Photos Kepharts...They just Work

[Uncle Timbo]

All that kayaking and putting around sounds like a whole heap of fun. I spent all day fence building. No, my Kephart did not help me. My post hole diggers and spud bar did.

 

[hiwa]

Should have a Lon Humphrey 3V Kephart Black canvas in my hands the next day or so.
My first Kep , and feel confident it will be a great knife.
Wasn't cheap , but one I wanted for a while. Stoked.

 

[22-rimfire]

Hope you like it a bunch. As you know, I have one. I have since purchased a Kephart made by Dan Eastland (Dogwood Knives) which I like a little better (but it cost more). Eastland uses CPM-154 which I think is "enough" steel for a kephart versus the harder to sharpen 3V. Here's a picture I took just the other day trying to make an interesting picture when I was out puttering around in the woods.

The Lon Humphrey and the Becker Kepharts are below. I still like both of them quite a bit.

I think I'm done buying Kepharts for a while. The Humphrey kephart certainly has a different feel in the hand with a rounder handle.

 

[Uncle Timbo]

Hope you like it a bunch. As you know, I have one. I have since purchased a Kephart made by Dan Eastland (Dogwood Knives) which I like a little better (but it cost more). Eastland uses CPM-154 which I think is "enough" steel for a kephart versus the harder to sharpen 3V. Here's a picture I took just the other day trying to make an interesting picture when I was out puttering around in the woods.
View attachment 1152747
The Lon Humphrey and the Becker Kepharts are below. I still like both of them quite a bit.
View attachment 1152746
I think I'm done buying Kepharts for a while. The Humphrey kephart certainly has a different feel in the hand with a rounder handle.

Nice looking collection you have there Rimfire. My problem with a collection is that after awhile one would have to think you'd develop a favorite. The "one" you'd feel naked without while being in The Wild Blue Yonder.

 

[22-rimfire]

Uncle Timbo Without a doubt the favorite is the Eastland knife just like for you it is probably the McCarter. The Eastland is more nimble than the Humphrey and has more the feel of a knife I would prefer to carry. The Becker is more basic, not that I don't like it a bunch. The Becker was precisely the Kephart I was hoping to get. At that time, I really didn't envision any more kepharts at all. As time passes, I'll use them and see how it goes as I have no intention of selling any of these.

Added: The only knife that I routinely carry that I would "feel naked" without is my SAK. The primary model has changed a little over the years (Tinker > Soldier > Adventurer > Small Tinker), but I tend to want a Tinker of some kind to edc. I want a knife in my pocket and I notice it I don't have one there.... Out in the woods, I will probably toss a Trekker into my bag for the saw and larger blade size since you're more likely to be cutting branches and so forth in that environment.

Which kephart I choose to carry (wear) on a particular outing will depend on what I think I'm likely to do. If I want something robust, I'll choose the Humphrey; but for the normal stuff I think I'll probably choose the Eastland. At this point, I'm not sure how the Becker will fit in other than I may choose it "just because". The Eastland and Becker are very similar in terms of handling.

 

[eveled]

Nice looking collection you have there Rimfire. My problem with a collection is that after awhile one would have to think you'd develop a favorite. The "one" you'd feel naked without while being in The Wild Blue Yonder.

That’s why I have a collection. I always think I can improve on what I already have. At 16 I had a SAK, a 3 blade whittler, a Buck 110 and a KaBar. I don’t know why I ever bought another knife. Those would have done everything I ever needed for my entire life.

 

[22-rimfire]

That’s why I have a collection. I always think I can improve on what I already have. At 16 I had a SAK, a 3 blade whittler, a Buck 110 and a KaBar. I don’t know why I ever bought another knife. Those would have done everything I ever needed for my entire life.

I'm the same although I call my knife collection an accumulation since it is so varied in content. I literally could have stopped buying knives except replacements (if I loose or misplace one) 30+ years ago or about the time I got my very first SAK. Before that it was Schrade, Case, and a few other brands that still work just fine for my needs. Now I need Kepharts for the woods.... and seldom even need a knife in the woods.... oh well. I carry a knife there for emergencies and because I ALWAYS carry a knife.

 

[Uncle Timbo]

That’s why I have a collection. I always think I can improve on what I already have. At 16 I had a SAK, a 3 blade whittler, a Buck 110 and a KaBar. I don’t know why I ever bought another knife. Those would have done everything I ever needed for my entire life.

