Kephart. What would you change

K

KFU

Part Time Knifemaker, Moderator
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Ive been thinking about making a Kephart for some time now but haven't liked anything Ive drawn up. Give me some goods and bads of the design and what you would change if anything. What blade width, thickness, length, etc. I was thinking squaring off the butt might work well but thats just because I prefer it to rounded ones. I want to get ya'lls input since I know most of you have owned or own one. Thanks in advance for the replies.
 
My ML Keppie is definitely one of my all time favorite knives.

I've used it continuously for about four years.

I might slightly tweak it here and there but it doesn't really need it.

I think it is pretty close to original dimensions.

It has a pretty fat handle and I love the round butt.

I understand about wanting to change the butt end when designing a blade ....... the aesthetics aren't that pleasing but it feels great in use.

Maybe adding a flat to the front of the scales near the plunge line would help with thumb comfort in the chest lever grip ....... but that would depend on scale thickness to an extent.

To me it's a great all around design.

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The kephart is a great design, Just make some in different blade lengths and thickness and with some different handle materials and colors.

Have fun.

Bryan
 
The Kephart design is great. It functions very well IMO. The only thing I can see wrong with it is that it's pretty boring. I didn't have any interest in making one before because it was boring to me. Not until my friend, lambertiana on the forums, asked me to make one for him. It wasn't until I held it in my hand that I really got to appreciate the design. It just feels so usefull and utilitarian when you have it in your hand. It's a great outdoors all purpose design. It's kind of like a Subaru, not as cool as a Jeep but a lot more practical IMO.
 
Matt now makes a mini Kephart which looks very tempting !

[youtube]yOBYuTcw5Nc[/youtube]
 
KFU,

I recently got in a Kepy from ML. As many people have said to me, the Kephart pattern is ugly. But it's a user, I'm very happy with it in hand and in use. Strangely enough, I really don't find it to be an ugly blade. I strongly recommend a good ol' Kephart, why mess with a good thing?


God bless,
Adam
 
To be fair I've never owned a true Keppy but the tip/point has never really done anything for me. I like more of a point to my blades. Something like the ML above with a more gradual belly and pointier tip and it would be a lot more attractive to me.
 
I've had Kepharts from several different makers, and I have to say that Scott Gossman makes the best ones I have owned. I have a couple of his, varying sizes, and one from Ray Laconico. The one from Ray is a great knife too. JK, ML, J Neilson and others have made Kepharts. Everyone has a different interpretation of the design.

Anyone ever own one of the original Colclesser designs?
 
The BRKT Kephart is just about perfect. I have owned 4 of Matt's Kepharts - and the perfect one - for me - is a 4.5 inch handle. That is the only thing I changed on his design.

1/8th inch stock, good convex, good polish - makes for an awesome blade - ugly in my opinion - but I don't care - it is a damned fine knife.

TF
 
Thanks for the replies guys. The think I like about yours Ray is that your butt end is not as rounded. I had an ML, and while reaaally nice, my hand would slide of the back with the rounded butt. It was a smaller one so his larger ones might feel better.
 
If I were only allowed one blade, it would be the Kephart. It looks so plain but it is pure perfection and is the most comfortable handle I've used.
If I could change anything on it, I would have a 5" blade and a 5" handle.


I gave one to my sis as a gift. John at JK Knives made it. Her local Game Warden is using it at the moment. The local Sheriff wants a couple weeks with it next. Neither have ever heard of Horace Kephart but they sure love the Kephart design!
 
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LMT, how wide a blade would you like on a 5" blade and what thickness stock?
 
KFU said:
LMT, how wide a blade would you like on a 5" blade and what thickness stock?
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5/32" thick is perfect. Not too thick and not too thin.

1 1/8" to 1 1/4" wide (spine to edge) just forward of the handle.
 
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Thanks LMT. I think Im going to do one with a 4 1/2" blade 1 1/4" wide with a 5" handle. Don't know if its going to be 5/32" or 1/8" yet but Ill see.
 
KFU said:
Thanks LMT. I think Im going to do one with a 4 1/2" blade 1 1/4" wide with a 5" handle. Don't know if its going to be 5/32" or 1/8" yet but Ill see.
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In my opinion, the Kep handle, (so basic yet so perfect) makes this blade want to do HD tasks. The simple thin to thick wedge shape locks it into your grip. I feel that at 1/8" thick, it will waste it's true potential. At 3/16" thick, you loose quite a bit of it's abilities. 5/32" thick is perfect for a belt knife that can tackle delicate/intricate carving tasks to all out batoning/splitting.

Kephart with a 5" handle, 5" blade and 5/32" thick = Ultimate belt knife.
 
I'll throw in here real quick, feel free to disregard my opining.

I think there is a trend to substantially overbuild knives these days. I'm not sure what kind of abilities 5/32 gives a knife. My experience is that at around 1/8 and over unless you have some serious grind on it the knife becomes hampered by the thickness. A 5" Kepy is not a chopper, it's a knife. And if you feel the need to beat your knife with a stick 3/32 should handle batoning just fine (If it doesn't my question is more of the metal/HT, or your being Noss.) Again, this is an opinion, but from my experience and for my usage, it is unlikely I will ever buy another knife of 1/8" or greater.


God bless,
Adam
 
jumpmonkey said:
I'll throw in here real quick, feel free to disregard my opining.

I think there is a trend to substantially overbuild knives these days. I'm not sure what kind of abilities 5/32 gives a knife. My experience is that at around 1/8 and over unless you have some serious grind on it the knife becomes hampered by the thickness. A 5" Kepy is not a chopper, it's a knife. And if you feel the need to beat your knife with a stick 3/32 should handle batoning just fine (If it doesn't my question is more of the metal/HT, or your being Noss.) Again, this is an opinion, but from my experience and for my usage, it is unlikely I will ever buy another knife of 1/8" or greater.


God bless,
Adam
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1/8" is definitely what I think of as a hard use, heavy duty knife nowdays....no need to go any thicker !
 
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This is my Kephart that Bryan Breeden made for me. It has become my favorite fixed blade.
thanks Bryan. It's o1 steel and and easy to keep sharp.:D

Jeff
 
I would change it into a nessy! I mean why have that boring, flat, meh.........:p

The design doesn't speak to me at all, too general purpose for a multi knife guy like me. However I have thought of how I would like to own one should I try it. Of course I would want a nice figured wood handle (but I want all nicely figured wood handles, except for MOP, mammoth, stone..... I digress), a sharper point than I see, in 3/32", probably in the 5" range because I don't have many of this length. A temper line/hamon wouldn't hurt either. Keep the guard as part of the handle material-a usable guard much more than a slight bump. Blade as wide as the guard without sharpening notch. I like usable lookers and this may get it in my hands to give it a fair try over my other knives that I don't have enough time to play with. Honestly the 3/32", and sharp point would help me appreciate it more.
 
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