The Kephart thread

neeman said:
With this you do not need an other
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Maybe not another kephart, but at least more knives. :thumbup: I have a Keppie from North River Knivesand one from Bryan Breeden. My Blindhorse Bushcrafter was my first Kephartish knife.
 
I made this one from an old broken butcher knife a few years ago. It's full tang but lacks the guard and is thin stock but it works.

KitchenKephart1.jpg


KitchenKephart3.jpg
 
I'm surprised there are so few production versions of this pattern (apparently, the Condor looks like the only one (at least that I'm aware of - that really fits the original design). The design should be simple (and inexpensive) to build.
I know I'm dreaming, but honestly I'd love an Opinel version of this pattern. Obviously, there's (literally!) an ocean between Opinel knives and Horace Kephart...yet both give their best in the same old fashioned way: a simple design, ergonomics, wooden handles, thin steel... :)
Back to US made versions, and since he already chimed in on this thread, I think it's fair to show the JK Kephart as well:

qI1nY89.jpg


Now a question for you kephart owners and users. How is the balance of this knife in use? Considering how it's made, the balance point should be just a bit behind the guard, which would make it comfortable for general use... :)

Fausto
:cool:
 
quattromori said:
Now a question for you kephart owners and users. How is the balance of this knife in use? Considering how it's made, the balance point should be just a bit behind the guard, which would make it comfortable for general use... :)
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I'd expect that to vary a bit, depending on the knife in question. As you already noted, there are many versions of the Kephart out there. The Condor seems faithful to the original, while others would probably be better described as Kephart-inspired. Probably the biggest factor would be blade thickness. The Condor uses 1/8" blade stock, while some are as thick as 3/16"
 
Wood choice could make a difference as well, all other things being equal.

My BR Kephart balances just slightly aft of the forward pin.

My LH Kephart balances at the forward pin.
 
This is a thought I dreamt up last night. Would altering a old XX Case Old Hickory fit the bill to become a Kephart?

 
Christian and SH,
I assumed that different versions had different balance point. Curious to hear about the Condor version, since it seems to be the closest to the original design (length, thickness and so on).
As for the Fiddleback, I really really like it...but I tend not to consider it a Kephart, more of a Kephart inspired knife (as the very knifemaker labeled it). It drifts a bit too much from the original design. :)
As for modding large kitchen knives into a Kephart, I did have the same thought a couple times... :rolleyes:

Fausto
:cool:
 
quattromori said:
Christian and SH,
I assumed that different versions had different balance point. Curious to hear about the Condor version, since it seems to be the closest to the original design (length, thickness and so on).
As for the Fiddleback, I really really like it...but I tend not to consider it a Kephart, more of a Kephart inspired knife (as the very knifemaker labeled it). It drifts a bit too much from the original design. :)
As for modding large kitchen knives into a Kephart, I did have the same thought a couple times... :rolleyes:

Fausto
:cool:
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Fausto, the Condor Kephart (I have one) balances at the first pin back from the blade.

In my hand, for which a #8 Opi fits very well, the Kephart feels good and easy to use. The wooden "guard" does its job nicely, though I have not used the knife to take a deer apart. The handle is a round-edged rectangle in profile, sort of like the newer model Buck 110s or 112s, but of course nowhere near as heavy.

Yes, it's kind of homely and non-glamorous and definitely non-tactical! It looks almost like someone made it at home using some steel scrap and a hammer.

The only treatment I have done with mine is to beeswax the handle and remove the black coating. As I mentioned above, the more barebones it looks, the more authentically Kephartian it is, at least in my eyes.
 
The Condor is certainly a fairly faithful version of the Kephart, but I'd wouldn't say it's the only accurate one, at least according to Kephart's own description I posted on the previous page. To summarize:

4-1/2" blade
4-1/2" handle
1/8" blade thickness
1" wide blade
Full tang
Handle wood light but strong, tapering from 3/4" to 1/2" at the guard
4 oz. knife weight

In every way except for blade thickness (through the use of a more modern, tougher steel), the Bark River Kephart comforms to this description exactly.

