View Full Version : Kephart knife
I'm a fan of Horace Kepharts book "Camping and Woodcraft" and I'd always meant to get around to making a knife to his design. I took a couple of liberties, slight aesthetic changes, and convex grind where I'm sure his would have been flat ground.
So here it is 01 tool steel, 4" blade and I'm pretty sure elm for the handle (wood came from a coffin bottom, unused). Homemade fibre spacers, cotton cloth soaked in epoxy and clamped to the scales. It worked quite well.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/LJintheUK/blades/2009_0521Image0002.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/LJintheUK/blades/2009_0521Image0001.jpg
Here is a link to the ad for the knife and an original (warning contains pictures of dead animals) http://www.wcu.edu/library/digitalcoll/kephart/onlineexhibit/outdoors/Hunting.htm
John Fenna
21-05-2009, 17:11
As part of a coffin you could say it is "dead" good!
British Red
21-05-2009, 18:27
Loving the elm - thats lovely
Great job mate... top rate...
Good looking knife, Luke, well done. Sounds like a good idea to use cloth as liners directly on the scales :)
stanley lake
21-05-2009, 20:44
Good job nice idea using cloth soaked in resin
The cloth liners probably don't provide the expansion buffer that fibre liners do, it's more like a layer of "fake-arta." I just made sure everything was warm, glue, cloth and scales. I glued both scales up at the same time and clamped them together with a bit of polythene, well lubed with veg oil, in between them. When it came to gluing the knife up I gave the liners a good rough up with sandpaper.
bushwacker bob
21-05-2009, 22:31
Lovely knife Snuf. Makes you wonder where modern bushcraft designs come from. Maybe you could make a similar one with a scandi grind.
Tye Possum
22-05-2009, 05:52
Looks good, like a tool that's meant to be used, nothing too fancy but still looks good for some reason, probably those very reasons.
nothing too fancy but still looks good for some reason
Yeah, that's true. I really like it, there's definately something "Zen" about it
Big Mark
24-05-2009, 20:00
Looks cool...
steven andrews
24-05-2009, 20:19
I love the simple lines of the Kephart.
I have just had on made for me by Matt Lesniewski of ML Knives. That is a convex too, in 1095 carbon, with a tiger maple handle.
I love the simple lines of the Kephart.
I have just had on made for me by Matt Lesniewski of ML Knives. That is a convex too, in 1095 carbon, with a tiger maple handle.
Sounds good. I really like the look of his work. It was actually his interpretation of the Kephart that got me interested in making my own version. I'd seen the original ad for the Kephart knife several years ago but being new to knife making I was more interested in "flashier" designs. I'm now coming back to simpler stuff. I'd be interested to know how you get on with your ML version.
steven andrews
25-05-2009, 18:59
Yours looks great Snufkin .
Here are some pics of mine:
http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/306/stevenandrewskepharthan.jpg (http://img33.imageshack.us/my.php?image=stevenandrewskeph arthan.jpg)
http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/6162/dscf0252s.jpg (http://img33.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf0252s.jpg)
Yours looks great Snufkin .
Here are some pics of mine:
http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/306/stevenandrewskepharthan.jpg (http://img33.imageshack.us/my.php?image=stevenandrewskeph arthan.jpg)
http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/6162/dscf0252s.jpg (http://img33.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf0252s.jpg)
Fine looking knife. Love that maple:) .
Those knives are growing on me. I may have to follow your lead and make one!! I have ordered the book, as you make it sounds like it will be a good read :)
Those knives are growing on me. I may have to follow your lead and make one!! I have ordered the book, as you make it sounds like it will be a good read :)
Loads of great information in it. A worthwhile addition to anyones library, especially if you like natural materials and trad gear, so I'm sure you'll love it:).
steven andrews
26-05-2009, 11:01
I am reading Horace Kephart's book too - it's quite old fashioned, but a lot of the content is still very relevant.
http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/9237/dscf0110m.jpg (http://img35.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf0110m.jpg)
http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/6481/dscf0111.jpg (http://img35.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf0111.jpg)
BorderReiver
26-05-2009, 11:31
That is a smashing bit of kit; simple, elegant, fully functional. Lovely job.:)