JK kephart--I just cant leave well enough alone.....

j williams

j williams

Joined
Nov 14, 2005
Messages
11,135
Ever since I got my fat JK keppy it has been my go to blade for everything. I have used it numerous times, for every task imaginable. It is always on my belt, on my baldric, in my pack, or in my truck. I cant seem to go anywhere without it. Yes, I have many many other blades that see use as well, but my JK is ALWAYS close by. The ergos on this one are amazing, it is comfortable to use, and one of my favorite keppy designs. If you dont own one, you wont understand till you do:cool:

Well, the only "gripe" I could have with this one was the edge. John put a great one on it, but I am a convex kinda guy, I just am never happy with my skills with a stone, or even my sharpmaker. I practice frequently, but it takes me awhile to get an edge I am happy with. That being said, I can maintain a screamin sharp edge on a convex in a relatively short time with just a strop.
A strop takes up just as little space in my pack as a stone, and its IMO the easiest edge to field maintain. For me anyways. SO.... I sent my keppy of to my main man Ban to put one of his convex edges on. Ban is a pleasure to deal with. A great guy that norcalblacktail turned me on to(thanks bro!). I recieved it back today, less than 1 week turnaround time! I wouldve done the work myself, but I have alot on my plate at the moment, and I wanted this sweet steel back in use as quick as possible. The Busse guys always praise Bans work, and I see why. This thing could cut you just by lookin at it wrong:D. I am glad it is home, where it will go back into mainline use.

My other JKs still have the edge john put on them, cause its a great edge, that I can maintain fairly well. Just takes me a while, and with this one being my go to blade, and the frequency of use it sees, I needed something that wouldnt take me so long to sharpen in the field. I would be sharpining the thing every bit of down time I have, it sees that much use(Really).

My next mission for my favorite blade will be a horizontal carry sheath. Either from chuddybear, or my man ilbruche. I have the baldric, and the belt option, with firesteel loop for the kick ass matching firesteel john made me, on the leather that came with it.(which is amazing as well) Im thinking I will have some kydex formed up for it too, depending on what rubens leather looks like and how it performed in the jungle. I am going to the jungle next year as well, and I know this one will be my sidekick.

Here are acouple pics of the freakin scary sharp edge, on my wicked 3/16 JK keppy.....sorry for the rant. Enjoy!!

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Ban did it, not me. He is the man at these edges, I would be hard pressed to get it half as good. He even cleaned up the patina off the spine and blade for me, at no extra charge. Which either way wouldve been cool, I like the look of a ser, but who dont dig a shiney new one???:D
 
Glad to see you are getting use out of that Kephart. That edge looks sweet!!!

John
 
John, getting use is an understatement. My wife told me I sould have it surgically implanted to my hand, cause its always there!!
 
Man, thats pretty. Ban is da man too. Having touched one of his edges at blade, I was very impressed.
 
You aint lyin man. This thing will split freakin hairs. Its just a matter of time before it bites me. Ive been bit by this one before, but now I might lose a digit! I will have to change my user name to stubbs or somethin!
 
Guys, you really need to check out johns stuff if you havent. For the price, I think you cannot go wrong, and he is a top notch guy.:thumbup: I have alot of keppys. I have no qualms with sayin this one is my favorite. Compairing it to my ML they are alot alike in shape.
 
sweet edge there, he did a nice job.

as for maintaining the V-edges...you can do it with sandpaper and strop just like a convex edge, that's what i do to all of my knives. over time it will become convexed, if that's a consideration.

i got to handle one of john's blades to sharpen it, and i was impressed. solid feeling knife, the grinds were even and the steel took a wicked edge easily.
 
Yeah, I have tried that simon, It works for me if I dont let it get too dull, but once I do, I have a hard time bringing it back to par. Thats why I just had this one done, and left the others. I strop them up real good. This one I wanted the easiest edge for me to maintain, which right now is a convex. I will keep at it though, and will get better with time.
 
hhmmm... i might need to get ahold of ban, he is only a few minutes away from me in san jose...:D
 
J that is a sweet looking knife. I have one on order from John and I can't wait. I'm thinking about taking on the project of making my own horizontal carry sheath. We'll see. Did you say you have an ML Kephart too? My wife has one on order for me. That one is convexed right?
 
mtnfolk mike said:
hhmmm... i might need to get ahold of ban, he is only a few minutes away from me in san jose...:D
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Dude if he was that close to me, I bet most of my blades would be banned!!
You will not be disapointed. I think I am gonna talk to him bout doin a machete for me too.


cmgray said:
J that is a sweet looking knife. I have one on order from John and I can't wait. I'm thinking about taking on the project of making my own horizontal carry sheath. We'll see. Did you say you have an ML Kephart too? My wife has one on order for me. That one is convexed right?
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Bro you are gonna love it. They are sick! Keep me posted on your sheath, Id like to see what you come up with. My ML is almost identical in size, it has greet canvas micarta, that is a little thicker than this, but blade is only 1/8. It is convexed and wicked sharp. I have another one on order in osage from matt too. I ll post some pics of it soon. You will love matts work too. Even the leather is top notch!
 
ML sent me a picture of yours with the Green canvas when I was trying to pick mine. It looked great. Im looking to make something with a firesteel loop and horizontal carry. Im horrible at sharpening, so I might have to get the info from you on where to get that edge Off Topic. Your book is enroute
 
Sweet, Im gonna read it on a trip im goin on to chicago this weekend!

Ill send you a PM with some specifics dude.....
 
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