Photos Kepharts...They just Work

Bad Ninja said:
She ain't pretty but she gets it done.
Condor Kephart with maple scales.
This knife has seen alot of use and abuse.
It has processed everything from deer and wild hogs to catfish and rattlesnakes. It has feathered kindling and cut line and bait.
Other than my folders, it's seen more real world outdoor use than any knife I've carried, and it will shave your mom.

K0YVtZW.jpg
Click to expand...
Goes to show you that a spear point does work for hunting chores and processing meat. I like the Condor Kephart as it was my first Kephart. The maple handes look good. I purposely purchased a Ken Onion Work Sharp for this purpose and to use on machetes when I beat the edges up. Have yet to do the work on the Condor.

I really prefer the Becker version. As I mentioned before, I had thought seriously of getting a custom or handmade Kephart made for me at about a 5 inch blade length. I almost bought the one of the Bark River versions. I did like the modernized BRKT Kephart with the guard. I just think guards are really a good thing on a knife used in the woods or for hunting purposes. Ultimately, it was BRKT cost that kept me from ordering. BRKT knives cost nearly what handmade knives do. I am not a person who refuses to buy a BRKT knife.

Anyway, I jumped almost immediately on the Becker Kephart when I found out it was released which was about a week after it was announced. Very pleased with it overall and it satisfies my Kephart urges without getting either a Bark River or custom made for a lot less money. You see, I don't really use my fixed blades often in the woods in general and that is one of the main reasons for resisting the buy urge pre-Becker Kephart.

I need to get to work on my Condor Kephart and see what I can do to make it into a real cutter. I usually defaulted to the Condor Bushlore for using. I often grabbed the Mini Bushlore. I now have more choices... like I really need more choices.;)
 
22-rimfire said:
Goes to show you that a spear point does work for hunting chores and processing meat. I like the Condor Kephart as it was my first Kephart. The maple handes look good. I purposely purchased a Ken Onion Work Sharp for this purpose and to use on machetes when I beat the edges up. Have yet to do the work on the Condor.

I really prefer the Becker version. As I mentioned before, I had thought seriously of getting a custom or handmade Kephart made for me at about a 5 inch blade length. I almost bought the one of the Bark River versions. I did like the modernized BRKT Kephart with the guard. I just think guards are really a good thing on a knife used in the woods or for hunting purposes. Ultimately, it was BRKT cost that kept me from ordering. BRKT knives cost nearly what handmade knives do. I am not a person who refuses to buy a BRKT knife.

Anyway, I jumped almost immediately on the Becker Kephart when I found out it was released which was about a week after it was announced. Very pleased with it overall and it satisfies my Kephart urges without getting either a Bark River or custom made for a lot less money. You see, I don't really use my fixed blades often in the woods in general and that is one of the main reasons for resisting the buy urge pre-Becker Kephart.

I need to get to work on my Condor Kephart and see what I can do to make it into a real cutter. I usually defaulted to the Condor Bushlore for using.
Click to expand...


Becker makes a fine knife, but like you said, pricing kept me from pulling the trigger on one.
Condor Kephart blanks are cheap enough to make a nice user that can handle abuse and not cause grief if lost or damaged.
I'd love to have a custom Kephart, but I use most of my knives, and just can't see taking an expensive custom into the swamp.
 
The cost of the Becker is not scary to me. I think the cost reflects multiple royalty payments built into the knife as well as a general upward price point in general. I think you'd probably like it Bad Ninja if the 5" blade doesn't nudge you away. I have been trying to reduce my knife purchases overall. But 2018 saw me buying just as many as 2017. Here it is 2019 and I'm really tempted to get one of the new GEC #81's (I believe the # is correct) which is a really functional size at 4" closed.
 
$120-150 for a BK 62 is just a little out of my "heavy use belt knife" budget.
I'm sure it's worth it.
Beckers, IMHO are awesome performers, and a 5 inch kephart is still a good size for what I use it for.

:thumbsup: on the Worksharp.
I have one and love it.
 
I like Fiddleback knives and have been REALLY tempted the last few Blade Show visits at their tables. The thing about the above "Kepharts" is they aren't true to the Kephart design. Joe Flowers did pretty well with the Condor Kephart. The Fiddlebacks are however great woods knives.

Added: I think Ethan Becker may well be a modern Horace Kephart in all the good ways relative to knives. The Horace Kephart story is pretty interesting and one always needs to view it from the perspective of 100 years ago. Things weren't the same as now in terms of behavior.
 