My Lon Humphrey version has a 1/8" blade thickness, true to the original, but a slight thicker handle that tapers from 7/8" to 5/8" and a slightly shorter blade at 4-1/4". However, Humphreys are individually hand hammered and built, and a certain amount of variation is part of the deal, as I imagine it probably was during Kephart's time.

In other words, I would say that both of these interpretations are pretty darn close to the description of Kephart's personal knife. And while I don't own them, both the JK and the Laconico seem quite faithful to the original description as well. Of course, the Condor is much less expensive.

One of the things that really jumps out to me in Kephart's description however is the very light weight - 4oz. - exactly what my BR Kephart weighs, but that's with a .093" thick blade. Both the Condor and the Humphrey versions are significantly heavier, coming in at about 7oz. I'm curious how such a light weight was attained on the original, while adhering to the stated blade length and thickness, with a basic carbon tool steel of the time...
 
This is a great thread. :thumbup:

The Condor I own is fantastically versatile, and I really hope to see more makers playing with the pattern.
 
Fausto, I need to get back to you on the Resolza, but I am an addict of the Kephart pattern. My favorite fixed blade pattern. I have four of varying sizes from Scott Gossman, and one from J Neilson. I've had them from Matt Liesnewski, Bark River, John Kiedaisch and many others. All great knives, but I am a traderholic. If you get a chance, buy one directly from Scott, Matt or John. I will keep an eye out for you. I've got 3", 3.5", 4" and 5". I use the 3" and 4" the most for what little woods walking I get done. Condor makes a Kephart if you just want to try the pattern.
 
AreBeeBee said:
The handle wouldn't be exactly right, but I doubt ol' Horace would complain. Another thing you could make out of that Old Hickory butcher knife would be a replica 18th-century trade or scalping knife. See: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/629741-English-and-French-trade-knives-18th-c
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As noted it would lack the guard and be thinner than spec. The old hickorys I have are from 1/16 to 3/32 in a huge butcher knife I have. The third knife in the picture is a nessmuky thing I cut out of an old hickory lettuce knife. It's sharp and real handy around a camp. Would love to cut out a kephart but the thin stock would probably bug me.

P1010652_zpsjmja3pwu.jpg
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Dan,
feel free to post pictures of your kephart knives when you have time ;) (by the way, I should be emailing you with some resolza updates very soon...)

SH,
to be honest, I hadn't really noticed the weight issue (I'm not used to ounces so I often overlook such info). Now you mentioned it, I got curious as well. Your BRKT Kephart looks light indeed...but the blade stock is evidently much thinner (which I'm sure I would like, regardless of Kephart's description). As for the Humphrey, it seems that he's made this pattern with variable thickness (which wouldn't surprise me at all, especially considering his knives are forged).
I have no idea of Kephart's starting point for his design...yet it wouldn't surprise me either to learn that it started out as a larger kitchen knife of some sort :)

Thanks to everyone who is contributing to this thread :)

Fausto
:cool:
 
Ray Laconico does not make fixed blades anymore, to my knowledge. I am kicking myself for trading my Kephart from him.
 
Maverick299 said:
This is a thought I dreamt up last night. Would altering a old XX Case Old Hickory fit the bill to become a Kephart?
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Like this? I call it my "Old Hickhart." I made a leather sheath for it and carry it regularly camping and hiking. Its not exactly the way he described his, But I had the knife already and wanted to see if I liked the pattern before ordering the Condor Kephart. I'm definitely sold on this design's versatility and abilities in the field. Its a great little knife. I want to thin it out some more and taper the grip to form a guard, but I like it the way it is enough to not really want to change it.



I also rounded the edges of the wood scales, sanded it, stained it, and used some lacquer to seal it. It looks slippery, but the lacquer actually made it slightly tacky so when its wet I can still keep a good hold on it.
 
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