Horace Kephart

[Gossman Knives]

Anyone familiar with this gentleman? I'm working on a special project recreating the Kephart knife. The knife I made is from O1 steel with a 5" spearpoint blade, 4 1/2" handle with Brazilian ironwood scales. The sheath will be typical of the period, slip in style. I've provided a link to some interesting reading about the man.
Scott
http://library.wcu.edu/digitalcoll/kephart/

 

[JD Mandrell]

Hey Scott, I am a BIG fan of H.K., his book "Our Southern Highlanders" is an amazing read! He basically lived with these folks in Appalachia for years and wrote about their lives is a truly remarkable way.

Nice knife.....keep putting up pictures like that and I'll have to order another one!

 

[Gossman Knives]

Thanks LC. There is so much talk about Nessmuk but you don't hear much about this man. The Kephart knife is not as sexy as the Nessmuk but it really feels like a great all around utility knife.
Scott

 

[Outdoors]

Kephart's "Woodcraft and Camping" is a classic, IMO. Kep favored several different knives at different points in his career. I believe his later preference was a Marble's knife. He was also a big fan of the 3 bladed folder/belt knife/small hatchet combo.

Edited to add - Nessmuk was a good 30 years earlier and pioneered the lightweight camping movement in the early "Field and Stream" era, but I believe Kep is much more widely published . W&C was reprinted like 10 timed from the late teens til past WWII. Used copies abound, and W&C was reprinted in the late 90's or early 2000's as well. He wrote a number of other books on shooting, etc. You will also see Kep mentioned in Townsend Whelan's writings as an early experimenter with lead bullets and smokeless powder - he was a noted target shooter. One of the great outdoorsmen of the last century.

Pat

 

[Gossman Knives]

Here's a pic of the sheath I made and the ad from which I followed doing my rendition of the knife.
Scott