Last edited:
22-rimfire said:
I like Fiddleback knives and have been REALLY tempted the last few Blade Show visits at their tables. The thing about the above "Kepharts" is they aren't true to the Kephart design.

Added: I think Ethan Becker may well be a modern Horace Kephart in all the good ways relative to knives. The Horace Kephart story is pretty interesting and one always needs to view it from the perspective of 100 years ago. Things weren't the same as now in terms of behavior.
Click to expand...
I'd say Mors Kochanksi and Ray Mears are possibly slightly more in that category, only inasmuch as the vast majority of their contribution has been about living in the wilderness, but both have very definite ideas about an ideal knife/knives. In Kochanski's case, he has been a great advocate of the humble Morakniv, and we are all familiar with the 'Woodlore', associated with Mears. I think Ethan Becker is fantastic, but his focus has been much more on knives, as I understand it.
 
22-rimfire said:
I like Fiddleback knives and have been REALLY tempted the last few Blade Show visits at their tables. The thing about the above "Kepharts" is they aren't true to the Kephart design. Joe Flowers did pretty well with the Condor Kephart. The Fiddlebacks are however great woods knives.
Click to expand...


True - the Fiddbleback is not a historically accurate rendition of the known pattern.

From sifting through BF, I've read that the maker was only inspired by the original Kephart design, to make something similar in concept: spear shaped blade profile, no choil, minimal finger guard, simple and accomodating handle for a variety of grips.
 
Hurrul said:
True - the Fiddbleback is not a historically accurate rendition of the known pattern.

From sifting through BF, I've read that the maker was only inspired by the original Kephart design, to make something similar in concept: spear shaped blade profile, no choil, minimal finger guard, simple and accomodating handle for a variety of grips.
Click to expand...
HR - I've seen these knives come up for sale here on this forum and while it is a beautiful knife and I'm 100% sure it's quite functional, I guess I'm just old school. If and when I want a Kephart, I want a Kephart. I realize the one I've shown here that I had made, is 3V steel and not carbon steel. But, I don't call it a Kephart. I term it, my version of a Kephart and I guess that's what FB was doing.
Now Ethan Beckers version is just about as close as you can get for a production. I have one coming, hopefully in April or March, that's pretty darn close to the original.
Sorry, I strayed. I've always shied away from yours. It just too dang pointy for my tastes. But I'm sure it'll still, get the job done.
 
Uncle Timbo said:
In honor of Ethan, I just changed the title of this thread.
Click to expand...
Good job. He made this one available to y’all. I am genuinely happy for you and for him! H Kephart was a gem, whichever place from which you hail. ;) So is E Becker.

I can’t get one, realistically, at this point. Import duty [tariffs]. Been around forever, in my memory. It is something of a sprint run for international customers. I like my custom. That was my consolation prize to myself. ;)
 
Uncle Timbo said:
....Now Ethan Beckers version is just about as close as you can get for a production. I have one coming, hopefully in April or March, that's pretty darn close to the original.
Sorry, I strayed. I've always shied away from yours. It just too dang pointy for my tastes. But I'm sure it'll still, get the job done.
Click to expand...
That knife is much like the Condor Bushlore in terms of blade shape and a pretty functional blade in my opinion. You said you have a BK-62 coming.... are they back to Out of Stock and back to pre-orders? That is what I did and I guess I got one from the second batch that Kabar shipped out to the dealers (Tomars).
 
Ethan Becker, certainly relative to knives, may be the modern day Horace Kephart ... right here in our very midst.
 
The "production" Kepharts came in 4 and 5 inch models. The Condor kind of splits the difference at around 4.5 inches. The one that I posted is a 4 incher and the Becker is a 5 incher. The one thing that puzzles/bothers me about the Becker and other production knives like that is why do they choose to leave them that "soft?" 56-57Rc for what is essentially Sharon 0170-6 steel? Not me.
Uncle Timbo said:
I wasn't sure how many of you Kephart fans saw this video featuring Ethan Becker. It just works.
Click to expand...
 
To the curious about historical discrepancies, Kephart’s original description of his perfect sheath knife was to have a 4 1/2 inch blade on a 4 1/2 inch handle. The Colclesser production versions were produced in 4 and 5 inch sizes. Therin lies the rub.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top