Eveled, I was just like you, I was as happy as a pig in mud with an Old Henry stockman...then I found this place.

 

[bikerector]

I was not like you guys, though I was pretty content with a buck 118 I got as a kid and then a kershaw shallot I bought after college, until I lost that one end went with a byrd crossbil that I still have. I've probably had that cheap for a decade now, loved it cutting cardboard and opening packages.

I usually had to use my step dad's 110, or he would have it and use it for the group of us while I was just a little guy. With current televised American culture, it almost seems odd that I was hunting at 7 or 8 with a single shot .22. Can't remember if I tried bow-hunting at that age, never stuck with it. I liked moving a lot, still do, so small game hunting is what I liked. "The old guys" liked to send the noisy kids (me, bros, and cousins) through the woods and thickets to go after small critters while they sat on a hill and waited for the deer to come out. We were pretty good at pushing the animals out, especially when they just wanted to sit around for the day. I feel like deer have become nocturnal in MI.

Back to knives, at some point I got money, got a griptilian, and it's been downhill for the bank account but uphill in my knife love and I've found uses for them as well as I got more into camping, hiking, and woodcraft.

I'll be honest, it's still been far cheaper than my cycling hobby was/is, especially when I was traveling every weekend for races and had "enough" bikes. I thought little of spending a couple K's on a nice race bike. I also ran a little coaching biz and website I could run the expenses into since I made a little money at it as well, though usually prizes were bike parts and gift cards, but occasionally we would get cash.

Won an expensive bike frame once, that was really nice (probably worth at least $1k). Uncle Timbo going to love how I got it home. I had to go pick it up after the shop that offered the prize ordered my size in. It was several hours away so I grabbed it with my motorcylce. Here's a pic of it strapped to my riding pack after I got home. The bike shop was supposed to have a few of me riding away for their publication and marketing for the bike brand, jamis, but they never shared that with me. Certainly made an interesting story for them, saved a ton of gas money for me that I could then use for races. I think I used that frame the next 2 years for racing before my sponsoring shop switched brands and I got one of their bikes that I still have, though I haven't competed in a few years.

Sorry, way off topic going down memory lane, before wife and kids and between my hunting/fishing years and current knife addiction... and quickly moving into hiking fascination so I can get outdoors with the kiddo doing something safe. Not sure I trust him out on the bicycle with me yet, I'm a bit crazy still, but the drivers can be worse. Need to get a suspended hid trailer and take him on some dirt roads, where I spend a lot of miles these days.

Now my problem is that, I like to make groupings of knives, like I can't just have a Kephart but it should a little B&T or a carving knife to go with it. Maybe a chopper or an axe, but those are usually shared amongst my groups since I don't have much more room to put the bigger tools.

 

[Uncle Timbo]

BE, GREAT POST! I wouldn't worry a whole lot about being off topic, this is our place and we usually circle back around anyway.
I'm off to work soon or I'd chat longer. You all chat it up.

 

[eveled]

Eveled, I was just like you, I was as happy as a pig in mud with an Old Henry stockman...then I found this place.

Honestly I was really content. the four I listed were my good knives.

My collection problem started way before I found this place or even the internet. I always had a box of knives to play with either given to me bartered for or found. I remember buying decent scout knives at yard sales for a quarter.

When I was 13 I probably had 30 pocket knives in a cigar box and probably 8 sheath knives.

The strange part is knives are still so interesting to me almost half a century later. Other hobbies came and went.

To bring it back on topic. The Kephart knife is a new concept for me. The BK62 really is a great knife. It could be my only knife it can do it all and last a lifetime.

I used to be a voracious reader and outdoors had always been my favorite topic. I used to beg my father to drive me to the dump in the next town. (It was a very well to do town.) To dig through the recycle bin looking for magazines. Field and stream and National Rifleman was what I was searching for.

How I never came across Kephart is a mystery to me.

Like Uncle Timbo said. “They just work”.

