Photos Kepharts...They just Work

22-rimfire said:
I agree. If Kabar went with a plastic handle similar to the Becker tweeners, I would not have liked the knife as something other than "just a knife". As it is, with the nuts/bolts, it would be very easy to switch handles or modify the existing handles on the BK-62. It really is a nice knife and I am glad I purchased it. Frankly, I would have been pretty satisfied if the BK-62 was my only Kephart as far as using goes. The grinds reflex doing things in a factory setting although folks like Bark River would have convexed the edge (versus a flat grind)... because that is the way they do things there.

I think the Green River butcher knives are a pretty accurate reflection of the kinds of knives used by the settlers and "mountain men" in the West.
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If'n you all remember, I had one of the BK's and let everybody know the handle was just a tad small or slim for my big paws. I actually found some new bolts and nuts and was going to add one maybe two pieces of orange kydex to both sides. Then I sold it. It was a very nice knife, I just couldn't see myself using it much with my 3V Kephart and the custom by Mike.
If I ever sell that @Mike McCarter of mine, you can guess I'm down to my last 5 cents.
 
Uncle Timbo said:
If'n you all remember, I had one of the BK's and let everybody know the handle was just a tad small or slim for my big paws. I actually found some new bolts and nuts and was going to add one maybe two pieces of orange kydex to both sides. Then I sold it. It was a very nice knife, I just couldn't see myself using it much with my 3V Kephart and the custom by Mike.
If I ever sell that @Mike McCarter of mine, you can guess I'm down to my last 5 cents.
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I hope you never get down to the point that you need to sell any knife including the McCarver. Won't sell the Becker Kephart. Other ones go before it and there are many. The BK-62 reflects precisely what I was hoping to obtain early in my Kephart acquisition phase regardless of use. The handmade stuff came a bit later. I guess you don't have the "too many knife syndrome" in terms of use....

I know that I like bigger knives, but the reality is that these small ones (sub 4") are pretty much most of what I need. I will probably use the little Condor Compact Kephart (2.57"blade) more than my other kepharts because I have no hesitation to use it for most any knife task. A common one for me is to dig weeds (in particular wild violets) in my yard with a knife. Sometimes I even use a SAK for this as that's what is in my pocket at that moment in time. Been carrying the little compact kephart since I got it all the time. I normally don't spend hours doing this; it's more of a "there's a couple of those dang violets and I'm going to dig them out now thing" as I wander around my yard. It is a bit of an abusive knife task and generally speaking if I think about it ahead of time, I use my heavy Condor Bushlore (1/4" stock tank) for this as I don't really care if I damage the edge a bit from time to time.
 
Uncle Timbo said:
I was going to and then I didn't. Right before, I got hit with some pet expenses from the Vet. We love our pets.
I think BE was able to buy one. Did you get one?
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I did get one. Trying to get a 2nd used one but the seller's communication is really poor so I don't think it will work out. And my email keeps sending his emails to spam for some reason... Microsoft.

The handle is pretty big and beefy and I've started liking it the more I use it. It won't replace the LT buscrafter MKII as a fave Kephart inspired design, but it's a pretty decent knife. JK does a pretty great convez grind but his handles are a little blocky. Not nearly as bad as OKC or Esee's tactical knives but certainly not perfectly rounded like LT. There are some benefits to that though and it hasn't hindered comfort after using it for a while. I had initial negative thoughts on it but those are now gone and I've had a few more knives made by John since.
 
I managed to get an older Jk Kephart, I like it. I finally got Fiddleback production Kephart which is more pointed than a traditional Kephart, but I like the feel of the handle.
 
Uncle Timbo Uncle Timbo , just wanted your opinion, is there really any advantage of a Kephart with a 4.5 to 5 inch blade that I could not just as easily do with a 4 inch blade? Besides splitting fire wood, which I do not do, mostly just everyday chores. I may want to get a Jk Kephart in stainless (154cm) but wanted a slightly longer blade. What are your thoughts?
 
I think it's nice to have both options available; a 5 incher and something smaller. My little (and inexpensive) Condor Compact Kephart has been on my belt now for a week and a half. Using it for most everything. It's still a 3 finger knife, but I don't cut that many things that require a significant full handed grip even though I prefer them. My little 3.8" Bark River Mini Kephart is pretty comfortable to use too and has very thin steel stock. But Barkie's aren't for everyone.
 
cbach8tw said:
Uncle Timbo Uncle Timbo , just wanted your opinion, is there really any advantage of a Kephart with a 4.5 to 5 inch blade that I could not just as easily do with a 4 inch blade? Besides splitting fire wood, which I do not do, mostly just everyday chores. I may want to get a Jk Kephart in stainless (154cm) but wanted a slightly longer blade. What are your thoughts?
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I can help with that one as I've had multiple options in both size ranges. 1st, I prefer the 5" size which means the LT Wright bushcrafter mark II and kabar Kephart are the two I have in that range, the former being my favorite knife for overall use. For me, it comes to comfort of use for a knee lever technique which I use a lot but have very large legs so the extra length to span my knee/shin is very helpful. Unfortunately, it also means the 90 degree spines can really ticked me off when I'm wearing shorts.

I also find the extra length very helpful when using the knife to flatten a piece of work or work surface. I do this a lot in winter or when it's wet out by putting a flat spot on a log so that I have something to cut against that's solid and it helps keep my knife out of the snow or mud, since I live in a swampy area of MI.

