Kephart Design Thread

Fiddleback

Fiddleback

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I drew up a Kephart today. I basically used old pics. I find the knife's lines to be rather boring. But they are practical and I can respect that. Anyway, on to my question. Pitdog mentioned he'd like to see my contoured handles on a Kephart. Is this really doable while remaining true to the design?

I'm going to cut a batch of these soon. Maybe 10 or so to start. Like I said, its not my favorite design. Unless I discover some romance during the first batch, or there is some insane demand, this will be it for Kepharts.

It'll have a 5" blade and 4.75" handle. The steel will be 1/8" thick 01. The grind will be convex.

I'll try to put up pics of the process. This weekend I'll probably get a template cut.
 
That'd be really cool to see from you, Andy.

I agree with you about the rather blase lines of any kephart. I didn't really appreciate them much until I started playing with one. The BRKT version was the first, and fairly recent for me. The lines on theirs are very simple, and it's surprisingly thin and light. (Odd for me to be ok with). Then I got the JK kephart. It was much beefier in the handle, upon request, and I recently contoured it much more to my hands. I like the feel a bit more, but I feel like where the handle grows 'taller' near the end, this is a natural place for a depression in height (following the lines of a traditional handle) when contours exist there at all.

Anyway, I think you're doing it right by making up some to play with, you'll probably find a way to make it work great! The basic design has a lot less room to play with from a design/maker standpoint than the nessies.
 
all right andy.. i can't wait to see the finished product...:thumbup:

i want one already...:D
 
I have found I prefer a curvier blade, clip or drop point. I like a knife that has a nice sharp tip, which the Kephart generally doesn't have.

The Gossman Tusker is probably the closet blade to a Kephart that I really dig.
 
I am looking forward to seeing what you come up with but I can't imagine that it will still look like a Kephart with an excellent Fiddleback handle. That isn't a bad thing... just different.
 
Whatever you do, it will be done well.

Kephart was a very practical man, librarian's mind, and form before function in most things.

But, it's your knife. Mess with it. :)
 
B Hess said:
\
I've seen that picture in Kephart's book and always wandered where the modern design came from since they look so different.
Click to expand...

Yes I totally agree. Just clicked that link and the marbles blades looks like what I would call a dedicated skinner blade. Unfortunately, my education on the matter of Kepharts has arisen out of bladeforums and I never went to the primary source - Kepharts book.

So my pre-conception of a kephart blade was a somewhat stout little spear point blade with minimal belly. The pictured blade has maximized belly through the upswept point. Scratching my head here.

Fortunately, I have read Nesmuk and see the resemblance to the orginal drawing and today's interpretations.

Interesting debate I hope it continues.
 
kgd said:
Yes I totally agree. Just clicked that link and the marbles blades looks like what I would call a dedicated skinner blade. Unfortunately, my education on the matter of Kepharts has arisen out of bladeforums and I never went to the primary source - Kepharts book.

So my pre-conception of a kephart blade was a somewhat stout little spear point blade with minimal belly. The pictured blade has maximized belly through the upswept point. Scratching my head here.

Fortunately, I have read Nesmuk and see the resemblance to the orginal drawing and today's interpretations.

Interesting debate I hope it continues.
Click to expand...


The modern Nesmuks are a lot closer to the original design by Nesmuk.

I like the way the makers are making their Kepharts I just don't know where that stubby design came from. It wasn't from Kephart's book.

Andy,

Maybe you should try a Kephart like the picture in his book.
 
I always thought this knife of yours looked like a Kephart with contoured handles.

FiddleBacks007.jpg
 
That Marbles-Woodcraft knife picture was of a knife Horace Kephart used at one time.

The kephart design knife is this.
kephartoriginal.jpg

1175098516-kephart.jpg


I wish I was around then to spend $3.75 for a piece of cutlery history.

-RB
 
OK. Now that Marbles knife looks like an upswept skinner. I can make one of those, but its not what I associate with Kephart in my mind. I was designing something that looks like that magazine article Bear posted. I took pics tonight, and I'll post them in the morning.

I need to get the book. I read Nessmuk's book, and as many of his articles on his canoeing adventures as I could get my hands on. So Kephart deserves the same.
 
bearthedog said:
That Marbles-Woodcraft knife picture was of a knife Horace Kephart used at one time.

The kephart design knife is this.
kephartoriginal.jpg

1175098516-kephart.jpg


I wish I was around then to spend $3.75 for a piece of cutlery history.

-RB
Click to expand...


In his book there was a picture of what he said a fixed blade should be. He says he also designed it. The marbles picture is just a more vivd illustration of his design.

From page 167 of Camping and Woodcraft:

"For years I used knives of my own design, because there was nothing on the market that met my notion of what a sensible, practical sheath knife should be; but we have it now in the knife here shown"

The pic on page 167 looks exactly like that marbles knife. This is the only time he got real specific about what he likes in a fixed blade in the book.
 
I read it was a promotional thing that he was doing for that design. I also know you can't believe everything you read though!

-RB
 
Andy,
I think a Kepart style blade with one of your great handles on it will be a real winner.
I look forward to seeing what you decide to do with your design
 
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