I'm switching teams bros, don't judge.

[Lodd]

My current setup for everything to with wood is: Normal fixed blade knife (with a thin blade!), small axe/hatchet, light folding saw and SAK.

I carry some paracord in a bracelet around my wrist. If I go camping, it's probably in my bag somewhere else. I also usually have a firesteel somewhere, but it's my backup. My BIC lighter is way better to use most of the time.

I haven't yet met a situation these tools couldn't handle. (Obviously I have other gear depending on the trip).

For the fixed blade I can very much recommend the BK62 Kephart (but do note it's not stainless, which isn't always suitable) or the Benchmade 200 Puukko. Don't take a knife with a thicker blade then the Puukko. It won't perform well. My favourite knife is a custom, so it's not mentioned here.

For an example of what I think is a bloated, overbuilt survival knife: The TOPS knives BOB. I have it in 154CM. Built like a tank, but it doesn't cut well at all. There are other flaws as well.

 

[22-rimfire]

My current setup for everything to with wood is: Normal fixed blade knife (with a thin blade!), small axe/hatchet, light folding saw and SAK.

I carry some paracord in a bracelet around my wrist. If I go camping, it's probably in my bag somewhere else. I also usually have a firesteel somewhere, but it's my backup. My BIC lighter is way better to use most of the time.

I haven't yet met a situation these tools couldn't handle. (Obviously I have other gear depending on the trip).

For the fixed blade I can very much recommend the BK62 Kephart (but do note it's not stainless, which isn't always suitable) or the Benchmade 200 Puukko. Don't take a knife with a thicker blade then the Puukko. It won't perform well. My favourite knife is a custom, so it's not mentioned here.

For an example of what I think is a bloated, overbuilt survival knife: The TOPS knives BOB. I have it in 154CM. Built like a tank, but it doesn't cut well at all. There are other flaws as well.

You could do a lot worse than a Kabar Becker BK-62. The OP wants carbon steel.... there you go!

I take along a small Silky folding saw on more distant hikes (usually just long days). I know it would be easier to process firewood with it than a SAK saw. I dropped the hatchet completely as I never used it except car camping. The "kitchen sink" goes along car camping....

The over built phenomena is I think a result of manufacturers/makers responding to the market place trends. I really like the White River Backpacker Pro knife, but it would be so much better in a thinner stock steel.

 

[Lodd]

I agree. If the carbon steel used is fine for your needs, the BK62 is pretty much the perfect knife. It does everything except batonning. I take the folding saw and hatchet because I like to mess about with bits of wood. Whether that is building a campfire, or some woodworking. The hatchet and saw make big chunks of wood into smaller ones. I wouldn't baton with the BK62 if I could help it.

 

[unwisefool]

You should do yourself a favor and try a Carothers field knife. You can thank me later.

 

[mb>]

You should do yourself a favor and try a Carothers field knife. You can thank me later.

Yep. Or an EDC. You can cord wrap the EDC if’n you wanna.

Nathan even has a Kephart on the white board.

 

[Houlahound]

A few posters pointed to the Kephart which i hadn't seen before. I would want a swedge on it to get more point and a bigger guard on the bottom of the handle.

 

[22-rimfire]

A few posters pointed to the Kephart which i hadn't seen before. I would want a swedge on it to get more point and a bigger guard on the bottom of the handle.

Then it wouldn't be a Kephart, perhaps Kephart-like. The shape works very well for a general purpose woods knife. It probably does not excel in anything other than you have a strong tip.

 

[Houlahound]

Then it wouldn't be a Kephart, perhaps Kephart-like. The shape works very well for a general purpose woods knife. It probably does not excel in anything other than you have a strong tip.

If that's the case then Bowie knives don't exist.

Good luck if you want to hitch yourself to that wagon.

 

[22-rimfire]

If that's the case then Bowie knives don't exist.

Good luck if you want to hitch yourself to that wagon.

What wagon is that? Bowie or Kephart? I have five Kepharts right now. I like them a lot. Post #23 shows a pretty accurate representation of the original Kephart that Horace Kephart designed. But there are lots of knives that are similar and practical.

 

[eveled]

A few posters pointed to the Kephart which i hadn't seen before. I would want a swedge on it to get more point and a bigger guard on the bottom of the handle.

Believe it or not. It doesn’t need a guard. It has that single finger groove. The handle also gets fatter on the sides at the ricasso. It’s very secure in hand.

The Kephart knife is a work of art. The Becker version is the best production Kephart made.

 

[benchwarmer380]

If that's the case then Bowie knives don't exist.

Good luck if you want to hitch yourself to that wagon.

Bowie knives exist.

The difference here is that the design features that make up a Bowie knife are much less defined and more open to interpretation. Think of a kephart like a Fairbairn–Sykes dagger. While there will likely be some variation from maker to maker, there are also key elements to the design that stay the same to make a FS dagger a Fairbairn–Sykes. Same with a Kephart.

