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This is a two-for-one review: the Kabar/Becker BK62 Kephart reproduction, and Horace Kephart’s classic 1921 edition book, Camping and Woodcraft. The book is a nice addition to Mors Kochanski’s Northern Bush Craft and Colin Fletcher’s The Complete Walker. (Alas, I no longer have my 1950s Boy Scout manuals.)
To my surprise and delight, both the book (from the river company) and the knife arrived within a day of each other.
Kephart’s book is a joy. It’s based on his first book, Book of Camping and Woodcraft, published in 1906, which was intended as a pocket manual in a day when there a lot fewer roads and a lot more wilderness. It went through seven editions in ten years and proved so popular that he expanded both and separated them into two sections, Camping and Woodcraft. The two volumes were combined in 1921. The republication is from the original, type, illustrations and all. It takes you back a century, to when the days when Men Were Men, park permits weren’t even heard of, you wore wool and canvas clothes and leather boots that you had to break in. Compare that to today’s ultralight fabrics, Vibram-soled boots, lightweight stoves and LEDs.
Now, the knife. I was intrigued by the recent BF post, "What appeals to you about a Kephart blade shape", which garnered at least a couple hundred responses. I hadn't come across the name Kephart before, although I had been looking at Utility Tools Knives in Portland, Oregon, which had a Kephart-like spear point in A2, but sadly went out of business a year or two back before I could snag one. I ordered the Kabar BK62 for its authenticity, and also because I like the steel, 1095 Cro Van/Carbon V/1070-6/50100-B. All my knives in that steel have served me well. It takes a razor edge, is easily touched up and is very tough. It also takes on a very nice patina. A bunch of custom makers here on BF also make Kephart variations in several different steels. There's lots to choose from.
First impression out of the box: Basic. No frills. Practical. Solid. Nice walnut grips, slightly rough, which is fine. I took them off, applied a coat of food safe cutting board wax (and waxed the tang, too). Micarta grips are available, but I like the walnut – the wax gives them a warm, darker color. The grips fit my hand very well. No alteration needed.
As usual with a new knife I went out to my sophisticated Metallurgy and Knife Design Lab, a.k.a. the garage, and conducted a highly scientific test, in which I whittled a 2” diameter piece of seasoned pine down to fine shavings in less than five minutes. I was amazed; the flat ground blade just glided through the wood with virtually no drag. The blade widens slightly, maybe 1/16”, just before the tip, which has a slight swedge. Often factory edges are so obtuse (speaking of my SRK and Kabar Mark I) that they’re better suited to scraping paint than cutting stuff, but not the Kephart, at a quoted edge angle of 20 degrees. A few strokes across the DMT fine (600 grit) bench hone took it to hair popping sharp.
The brown leather sheath was another pleasant surprise. It is made from medium thick leather with an integral belt loop (not riveted on) and a nice thick welt. I’ll work in some SnowSeal inside and out and later may make a slightly deeper sheath (I have half a hide of latigo saddle leather available), but the factory sheath is as practical and well designed as the knife.
So, to answer the question, “What appeals to you about a Kephart blade shape?” All of it.
To my surprise and delight, both the book (from the river company) and the knife arrived within a day of each other.
Kephart’s book is a joy. It’s based on his first book, Book of Camping and Woodcraft, published in 1906, which was intended as a pocket manual in a day when there a lot fewer roads and a lot more wilderness. It went through seven editions in ten years and proved so popular that he expanded both and separated them into two sections, Camping and Woodcraft. The two volumes were combined in 1921. The republication is from the original, type, illustrations and all. It takes you back a century, to when the days when Men Were Men, park permits weren’t even heard of, you wore wool and canvas clothes and leather boots that you had to break in. Compare that to today’s ultralight fabrics, Vibram-soled boots, lightweight stoves and LEDs.
Now, the knife. I was intrigued by the recent BF post, "What appeals to you about a Kephart blade shape", which garnered at least a couple hundred responses. I hadn't come across the name Kephart before, although I had been looking at Utility Tools Knives in Portland, Oregon, which had a Kephart-like spear point in A2, but sadly went out of business a year or two back before I could snag one. I ordered the Kabar BK62 for its authenticity, and also because I like the steel, 1095 Cro Van/Carbon V/1070-6/50100-B. All my knives in that steel have served me well. It takes a razor edge, is easily touched up and is very tough. It also takes on a very nice patina. A bunch of custom makers here on BF also make Kephart variations in several different steels. There's lots to choose from.
First impression out of the box: Basic. No frills. Practical. Solid. Nice walnut grips, slightly rough, which is fine. I took them off, applied a coat of food safe cutting board wax (and waxed the tang, too). Micarta grips are available, but I like the walnut – the wax gives them a warm, darker color. The grips fit my hand very well. No alteration needed.
As usual with a new knife I went out to my sophisticated Metallurgy and Knife Design Lab, a.k.a. the garage, and conducted a highly scientific test, in which I whittled a 2” diameter piece of seasoned pine down to fine shavings in less than five minutes. I was amazed; the flat ground blade just glided through the wood with virtually no drag. The blade widens slightly, maybe 1/16”, just before the tip, which has a slight swedge. Often factory edges are so obtuse (speaking of my SRK and Kabar Mark I) that they’re better suited to scraping paint than cutting stuff, but not the Kephart, at a quoted edge angle of 20 degrees. A few strokes across the DMT fine (600 grit) bench hone took it to hair popping sharp.
The brown leather sheath was another pleasant surprise. It is made from medium thick leather with an integral belt loop (not riveted on) and a nice thick welt. I’ll work in some SnowSeal inside and out and later may make a slightly deeper sheath (I have half a hide of latigo saddle leather available), but the factory sheath is as practical and well designed as the knife.
So, to answer the question, “What appeals to you about a Kephart blade shape?” All of it.
