Photos Kepharts...They just Work

[FortyTwoBlades]

I noticed that the real Kephart that Ethan Becker has an edge where the blade is abit taller by the tip end and abit narrower by the ricasso end. This makes the edge have a very slight forward angle to it rather than being completely straight.

On the other hand some modern takes on the Kephart design seem to have a perfectly straight edge.

Just wondering if there is any noticeable difference in having that slighly angled edge as seen on the original. Does it maybe distribute weight forward abit for better chopping? Does it do nothing?

Either way I have always been a fan of the Kephart design. Looks extremely practical.

It makes for slightly more aggressive drawing cuts, with less tendency for things like rope to slip off the edge. It also allows for a slicing action when making cuts on wood for shaping purposes.

 

[Bad Ninja]

Has the forest recovered at all from logging? Or is it now a distant memory, or commercially forested?

I lived in Boone, NC about 35 years ago. There was miles and miles of thick deep mountain for all around the blue ridge parkway and beyond.
Small towns, very rural areas spread far apart.
Easy to get lost in a good way out there.
Beautiful country.

 

[22-rimfire]

I can get to Shenandoah National Park for a day trip or for extended stays. We are there often. So much so I buy an Annual NPS Pass each year.

I would also have an annual NPS pass IF they charged admission to the Smoky's. That is the park I visit often. Thinking about a visit this coming week to do my usual wildlife viewing, but also to take trash bags and do some trash pick up. Don't really know what to expect, but I would have no objection to hauling entire pickup truck load of filled garbage bags out of there. Been reading reports of the way things are for the last couple of weeks with the partial government shutdown over building a border wall and other security measures. This will get worked out.

 

[Pilsner]

I would also have an annual NPS pass IF they charged admission to the Smoky's. That is the park I visit often. Thinking about a visit this coming week to do my usual wildlife viewing, but also to take trash bags and do some trash pick up. Don't really know what to expect, but I would have no objection to hauling entire pickup truck load of filled garbage bags out of there. Been reading reports of the way things are for the last couple of weeks with the partial government shutdown over building a border wall and other security measures. This will get worked out.

My heart is on the ground over the trash. It happens here, too. ‘Utter gits’ is what I would call them in polite company. I also pick up litter when I’m out and about. My kids are good about it too. A couple of years ago we were on holiday in Andalucia, Southern Spain, and on a few days experienced floods of plastic bags washing into the beach. Every time I went swimming, I’d come back with handfuls of plastic. The kids were good too, and my missus, needless to say.

I just can’t understand people who wreck the natural world with litter, or the urban one for that matter. I view with disgust people who litter, it is one of the very few things that make me quite angry.

Sorry for veering off topic, but Horace probably wouldn’t disagree.

 

[Pilsner]

I lived in Boone, NC about 35 years ago. There was miles and miles of thick deep mountain for all around the blue ridge parkway and beyond.
Small towns, very rural areas spread far apart.
Easy to get lost in a good way out there.
Beautiful country.

Now I am feeling depressed in my inner city flat, in East London. That sounds like heaven.

Ach, I’ll blow the cobwebs away and go and do a solo camp for a couple of nights in the next few weeks. As soon as it looks like snow, I think. But I’ll go to a place where I can build a fire etc, and they are precious few, south of the Scottish border! I find that camping out on my own is the best cure for Winter blues. YMMV. I’ll be taking my Kephart knife by Mark Hill.

 

[22-rimfire]

Thank you so very much for this informative response. It is very much appreciated. Yet again my education benefits! Thanks for taking the time and effort.

Edited to your edit: That is even more informative! Well, if moonshine was what one’s Grandaddy made then maybe weed would feel like continuing the legacy in some way? And folks have to make money somehow, I guess. And from taking your advice and looking at it on satellite, I can see how wild it is still. I can see why some might choose to live a little wild.

There is a TV show on the Discovery Channel here called "Moonshiners" and several moonshiners are located in the general area of the Smoky Mt NP. It is certainly part of the history of the Southeastern US and mountain folks. I don't understand how they don't get caught with the show identifying them, but it is what it is. The one thing I notice is that the show moonshiners often drive new or newish pickup trucks. I suspect that is part of the payment package offered by the show producers. Otherwise, I don't know how they would afford them.

Making whisky goes back to the Whisky Rebellion in Western PA when the government decided to tax whisky. Many moved to the KY-TN area and set up legal operations. The mountain people had their stills. I remember well the stills in the mountains of Eastern KY. You had to be careful wandering around in the woods there especially if you are someone like me who is a "foreigner" not growing up there.