 

[Houlahound]

How do you define a Bowie at all and how much variation do you accept on a Kephart ?

I doubt many new Kephart knives have identical grinds and steel/ materials as the original.

Who defines this line where a contemporary rendition of a knife type is no longer the same knife type.

 

[benchwarmer380]

How do you define a Bowie at all and how much variation do you accept on a Kephart ?

I doubt many new Kephart knives have identical grinds and steel/ materials as the original.

Who defines this line where a contemporary rendition of a knife type is no longer the same knife type.

Who? Not sure. I suppose the community or even the eye of the beholder. Although if it's too far outside the norm, the former may disagree with the latter.

Google search bowie knife and then search Kephart. There is variation in each to be sure, but it's clear that one has much more variation than the other.

 

[22-rimfire]

How do you define a Bowie at all and how much variation do you accept on a Kephart ?

I doubt many new Kephart knives have identical grinds and steel/ materials as the original.

Who defines this line where a contemporary rendition of a knife type is no longer the same knife type.

I have no idea who defines such. Horace Kephart was open to various designs but his design was dubbed a Kephart by the factory. I feel sure he would be comfortable with makers today using better blade steels than were available in his day. In terms of steel used and the edge grind, that is where the variation occurs today. Bark River had a Kephart with a bottom guard for a while. It really was not a Kephart any more, but it was Kephart-like with it spear point.

Andy Roy's Kephart is not really a kephart. But he calls it a Kephart. It is not just a name. It has certain design elements that are incorporated to make the design. There are lots of variations in bowie knives. People call the BK-2 a bowie knife and I question that.... But makers have a great deal of latitude in the bowie design. It is essentially a largish clip point knife.

It is actually a very functional design for the woods. It is not a skinner or a chopper. It is more of a general woods knife with a strong tip. I could see digging roots (ginseng and such) with the knife especially back in the day. I could see cleaning a trout for dinner or even skinning small game in limited numbers. But I don't think it's designed to be a skinner.

 

[Houlahound]

I never heard of Kephart before this thread but I think he would be pleased that the same mindset, tradition and culture lives on into 2019 ie minimalist survival.

I highly doubt suggesting a bit more point will dishonor or disrespect the project.

 

[22-rimfire]

I never heard of Kephart before this thread but I think he would be pleased that the same mindset, tradition and culture lives on into 2019 ie minimalist survival.

I highly doubt suggesting a bit more point will dishonor or disrespect the project.

There is a big thread here in General about the Kephart started by member Uncle Timbo . I guess in terms of the point, it depends on just how much point before it is not a Kephart. I also was looking for a pointy Kephart. The Kabar Becker BK-62 is very true to the design and uses thin 1095 blade stock; so it is more pointy than some.

The other good thread on the subject is over in the Becker Forum.

 

[afishhunter]

Nessmuk Trio

4 ~ 5 inch blade fixed blade with a thin somewhat flexable blade. A Mora Number 1 would be a good choice.
Single or Double bit belt axe
Good folder like a 4 inch plus closed Stockman, or full size Moose orTrapper.

EDIT: If you decide you want a saw, get a cable saw, or a replacement chain for a 24 ~ 36 inch chainsaw, put handles on it, (a couple clevises big enough to stick a finger in will work) and toss it into your pack. Either will take up almost no space.

 

[22-rimfire]

Nessmuk... there's another one with certain design elements. I personally could never understand the interest in the "Nessmuk" knife (George Washington Sears). But I think Sears was focused more on a skinner type blade.

Hard to beat a good Slipjoint for cutting!!

 

[Uncle Timbo]

There is a big thread here in General about the Kep hart started by member Uncle Timbo . I guess in terms of the point, it depends on just how much point before it is not a Kephart. I also was looking for a pointy Kephart. The Kabar Becker BK-62 is very true to the design and uses thin 1095 blade stock; so it is more pointy than some.

The other good thread on the subject is over in the Becker Forum.

Did somebody say...Kephart?
Thanks Rimfire. It's true that I don't like my newest Kephart made by the one and only @Mike McCarter, but rather I love my McCarter Kephart. Mike was able to study the Kephart that Ethan Becker owns and came up with this rendition. I think ol Mike nailed it. You might be able to own one similar to this one, but this one's mine.

 

[Houlahound]

Did somebody say...Kephart?
Thanks Rimfire. It's true that I don't like my newest Kephart made by the one and only @Mike McCarter, but rather I love my McCarter Kephart. Mike was able to study the Kephart that Ethan Becker owns and came up with this rendition. I think ol Mike nailed it. You might be able to own one similar to this one, but this one's mine.

Send it to me for evidence.