 

[22-rimfire]

Knives are generally less expensive per unit than some other hobby things. In my case, it was guns which started out buying stuff to use because I used them a fair amount. I moved around and shooting guns became more of an occasional thing. The gun thing became collecting. Started hunting again and then started handgun hunting for deer. Loved that actually, but places to hunt can be a real PIA these days even though deer populations are at their highest ever and need to be managed. So, the hunting thing slowly ended but the topping on that was when I developed a meat allergy because of a tick bite. Not going to hunt and just waste game. I use knives nearly every day and I can't say that about firearms or any other interest I have except reading.

When I was a pup, I couldn't afford a box full of knives. I had one "good knife" (a Case Barlow), and a couple Imperials that I had purchased for $0.50 each that I outgrew. I still favor two blade slip joints over many other options. Discovering Vic SAKs and liking them changed everything. I didn't own a fixed blade (other than in the kitchen) for many years and that shift certainly increased the knife accumulation beginning in the late 80's. Now it's kepharts with fixed blades and I need more of them like a hole in the head. I enjoy it.

 

[bikerector]

Knives are generally less expensive per unit than some other hobby things. In my case, it was guns which started out buying stuff to use because I used them a fair amount. I moved around and shooting guns became more of an occasional thing. The gun thing became collecting. Started hunting again and then started handgun hunting for deer. Loved that actually, but places to hunt can be a real PIA these days even though deer populations are at their highest ever and need to be managed. So, the hunting thing slowly ended but the topping on that was when I developed a meat allergy because of a tick bite. Not going to hunt and just waste game. I use knives nearly every day and I can't say that about firearms or any other interest I have except reading.

When I was a pup, I couldn't afford a box full of knives. I had one "good knife" (a Case Barlow), and a couple Imperials that I had purchased for $0.50 each that I outgrew. I still favor two blade slip joints over many other options. Discovering Vic SAKs and liking them changed everything. I didn't own a fixed blade (other than in the kitchen) for many years and that shift certainly increased the knife accumulation beginning in the late 80's. Now it's kepharts with fixed blades and I need more of them like a hole in the head. I enjoy it.

I really liked handgun hunting deer as well, but that was on the tail end of my days hunting. I never got used to hunting on public land and I grew up on 40 acres, adjacent to far more and my gramps new all the farmers in the area so we pretty much had free rain... except grumpy old man Moe. He just didn't like people on his property, fair enough. He liked my gramps, but not anyone else.

Fishing is probably my first big hobby, outside of school sports. Used to spend the whole summer rowing around a lake trolling for fish. Got popeye arms from that. The little flat bottom aluminum boats were fun too, just throw it on your back and carry it where you need it. I had access to a nearby lake so it was really only a couple hundred yards to the lake and I would ride my bike to my grandpa's who had the boat. Worked out quite nicely, except they weren't too happy on how much food I ate. I had to trade them the fish, which was fine because I didn't have the taste for fish back then.

 

[22-rimfire]

I still pour money down the fishing equipment black hole, but it has slowed down with about 6-8 extra new rods and a few reels (just in case). I fish for trout mostly. In a bit of a slump for the last year or so and didn't even buy a license this year. When I joined BF, I was looking for a new hunting knife. I did have a couple handmade knives however that would have worked, but I wanted something new. It was very unlikely that I would spend $400 for a single knife back then. I used to attend gun and knife shows (first handmade knives came from shows) frequently and would travel up to about 8 hours to attend one if I thought it would be good. That said, I have been going to the Blade Show since 1991, not every year, but about half the time between 1991 and the present. So, yes, lots of knives.

Noticed some ghost sanding (from pictures) on my Eastland Kephart and did the old Howard "Feed-N-Wax" treatment on it and a couple other knives today.

 

[Uncle Timbo]

Well heck, y'all pretty much know my story. Born way back in a hollar in southern WV. I carried a pocket knife to school back then and nobody ever thought twice about it. My Dad taught me how to sharpen a knife when I was 10. That's also when he gave me my first shotgun. A side by side 12 ga double barrel made by LC Smith. Still got it. Me and my brother got used to carrying 2 pocket knives around. One for hard use and one for show. Still got a couple of Tree Brand Stockmans my Dad gave me. The NON- stainless steel ones. They have a deep patina.
My collection is pretty much, "there" with the exception of a Gossman Kephart. I feel like I can't live without one. After I get one you can stick a big ol fork in me cause I'll be done.

 

[Uncle Timbo]

Honestly I was really content. the four I listed were my good knives.