However, for everyday chores, the 4" length is probably sufficient. I often use a 3.5" puukko or similar for everyday type stuff, unless use in the kitchen is needed then I want at least 4".

As an FYI, my standard JK Kephart has a 4.5" blade with about 4.25" having an edge. I think it's my only JK that I didn't ask for anything special outside of handle material. If I were to do it over again, I would probably ask for 3/32" steel instead of 1/8" since O1 is plenty tough at the thinner width and then it would be better for cooking chores. I really like my JK Canadian belt knife that has a convex grind on 3/32" 154cm steel, which I had made with the intent of making it a key part of my kitchen cutlery with the ability to take it to the woods without too much worry of damage from being too thin.

Not sure if you have a JK Kephart yet, but if not, I can send you mine to test out for a bit. I also have a mini Kephart like 22 and that's another one I like for everyday types of tasks. Actually, I've been carrying that one around in the vest the past couple weeks instead of the puukko since my puukko is a bit heavy now that I wear the vest around the house more with the cold weather so that it feels lopsided when sitting and not being active.
 
All I can say is "Too many knives and Too little time to use them."

On the size thing, most of my use is "everyday" type tasks. When I was a kid, if I had the BR Mini Kephart, I doubt I would have bought another fixed blade until joining here. But then, I really didn't own any fixed blade knives until after the Rambo movies showed up. MacGyver never convinced me to carry a SAK, I did that on my own.
 
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Thanks for all the good info. I do have an older JK Kephart and an EDC (?) Kephart, so it is more of a wish list or potential for a stainless JK. He has the overthick 1/8 154 cm that I was leaning toward for a rougher knife in 4.5 length, so you think 3/32 in that steel would be a good user since it is thinner and with the wider profile it would add some rigidity and strength? Definleity want a four finger or a little more grip, for added dexterity for kitchen work and smaller jobs. I also saw the LTWK Gen 5, but I like being able to get some little touches that John can do, such as wood and liners.
 
The LT Gen 5 is one that really interested me when it came out, but it's very similar to the larger bushcrafter that I have, with thumb scallops instead of the index finger groove.

The ease of customization is a bonus for working with John for sure.
 
cbach8tw said:
Uncle Timbo Uncle Timbo , just wanted your opinion, is there really any advantage of a Kephart with a 4.5 to 5 inch blade that I could not just as easily do with a 4 inch blade? Besides splitting fire wood, which I do not do, mostly just everyday chores. I may want to get a Jk Kephart in stainless (154cm) but wanted a slightly longer blade. What are your thoughts?
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Craig, you have some solid advice here by BE and Rimfire. They pretty much covered things. I agree with a slightly longer blade.
A 4" blade is nice but what if you need to split some wood to make a bow and drill setup.
 
Uncle Timbo said:
Craig, you have some solid advice here by BE and Rimfire. They pretty much covered things. I agree with a slightly longer blade.
A 4" blade is nice but what if you need to split some wood to make a bow and drill setup.
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Thanks, my thoughts are evolving and changing, may go back to original idea of a French ball end knife with 5 inch blade. Sometimes they say the original thought is the best idea. Will, let you know and I appreciate all the advice.
 
cbach8tw said:
Thanks, my thoughts are evolving and changing......
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Same here. Sometimes I don't know WHAT I prefer. A year ago is about when the Kabar Becker BK-62 Kephart was announced. I got mine in December. All I wanted in a Kephart was a characteristic knife about 5 inches long that was better than the Condor that I was pretty dissatisfied with. Move forward 11 months and I own three more Kepharts and a fourth if you count the little Condor Compact Kephart. All I can say is that I went a bit hog wild on this from my point of view. Like I need all these kepharts.....;)

I'm a pretty simple guy and I like Kepharts. But right now, I'm using the BRKT Mini Kephart and the Condor Compact Kephart and I like both. The Condor really cuts which surprised me. I was honestly expecting another dud Kephart like their original offering. I still really like the Becker, but my normal woods activities don't demand anything larger than the BRKT. It is not like I'm spending the night normally. I'm just day hiking, seeing some sights, taking pictures, and getting out by night fall for the most part.

I am about to try to locate the original Condor and grind the edge down a bunch to hopefully make it into a knife that cuts. It's pretty useless as is to me and I obviously didn't miss it. It is always a step for me to make this kind of decision as I risk really screwing up a knife. A reflection.... I bought a 14" Condor Puerto Rican machete and really hated the big handle. It sat for probably a year before I even tried to cut something with it. It was sent to me by mistake when I ordered the larger Condor Viking machete model, but I kept it. After sanding the handle down a lot, sharpening, it has become one of my preferred machetes. So, I hope I can look back and say that about the Condor Kephart after I start grinding on it. If I screw it up, it won't be the end of the world.
 
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22-rimfire said:
Like I need all these kepharts.....;)
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Just to cherry pick this piece, I do find it a bit ironic that several of us here have multiple Kepharts, a knife by its very design intended to replace many knife options by being pretty good at many things. "I could have these 5 knives, or one Kephart that will handle all of these tasks nearly as well. I'm going to have 5 Kepharts instead." Sometimes we aren't the most reasonable crowd, but there are worse hobbies or fascinations I suppose.
 
The Kephart pattern has intrigued me for a couple months now and I don't know why. I finally ordered a Condor blade blank and plan on getting some whitetail antlers from my sister and will play around with making handle scales for it.
 
Another use of the Kephart. It's so useful for so many things.

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