 

[Pilsner]

There is a TV show on the Discovery Channel here called "Moonshiners" and several moonshiners are located in the general area of the Smoky Mt NP. It is certainly part of the history of the Southeastern US and mountain folks. I don't understand how they don't get caught with the show identifying them, but it is what it is. The one thing I notice is that the show moonshiners often drive new or newish pickup trucks. I suspect that is part of the payment package offered by the show producers. Otherwise, I don't know how they would afford them.

Making whisky goes back to the Whisky Rebellion in Western PA when the government decided to tax whisky. Many moved to the KY-TN area and set up legal operations. The mountain people had their stills. I remember well the stills in the mountains of Eastern KY. You had to be careful wandering around in the woods there especially if you are someone like me who is a "foreigner" not growing up there.

Fascinating. Round our way there are fake barbers and nail bars, and others, which launder drug money. Everybody knows it, and occasionally they get shut down. And then another reopens. I think being free to make your own liquor is a basic human right, same as growing any natural plant. But I do abide by the social contract, certainly when it comes to knives in the UK. But I never think more than twice about taking a stout knife with me when I take the family into the mountains or into a forest. Only an idiotic copper would have a problem with that, given that we take a stove and kettle, and I have yet to meet one who totally fits that criterion. Just. Most are absolutely diamonds. And besides, how likely are you, in fact, to meet a copper up a mountain or on a ridge? Not very! The only people I usually meet out in the Styx are very decent people. People I have something in common with. I feel sorry for those who feel the need to carry a side-arm when walking through the country, it must be miserable for them.

 

[bikerector]

The Hess Hunter is closer in design to the Marble's Woodcraft than is the Hess Poineer.

I agree, the Hess hunter is not one I've seen before so I went with the pioneer. Plus I found a decent priced one on the exchange recently. Very nice pair of knives there, I like your style.

The Hess tiburion is one that interests me too but I'm not sure it would overcome my LT's for that blade design.

 

[Bad Ninja]

Now I am feeling depressed in my inner city flat, in East London. That sounds like heaven.

Ach, I’ll blow the cobwebs away and go and do a solo camp for a couple of nights in the next few weeks. As soon as it looks like snow, I think. But I’ll go to a place where I can build a fire etc, and they are precious few, south of the Scottish border! I find that camping out on my own is the best cure for Winter blues. YMMV. I’ll be taking my Kephart knife by Mark Hill.

I live in a very small town in Southern Georgia now. It makes the NC mountains look like NYC...lol
I drive about 40 miles to buy groceries, and have a river 20ft from my house.

There is a TV show on the Discovery Channel here called "Moonshiners" and several moonshiners are located in the general area of the Smoky Mt NP. It is certainly part of the history of the Southeastern US and mountain folks. I don't understand how they don't get caught with the show identifying them, but it is what it is. The one thing I notice is that the show moonshiners often drive new or newish pickup trucks. I suspect that is part of the payment package offered by the show producers. Otherwise, I don't know how they would afford them.

Making whisky goes back to the Whisky Rebellion in Western PA when the government decided to tax whisky. Many moved to the KY-TN area and set up legal operations. The mountain people had their stills. I remember well the stills in the mountains of Eastern KY. You had to be careful wandering around in the woods there especially if you are someone like me who is a "foreigner" not growing up there.

In many states, it's legal to make up to 10 gallons of moonshine for personal use.
Selling it is another story, and requires permits etc.

 

[Bad Ninja]

Fascinating. Round our way there are fake barbers and nail bars, and others, which launder drug money. Everybody knows it, and occasionally they get shut down. And then another reopens. I think being free to make your own liquor is a basic human right, same as growing any natural plant. But I do abide by the social contract, certainly when it comes to knives in the UK. But I never think more than twice about taking a stout knife with me when I take the family into the mountains or into a forest. Only an idiotic copper would have a problem with that, given that we take a stove and kettle, and I have yet to meet one who totally fits that criterion. Just. Most are absolutely diamonds. And besides, how likely are you, in fact, to meet a copper up a mountain or on a ridge? Not very! The only people I usually meet out in the Styx are very decent people. People I have something in common with. I feel sorry for those who feel the need to carry a side-arm when walking through the country, it must be miserable for them.

