Need help with a sheath style

[Brian Andrews]

Because every maker out there has a "Kephart" style, I have avoided making one of my own. But, a recent trip to the Smokey Mountains, and reading about Horace's time there has changed my mind

So, I made up a Kephart style blade, and now it is just sitting here. I could just quickly do a "foldover" style sheath for it, but it just isn't sitting right with me. The idea doesn't seem to "fit" the knife.

Any thoughts? Anyone have a Kephart-ish style knife that they have a sheath they are particularly fond of?

Your input is appreciated.

B

 

[bkduckworth]

Another nice one as usual!

What about a pouch sheath with a full flap. Kind of like koyote's "outback" style.

Brandon

 

[Ramm9]

I could just quickly do a "foldover" style sheath for it, but it just isn't sitting right with me. The idea doesn't seem to "fit" the knife.

Any thoughts? Anyone have a Kephart-ish style knife that they have a sheath they are particularly fond of?

Beautiful knife, I really like your style of blade profiles.

I don’t think a fold over or pouch style catches the era of the Kephart either. For mine I wanted a cleaner line than the cheaper looking belt slot style like the original.

After doing the mod on Gossman’s raw blade I came up with this style for the Kephart and did the second one for an old Sharpfinger with the thought of adding it as a piggyback. The belt loop on the back is spaced with a layer of leather.

Looking forward to see what folks come up with compared to my homemade version.

 

[fishunter219]

David Wesner at Kelsey Creek Knife Works made a kephart for me that I love. I thought about a period style sheath but went with Davids sheath that is sewn around all sides.
The syle can be seen on his website.

 

[fishunter219]

that's a good looking Kephart. i think it's an extremely useful blade shape.

I camped 4 days on Hazel Creek a month ago near the ruins of Kepharts first cabin. Last week, camped 4 days on the lower end of Deep Creek, again one of his haunts. it's beautiful country and a rugged land.

 

[Diomedes Industries]

The one that Ramm9 made is certainly period accurate (perhaps minus the basket weave) and looks great.

However - I am picturing something like this:

or this:

With a little more flare at the mouth.

Brian, if you want to trade steel for leather - I would love to make you a prototype or two for it and see what we can come up with together.


This is, BTW, some of your best work yet. I KNOW everyone has a Kephart - but your design speaks of your tweaks and you did it very well. There is NO reason not to add this to your stable.
TF

 

[sheathmaker]

Brian, if a client turned me loose with a knife exactly like yours, it would wind up in a fitted, fully lined sheath styled similarly to the one Tal pictured in his post.

You knife seems ideally suited for the deep seat pouch style.

Paul

 

[SBranson]

I agree. For a bush knife a deep pouch, maybe even a dangler (if you like that style) is probably the best.
Tal's sheath above is perfect.

 

[NoahL]

The one that Ramm9 made is certainly period accurate (perhaps minus the basket weave) and looks great.

However - I am picturing something like this:

or this:

With a little more flare at the mouth.

Brian, if you want to trade steel for leather - I would love to make you a prototype or two for it and see what we can come up with together.


This is, BTW, some of your best work yet. I KNOW everyone has a Kephart - but your design speaks of your tweaks and you did it very well. There is NO reason not to add this to your stable.
TF

I would go with something like these

 

[Ramm9]

You could fold it over or sew both sides and add a bit of western flair using a Mexican Loop. Lined with some deer hide showing would be very classy.

Brian, if a client turned me loose with a knife exactly like yours, it would wind up in a fitted, fully lined sheath styled similarly to the one Tal pictured in his post.

You knife seems ideally suited for the deep seat pouch style.

Paul

The knife is extremely well suited to that style of sheath but as a result everybody and his brother is using the same style sheath for that knife and most other "bushcraft" blades. When you are building for re-sale maybe it makes sense to do that since it's suited and keeps the costs within reason but something a touch different than all the others would be refreshing...but may not make sense economically.

sheathmaker, do you have a photo along the lines of what you have in mind?

 

[sheathmaker]

Photo as requested is below. The OP knife has no guard or anything with which to make a retention strap useable, so the logical step from there is deep seat. A blade type sheath (stacked like a sandwich and stitched all the way around) could be made but it would still have to be deep seat to prevent loss. Last, the tricky designs and add this or that, just don't go with this style knife. Let's face it, the Kephart is kind of a bland , no nonsense, utility style knife and the more simple style sheaths just go better with it.

Paul

 

[SBranson]

Ha Ha ... Paul, your sheaths and the word "simple" don't really go together.

I think function is more important than difference particularly in a knife designed for function. As Paul's example shows, the "difference" is in the quality and tooling just oozing from his work.

Look at Tal's sheath again... It's about as "simple" as a sheath can be but the leather is good quality as is the work and I find that is as compelling as trying to be fancy.

I do get where you're coming from Ramm but I think in this case (pun intended) as simpler design would match the knife better. Just my opinion.

 

[Ramm9]

Photo as requested is below.

Thanks for posting those, that style does look ideal for the Kephart.

I've been under the impression the original style Kephart sheath was a rough version of the early Marbles sheaths, sewn on two side with an upper third keeper strap. My impression was wrong. Although it may have slots to slide a belt through it was in fact a deep pouch style sewn on two sides.

 

[rayban]

Gotta be butterfly to follow contour of the blade.