Need some advice - Horace Kephart's Original and JK's Newest Kephart

w.t. anderson

w.t. anderson

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I need some advice from you all. I'm getting ready to order (yet another) of John's fine Kepharts, his latest version which seems to me the closest to Horace Kephart's original knife, his favorite that he said was made by a local blacksmith. My question is this: Does anyone know what wood was used for that knife? I've googled and researched, but haven't been able to find the answer other than "a light but hard wood" the old photos I've seen show a dark (darkened with use/grease/oil?) wooden handle with no discernible grain. All input/opinions/facts are appreciated.
 
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Unless specified in the order, the blacksmith likely used whatever wood was readily available and on hand. Walnut, maple, oak, hickory would all meet the specifics of "light and hard" and all could be darkened easily, whether on purpose or through use. And all could be had with little-to-no grain of desired.
 
YoungCurmudgeon said:
Unless specified in the order, the blacksmith likely used whatever wood was readily available and on hand. Walnut, maple, oak, hickory would all meet the specifics of "light and hard" and all could be darkened easily, whether on purpose or through use. And all could be had with little-to-no grain of desired.
Click to expand...

This is probably correct, and I can get all of them except hickory.
 
Osage Orange is a favorite as it was for the Comanche, but its natural range was Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, perhaps Kansas. Since Horace K. wrote from his experiences in the southern Appalachians/Great Smokies, I suspect the wood on the original Kephart was Walnut. Just a guess, still hope someone else knows for sure.
 
Everything I find calls it a "light but hard wood." No other details. The knife specs are the same as mine, 4 1/4" handle and blade, with a blade about 1" tall and 1/8" thick at the spine.
 
There were Millions upon millions of dead, standing Chestnut trees in Appalachia ( chestnut blight)and across the east during Horace's time. Hard wood, lighter than oak, and super abundant......Good chance a lot of it became knife scales
 
Since he was from North Carolina - the most common hardwoods were hard maple and sweet gum - I would guess one of those two - but it is just a logical guess based on his locale and what was available at the time.

best
mqqn
 
I was wrong about the chestnut wood, it's not very hard.
you can roast me on an open fire and let Jack Frost bite my face off.
Merry Christmas
 
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