After heming and hawing over the past week, I couldn't stand it anymore. I pulled the trigger on my first Fiddleback Forge knife, a Kephart in 1/8" O1. I wanted a micarta rather than a natural scale, as I believe micarta is a bit more durable and stable. I intend for this knife to be a user, my woods pal when I'm chasing brook trout a fair hike from my truck. I'm getting to a point in my life where I'm willing to pay for something a bit better made, especially if I can have some sort of connection with the person who made it. I met the man who made my favorite fly rod. My favorite guitar was made exactly to what I have come to like over the past 30 years. And my favorite fixed blade knives have come from places where I can claim at least a small connection with the maker. Fiddleback Forge is yet to be in that circle, but after receiving this knife, I hope y'all won't mind a Knoxville visitor coming by the shop one day. I need to meet the people who made this blade.
Package arrives:
Dammit. I need a knife to open my knife. But which one? Has to be another woods pal, my copper SAK Farmer:
Job done, box at least looks like it is the right model:
And it's here. Lovely sapphire burlap handles, very defined spalting on the O1. Love the shape of the grind:
Closeups of the blade:
So? First off, the knife is fantastic. The blade shape, the handle, the balance, all combine to be an incredibly comfortable blade. Compared to my made-by-me BRKT Aurora and my factory BRKT Gunny Hunter, the Kephart fills a happy medium. The handle gives a stable grip without getting in the way. The slightly matte finished micarta offers a fantastic grip. The knife felt comfortable in my hand from the get go, and shaved some fatwood to start a fire and split a bit of hickory (see the Fiddlebacks and Coffee thread) with ease.
To be completely fair, there one a minor niggle. There are a couple of small corrosion spots on the left side of the blade. I expect the blade to patina, and I have oiled the blade. I am not disappointed, but point this out for completeness.
All in all, I'm extremely pleased with my purchase. I'm looking forward to plenty of hip time with this one if my work schedule ever allows me to start fishing again.
In terms of sharpening, I assume this can be stropped like my BRKT knives?
Package arrives:
Dammit. I need a knife to open my knife. But which one? Has to be another woods pal, my copper SAK Farmer:
Job done, box at least looks like it is the right model:
And it's here. Lovely sapphire burlap handles, very defined spalting on the O1. Love the shape of the grind:
Closeups of the blade:
So? First off, the knife is fantastic. The blade shape, the handle, the balance, all combine to be an incredibly comfortable blade. Compared to my made-by-me BRKT Aurora and my factory BRKT Gunny Hunter, the Kephart fills a happy medium. The handle gives a stable grip without getting in the way. The slightly matte finished micarta offers a fantastic grip. The knife felt comfortable in my hand from the get go, and shaved some fatwood to start a fire and split a bit of hickory (see the Fiddlebacks and Coffee thread) with ease.
To be completely fair, there one a minor niggle. There are a couple of small corrosion spots on the left side of the blade. I expect the blade to patina, and I have oiled the blade. I am not disappointed, but point this out for completeness.
All in all, I'm extremely pleased with my purchase. I'm looking forward to plenty of hip time with this one if my work schedule ever allows me to start fishing again.
In terms of sharpening, I assume this can be stropped like my BRKT knives?