The last knife I bought was from a copper...along with about 700 rounds of .357 mag ammo....at his garage sale.
(gotta love small towns)

Everyone here is armed and most carry fixed blades when in the woods.
The sidearms in the woods arent for 2 legged predators.
It's the south, so almost everyone is super polite and helpfull.
A 600lb sow with piglets will eat you if they think you are a threat,...kephart knife, boots and all.
I love my blades, but no one is defending themselves from a boar or a bear with a knife. ( Though I have processed both with my condor Kephart)

 

[Pilsner]

I hadn’t considered the hogs! (We would call them boar, although they are all but extinct in the UK now.) That’s me schooled again, fellas!

And there was me reading Kephart on the very subject of hogs yesterday evening. He is very eloquent and funny on the subject, and clearly had a healthy respect for those creatures!

 

[leghog]

I hadn’t considered the hogs!...

They've taken over many areas, and their range is growing. That's why many places are open season and no limit. Here they are an official "nuisance species".

From Virginia's Department of Game & Inland Fisheries' website: "Since feral hogs are considered a nuisance species, there is a continuous open season with no bag limit. Feral hogs can be killed at night and over bait, although extreme caution should be exercised when doing so to ensure compliance with other laws, regulations and local ordinances. The minimum .23 caliber restriction for big game does not apply to designated nuisance species in Virginia; however, common sense should dictate the caliber of choice to match the size and construction of an animal being harvested...."

 

[Pilsner]

They've taken over many areas, and their range is growing. That's why many places are open season and no limit. Here they are an official "nuisance species".

From Virginia's Department of Game & Inland Fisheries' website: "Since feral hogs are considered a nuisance species, there is a continuous open season with no bag limit. Feral hogs can be killed at night and over bait, although extreme caution should be exercised when doing so to ensure compliance with other laws, regulations and local ordinances. The minimum .23 caliber restriction for big game does not apply to designated nuisance species in Virginia; however, common sense should dictate the caliber of choice to match the size and construction of an animal being harvested...."

Fascinating! What would be a sensible calibre for a hog? If they weigh in at that size I’d imagine something bigger than a pea-shooter!!

We came across one last Summer in the Eastern Pyrenees, a European wild boar. Formidable looking beast it was. Coincidentally, I was thinking of that trip last night. I think it is probably the closest landscape to Western NC that I have visited, from Kephart’s description of the flora. The tree line goes up to 5,000+ft, and the creatures are not dissimilar. They have got wolves and even a few bears, but the French farmers tend to like to kill them in spite of their protected status!

 

[marchone]

I got charged by a Russian boar once. Not fun. If I wasn't armed I doubt I would be ambulatory to this day.

 

[Pilsner]

I got charged by a Russian boar once. Not fun. If I wasn't armed I doubt I would be ambulatory to this day.

Ouch!!

 

[Pomsbz]

It's interesting that talk of an earlier age seems to have sparked a conversation similar to that of earlier ages. What a relaxed and fun conversation! Not sure I've seen the like here before.

I'm in the middle of reading Camping and Woodcraft. I love his humour on top of everything else. I also find interesting the lack of any kind of 'minimalism' philosophy.

 

[leghog]

Sensable caliber? I'd want at least a 6.5mm.

 

[marchone]

Sensable caliber? I'd want at least a 6.5mm.

Please don't go down that rabbit hole.

 

[Bad Ninja]

This thread has inspired me to take my Kephart for a walk today.
I wanna apologize in advance for my camera. The pics will terrible.

Fascinating! What would be a sensible calibre for a hog? If they weigh in at that size I’d imagine something bigger than a pea-shooter!!

We came across one last Summer in the Eastern Pyrenees, a European wild boar. Formidable looking beast it was. Coincidentally, I was thinking of that trip last night. I think it is probably the closest landscape to Western NC that I have visited, from Kephart’s description of the flora. The tree line goes up to 5,000+ft, and the creatures are not dissimilar. They have got wolves and even a few bears, but the French farmers tend to like to kill them in spite of their protected status!

Feral boars here rub against trees to open their hide and wallow in mud which causes thick "sheilds" to develop over their shoulder areas. This protects them when fighting with each other.
It can also stop a 30-30 round.
Rifle? .223 is the smallest I would use.
Handgun? .357 mag.
YMMV
Shot placement is everything.

 

[Bad Ninja]

Early morning on the river.
This is my backyard.

I wanna add a shout to member 42 blades.
Both my Kephart and my Hudson Bay came from Baryonyx Knife Co.