My collection problem started way before I found this place or even the internet. I always had a box of knives to play with either given to me bartered for or found. I remember buying decent scout knives at yard sales for a quarter.

When I was 13 I probably had 30 pocket knives in a cigar box and probably 8 sheath knives.

The strange part is knives are still so interesting to me almost half a century later. Other hobbies came and went.

To bring it back on topic. The Kephart knife is a new concept for me. The BK62 really is a great knife. It could be my only knife it can do it all and last a lifetime.

I used to be a voracious reader and outdoors had always been my favorite topic. I used to beg my father to drive me to the dump in the next town. (It was a very well to do town.) To dig through the recycle bin looking for magazines. Field and stream and National Rifleman was what I was searching for.

How I never came across Kephart is a mystery to me.

Like Uncle Timbo said. “They just work”.

Eveled, I did not come up with that line above. That one belongs to Ethan Becker. I put that in the title to honor him!
Kind of like why I post pics of the Kephart to honor @Mike McCarter

 

[vulcan2]

Hi everyone, looking for a quality and somewhat beautiful kephart knife. came to dogwood kephart and Lon Humphrey's.
so i want to ask which one is better in your opinion and if you know a better custom or mid-tech maker of kephart knives.

 

[22-rimfire]

Mike McCarter makes a Kephart that is very close to the original. I believe he uses 01 steel. He makes a very nice Kephart. I have only seen pictures of his.
Humphreys has used 3V but I doubt he'll do that again as he didn't like how hard it was to grind. He is using another steel now. Believe there are some of those at DLT.
Dogwood Custom Knives (Dan Eastland) uses CPM-154 and makes a knife that is close to the original but with a convex grind. It handles just like the Becker BK-62 in terms of feel.

Bark River makes a Kephart. I almost bought one of their's, but decided to get something else.

I have a Humphrey's 3V and Dogwood CPM-154. I prefer the Dogwood overall if I had to choose one. If I were going to baton much with a Kephart, it would be the Humphrey's. That is not something I commonly do. The Humphrey Kepharts are less expensive and I believe 4.5" versus 5".

 

[bikerector]

V vulcan2 I've heard the Lon Humphrey 3V models are a bit thick so favor hard use. Dogwood and Mik Carter make great renditions of the kephart.

The Bk62 is probably the best buget option, or maybe the condor. They're different peice brackets but both great values in their own right, IMO.

I really like LT Wright's designs and handles. They're more Kephart inspired but they are great. The genesis/gen series and bushcrafters are what you're looking for. The genesis tend to have a pointier tip and thumb scallops, the bushcrafters are a little more simplistic in design. The LT bushcrafter mark II is my favorite Kephart inspired design. It has a big, neutral shaped handle that I really like. I prefer their high saber grind but I think there are different grinds for all of the models with scandi, FFG, saber, and convex being options.

JK Knives makes a decent Kepart in O1. I've only had it for a little bit so I don't want to put too much judgment on it but I like the big handle it has and it does have a nice slicey convex geind that has been good in the kitchen so far. Haven't made it to the woods yet.

 

[22-rimfire]

You'll have to decide if you want a Kephart that is a close re-creation of the original or one that is very similar but with more modern steels. Consider your use. You might want something pointier. The 3V Humphrey is less pointy than the Dogwood Kephart. If you are unsure about the design, get the Kabar Becker BK-62 and go from there. It is not cheap, but certainly not priced like a handmade knife. I think the Kabar is well worth the price.

Last year when I became interested, I wanted something "better" than a Condor. The Condor felt like a steak knife to me, but not as slicey without a lot of edge work. I wanted a 5 inch knife and most I saw were in the 4 to 4.5" size area. That lead me to the Becker. I knew Ethan was very interested in the Kephart and suspected that he would try to have Kabar make one for him after he acquired one of the originals. When I found out it was going to be a 5", I was sold because I have a number of the Becker blades and they are very dependable. So, the wait was on and they were first released in late November 2018. I got mine in December. It was my Christmas present. That said I received the 2018 Traditional Knife made by Buck at about the same time... double knife Christmas. It is a really nice slip joint done with CPM-154. I really like CPM-154 and it would be my steel choice if I could only have one choice.

Uncle Timbo is very pleased with his McCarter Kephart. Pictures are posted a few posts back.

Fiddleback Forge makes a Kephart inspired knife that they call a kephart.