Pre-order for the new Kephart?

pre-order for the new Kephart?

  • Yes, start a pre-order

    Votes: 70 92.1%

  • No, bad idea

    Votes: 6 7.9%
  • Total voters
    76
Nathan the Machinist said:
It is a utility knife. I like the belly towards the tip on a Field Knife because I don't split the pelvis when processing game, I like a relatively narrow blade with the curvature near the tip to reach up in there to disconnect the "bits" from the surrounding tissue so I can tie them off from outside then pull them through without severing anything. It also does well edge out to unzip the hide along the legs without nicking meat (which is about all the skin I cut, I mostly just pull the rest off). That blade shape is also pretty well optimized for the way I use a blade in the shop for deburring. I think it's pretty ideal for a tradesmen to deburr pipe, pop nubs from the ends of saw cuts etc and it's pretty robust so the average knuckleheads (who pry) don't need to worry about breaking the tip off when trying to spread a joint open or even just popping staples out of the ends of their lumber.

We're going to do a Kephart next year with a finer point for folks who do more piercing and carving tasks.
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Nathan the Machinist said:
Both the Kephart and the DEK1 will be a thinner stock, probably around .145. Neither will be exceptionally thin and slicy, I will probably stick to a fairly typical .015-.020 edge thickness before sharpening but I would entertain the option of doing some ultra-thin ones.
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Nathan the Machinist said:
The DEK1 and the Kephart will both be ~ .155". Steel is on order now.
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Nathan the Machinist said:
View attachment 1267079
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20200117_173331-jpg.1267079
 
I'm on the fence. Never used or held a Kephart before and honestly find them kind of boring to look at as most examples have super simple blade/handle shapes. That said, the mockup casinostocks posted looks interesting with the shaped handle. I guess my biggest concern is overlap with the FK2.

What do you do guys think about a kephart vs FK2?
 
fatfrog said:
I'm on the fence. Never used or held a Kephart before and honestly find them kind of boring to look at as most examples have super simple blade/handle shapes. That said, the mockup casinostocks posted looks interesting with the shaped handle. I guess my biggest concern is overlap with the FK2.

What do you do guys think about a kephart vs FK2?
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TBH, just based on that CAD image, I don't see a significant enough overlap! Yes, for sure it will be a distinctly looking CPK because it will share the same DNA but just based on that image which I had remembered and then found, I may have convinced myself already to go for 2; but then again I'm an easy one for Jo & Nathan ;)
 
Odog27 said:
I’m probably out.
A lot of variables in my knife budget.
Will I land a BD?
If I don’t land a BD, should I get a second DEK1? Or another FK2? Or the Kephart?
Additionally, I’m trying to scrape together money for a K18 - but probably dreaming.
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One nice thing about saving money is that if the thing you were saving money for becomes a nonfactor, then you've now got a pile of money that is no longer allocated for anything...

I hope to propose to my girlfriend within the next year, but if for some reason that doesn't pan out... guess I'll just have to drown my sorrows by blowing all that saved money on a pile of knives...
 
Casinostocks said:
TBH, just based on that CAD image, I don't see a significant enough overlap! Yes, for sure it will be a distinctly looking CPK because it will share the same DNA but just based on that image which I had remembered and then found, I may have convinced myself already to go for 2; but then again I'm an easy one for Jo & Nathan ;)
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Agreed. A traditional Kephart is much different from the CAD rendering shown, which I prefer. I have a few traditional Kephart's in my stash and have never warmed up to the grip, too broom handle. I'm sure these will be CPK Ergonomic.
 
Casinostocks said:
TBH, just based on that CAD image, I don't see a significant enough overlap! Yes, for sure it will be a distinctly looking CPK because it will share the same DNA but just based on that image which I had remembered and then found, I may have convinced myself already to go for 2; but then again I'm an easy one for Jo & Nathan ;)
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What CAD image?
 
I really don't think it's my or anyone else's place to tell you how to run your business. You seem to be doing more than fine on your own! :thumbsup: So go for it if you want to. I would say, however, that if you decide to do it, as a customer I would like to see other existing pre-orders sent out before these were sent out. But even then . . . it's your business, so your call. I'm sure they will be great however you decide to proceed. :)
 
That CAD image was an early concept.

After reading his book, I decided it was hubris for me to try to improve Horace Kephart's design for a Kephart knife. I've made plenty of my knives and knives developed in collaboration with some of the most talented and knowledgeable users and makers and I can legitimately say that I've done it "my way". So I'm going to make the Kephart his way and make a relatively faithful copy of the original design, just made with modern high performance materials and processes. But the design is Horace's. Some people don't like it because it isn't particularly attractive and the handle lacks some of the sculpting we enjoy today. But some people do like it because it works pretty well as a camping bushcraft knife.

Some people want an AR chambered in .300 AAC blackout while others (for whatever inexplicable reason) use a Marlin 30-30. I tend to lean towards modern high performance, but some of the old stuff was pretty good too. Especially in Delta 3V (which I think Horace would have appreciated)
 
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