouts. I am looking to get one, but have not yet decided from where.

!!! look at this !!! Introduced in 2023
The Kabar BK19 Becker Nessmuk, it is nicknamed the Beckmuk

View attachment 3113629

Which BSA knife was a Nessmuk? Most of the older fixed blades were from makers like Remington, Western, or Camillus, many were based on the Case Finn or the Marbles Woodcraft.

Nobody really knows much about Sears knife other than some vague writings and the woodcut in his book.

If you use the folding knife in the woodcut for scale, the blade is about 4" give or take

The knife is a large moose pattern like this, about 4 1/4" closed.
It is a contemporary of Sears, made by Miller Bros in the late19th century

The knife in the woodcut is somewhat smaller than the original Marbles Woodcraft

This Nessmuk is from Stephen Osborne at North River Forge

 

[transmaster]

As I understand it, Marbles made the original.

This is the c.1916 Marbles Woodcraft knife.

 

[Blues]

Not the original...but one I've had for a while:

 

[Arathol]

As I understand it, Marbles made the original.

This is the c.1916 Marbles Woodcraft knife.

View attachment 3113935

Yeah, that was one of the early official BSA knives, from 1933 to 1940, but its a Woodcraft, not a Nessmuk. It was designed by Forest And Stream magazine writer George Brooks in 1914. The swedge on the original design was sharpened for light chopping.
In fact its more of a Kephart than Nessmuk. Horace really liked the Woodcraft and started carrying one when they were introduced. He wrote about it in the revised 1916 edition of Camping and Woodcraft

 

[Blues]

I have a couple of the old "Forest & Stream" books.

 

[Blues]

Wasn't the original Nessmuk from Colclesser Bros. or am I misremembering?

 

[Arathol]

Wasn't the original Nessmuk from Colclesser Bros. or am I misremembering?

That was the Kephart, designed by Horace and made for him by the Colclesser Bros. Nobody knows for sure where Sears got his knife.