What appeals to you about a kephart blade shape?

[PolRoger]

Adam Kornalski (Kornalski Knives) Kephart with Jatoba (Brazilian Cherry) scales and BÖHLER K720/AISI O2 steel.

 

[Choorbs]

Does anyone have photos or a pdf copy of the article available? I’m in the midst of building a generic Kephart pattern and we don’t have access to this magazine in little old New Zealand

 

[arizonaranchman]

It does everything.
It feels good no matter how you hold it.
It's thin enough to cut, thick enough to be strong.
Useful blade length. Great tip.
Slim, Easy to carry.

Bingo. I have two - a BK62 and the other is custom made by Lucas Forge in northern Alabama (a BEAUTIFUL knife).

I like the simplicity. I find it lacking nothing for my daily needs.

 

[The True North]

Ditto.

There's some variation in the design of Kepharts (maker to maker) but they all look like they're just "butter" knives or pry bars to me.

The blunt tip is no good for stabbing/piercing and the very short belly at the tip of the blade is not much use for cutting with the tip and the angle of the tip makes it difficult to make use of the straight edge behind it.

So, it looks pretty useless to me and I've never purchased one for that reason.

Agreed. It’s the worst of both worlds to me.

Pretty low on my list of preferred blade profiles.

 

[bayouace]

The design has worked well for over 100 years.

 

[jayjaygee]

Kephart is associated with two blade patterns,,,both of which are classics imho.

The first, (below), is generally what is considered a "Kephart" on the forums...but the second is depicted in an illustration within his classic "Camping & Woodcraft".

Both superb knives, each in their own right.

View attachment 2041636



View attachment 2041637

Interestingly, I just looked to see if Marbles still makes a blade like this. They do, and although the rest of their blades are in the $3.00 to $25.00 range and made in China, this one is made in Argentina and goes for $102. Link to non-supporting vendor removed by staff

I don't know anything about Argentine blades, so I'm not saying if it's a good or bad value. Just vaguely interesting to me and wanted to share.

 

[Boattale]

For sure, I know most kepharts have some form of a guard. I'd prefer a little more like Sam Wilson's design, but I'll take any amount of guard over no guard. I wasn't specifically targeting kepharts as having no guard, more so musing on my experience and speaking out loud.

Kabar nailed it with that sheath too. When it comes to function I've yet to see better.

 

[jayjaygee]

The integral guard on the original design is usually sufficient, but I personally prefer a little more significant guard/protection there for the reason Shinyedges mentioned. Once covered in mud/blood/whatever, I don't want any possibility of my fingers needing to get rewired by a team of surgeons.

Sam

I don't know I'd consider this a Kephart but it does look like a great knife. In fact, I might want one if they came up for sale? It looks like it would be a great camp knife, and be better at food prep than a standard Kephart. Skinning too, although I'd bring a separate skinning knife if I expected to need one.

 

[Sam Wilson]

Thank you! This is our mid-tech tactical Kephart, the Tac-H.A.R.T. It is based on my custom Kephart model. These are in stock, and currently there is a sale on Gear Convoy for the weekend. 100% U.S. Made, and ground to slice.
Info thread.

I don't know I'd consider this a Kephart but it does look like a great knife. In fact, I might want one if they came up for sale? It looks like it would be a great camp knife, and be better at food prep than a standard Kephart. Skinning too, although I'd bring a separate skinning knife if I expected to need one.

Sam