Kephart Inspired

[Matt Markell]

Hello everyone, this is my first thread that I have started in this subforum. This is also the first knife that I have made that I feel is worth posting here. Your feedback is welcome!

I just finished this one up, it's a Kephart inspired knife with a handle of laminated cocobolo, black G10 and natural canvas micarta fastened with stainless corbies and a blade of 5/32" 1095 @ 60Rc. The blade bevels are scotchbrite belt finished while the flats are an acid etched forge finish. The edge is a polished convex. The handle was wet sanded with tung oil to 800 grit then given a final finish of Tru-Oil.

The sheath I made for it is Boltaron with a leather dangler belt loop and Boltaron keeper clip. The sheath has great retention, a smooth feel, and the keeper clip is easy to operate but holds the knife in very securely.

The blade is 3.5", the OAL is 8.25"
This knife is 7.5oz, with the sheath it is 11.5oz.

I am very very happy with how this came out, I feel it is my best work to date.

Pictures:

Thanks for looking everyone, remember I would really like to hear your feedback.

 

[someoldfart]

Great looking knife, I really like the shape of it, nice for edc/hunter etc. Scales are outstanding.

 

[tjswarbrick]

I'm not a maker, but from here that looks like a professional job. Not sure I would have swedged it, but with all that handle for a lightened 3 1/2" blade I bet it handles very well and is lively in the hand.
A lot more character than any actual Kephart I've seen. I like the way the light dances off the diferent blade surfaces. She's a beaut!

 

[Matt Markell]

Thanks guys! It is kind of pretty isn't it

tjswarbrick, this knife is a bit handle heavy with the balance point just behind the front corby. I'll probably taper the tang on the next one and see if that helps balance it more evenly. It is a very full and comfortable handle though.

 

[Gary Mulkey]

Matt,

Looks like a very nice hunter/edc. Good job.

It looks as if you engraved your mark in the bevel of the blade. Something you may want to concider is leaving a little more ricasso area and engraving it there so it will be less prone to wear.

Gary

 

[Matt Markell]

Gary,
This one is a deep etch, it shouldn't ever wear off but I also placed an order with Ernie Grospitch for a set of stencils that will fit on the spine of a knife. They haven't arrived yet but I will be using them exclusively in the future.