Production Kepharts? Ummm... Yeah!!!

CPP said:
Beautiful knives. Did Dropbox actually work?
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Thanks!
I think Dropbox could work, but probably not with me working it!
I messed with it for a long time, hours & hours, and got nowhere, but I'm a spaz with certain modern computing skills.
It's me, for sure, not the Dropbox code or UI.
 
Cobra5 said:
I know how you feel, and I couldn't agree more. There is something about the handle contours that just fits my hand perfectly. Combine that with a super versatile thin & pointy blade shape, the lanyard hole, the blade handle ratio, and it all adds up to awesomeness!
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Yeah, I have loved the Kephart since the very first one, and I have had a couple others since then. In the process I have learned my grail Fiddleback would be 5/32 CPM S35VN Kephart with tapered tang, and natural bolstered evergreen burlap. So, since my grail will be remaining a grail for the foreseeable future, I am really happy with the mid-tech version. Cryo-quenched S35 is something I have played with a lot of, and is my overall favorite steel so far. Peters does a damn fine job on their heat treat and quench. This is the first opportunity I have had to work a full-sized knife made of 1/8 S35VN this hard, and I have been very well pleased with the results I've seen. The serious studies I have been involved with lately, for different companies, with a few steels cryo-quenched by Peters, CPM S35VN, 80CrV2, CPM 3V, has me realizing their are much better options for strength and durability than just adding more mass available with today's steels and processes. They just cost a bit more. The corrosion resistance of the S35 makes me prefer it over all. To me really good durability combined with the lighter weight of thinner stock, which also allows for a better cutting geometry, that comes with awesome corrosion resistance, is something I don't mind paying a bit extra for by itself. And especially when it comes with such well thought out ergonomics as the Fiddleback mid-techs.

I also go back and forth on the lanyard hole versus the custom shop version. I tend to forego the lanyard on the hand made versions for a few reasons. I love being able to see the whole bullseye, on the smaller models the bullseye is under hand when I grip the knife, so a lanyard can get uncomfortable in use, and I don't care for lanyards on knives in simple pouch sheaths when I am moving through brush and briers. I have had them hang and pull the knife from the sheath.

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BUT the hidden lanyard hole keeps the lanyard out from under my hand in use.

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And I have options on having sheaths made which will secure the lanyard as much as this one does. So I am sort of liking having the lanyard option available in a way that is more user-friendly to my hand...

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Do you by chance have a 12" machete to pair with it. Hard combo to beat IMO.
 
Well Andy, I am humbled and grateful to have you post in a thread I started. I'm pretty new to all things FF, so as a newb, it's pretty exciting to have you looking in on little ole me. Your Kephart design, and the production version in particular, is some kinda wonderful. It all comes together to form a complete package IMHO.
And I would be remiss if I didn't give a shout out to Mistwalker, because without his awesome pictorial threads on both the Production Duke and Kephart, I probably still wouldn't even be aware that Fiddleback Forge exists, much less these two fantastic knives.

Fiddleback said:
This thread and the pics of your collection of production Kepharts is heartwarming. I'm very glad you posted it. I think the 1/8" thick blade of the Kephart model set it apart. Its an amazing tool for function already, but that thin stock really makes that S35VN sing. Thank you for your support.
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+1 on this being the best complete knife out there. I also thanked Mistwalker for his post and his time going back and forth with me on this model. I even bought my son one and now I just about have my buddy hooked for one.
 
Cobra5 said:
Well Andy, I am humbled and grateful to have you post in a thread I started. I'm pretty new to all things FF, so as a newb, it's pretty exciting to have you looking in on little ole me. Your Kephart design, and the production version in particular, is some kinda wonderful. It all comes together to form a complete package IMHO.
And I would be remiss if I didn't give a shout out to Mistwalker, because without his awesome pictorial threads on both the Production Duke and Kephart, I probably still wouldn't even be aware that Fiddleback Forge exists, much less these two fantastic knives.
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Man I'm just some dude with rough hands and nasty looking fingernails. LOL. You are the important one, I am certain any of my employees would agree. Thank you for posting and really thank you for the complete package comment. I love that stuff.
 
I have our 3rd one on the way for my youngest boy. He wasn't about to get mine.
 
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