Kephart Tribute knife

[rabid wombat]

My stash of instrument grade walnut

I have been going round and round in my head about this…. Epiphany…instrument, like musical… I am a little dense at times….

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

I have been going round and round in my head about this…. Epiphany…instrument, like musical… I am a little dense at times….

I was having a similar mental loop and then it "hit" me as well.
I really should have known as my neighbor is a luthier...

 

[argonn]

I had to look it up, it is an actual walnut grade. Nice stuff!
I’ll have that knife singing!

 

[sgt127]

Interesting that you put lightening holes in the tang. Do you have any reason to believe the original had that?

Was it based on the “feel” of the original? Your gut feeling that it balanced better? Better epoxy adhesion?

I think it’s a great idea to keep the overall weight down a little for a knife intended for long carrying periods. With absolutely no loss in strength.

 

[sgt127]

What is the blade length, and handle length? Weight?

Since Flat Rock is, as close as possible, duplicating an original Kephart, this thread should answer your question. Full specs in the thread.

Original Kephart on Ebay!

Good pictures show some of the features of the blade and grip most makers don't copy. https://www.ebay.com/itm/326488000712

www.thehighroad.org

 

[Flat Rock]

Interesting that you put lightening holes in the tang. Do you have any reason to believe the original had that?

Was it based on the “feel” of the original? Your gut feeling that it balanced better? Better epoxy adhesion?

I think it’s a great idea to keep the overall weight down a little for a knife intended for long carrying periods. With absolutely no loss in strength.

To match the balance point of the original
And yes, holes make the epoxy stronger

 

[Flat Rock]

Since Flat Rock is, as close as possible, duplicating an original Kephart, this thread should answer your question. Full specs in the thread.

Original Kephart on Ebay!

Good pictures show some of the features of the blade and grip most makers don't copy. https://www.ebay.com/itm/326488000712

www.thehighroad.org

Sorry I missed your post, I will measure and weigh the prototype and get back to ya

 

[Flat Rock]

The Kephart is 9.5” long with a 5” blade and weighs 5.5 oz

 

[argonn]

Looking forward to a pic of the scales

 

[Flat Rock]

Fixture for drilling scales with a tapered tang
Flat is referenced on the blade section before grinding

 

[Flat Rock]

Scales fitted now ready to grind
The handles will be put on later

 

[argonn]

Man, at all the work! Nice job!

 

[Mk-211]

I wish I had the talent and patience to do that!

If that were me, I'd have a wall of rejects, stuck in it!

 

[sgt127]

I wish I had the talent and patience to do that!

If that were me, I'd have a wall of rejects, stuck in it!

I make my own holsters. The ones I post, are very good holsters.



There is also an even bigger pile of really bad holsters. And pieces of holsters.

I have, unquestionably, spent more on making holsters if you include my time, than if I’d just bought Milt Sparks holsters to begin with…

 

[rabid wombat]

than if I’d just bought Milt Sparks holsters to begin with…

For my talent, I would have to buy Milt Sparks, the company….

 

[dh1633pm]

Hey @Flat Rock , did see No 10 in the above picture. : )

Excellent work you did. I saved a couple of pieces from my storm damaged Walnut tree. We’ll see how they turn out. Letting them weather inside my old barn. Scales on yours are pretty nice. Don’t think mine are anywhere near instrument grade.

 

[Flat Rock]

Did some grinding on Kepharts this morning

Here you can see the tapered tang and distal blade taper. This is very difficult to do well.

The “Appleseed “ blade shape can be seen here, this feature is typically not done in modern Kephart knives

 

[Flat Rock]

Another Kephart out the door!!!

 

[argonn]

Another Kephart out the door!!!

View attachment 1265700

That is beautiful! What number was that one?

 

[Flat Rock]

Another one ready to go!!

 

[Flat Rock]

#2 and 3 together

 

[argonn]

Oh, man! Gorgeous work! That will make two folks very happy!!

 

[sgt127]

Those are really beautiful. So simple. So elegant. It totally belies all the complex grinding and subtleties involved.

It’s beyond most people to see what’s going on. I get that. I don’t understand people that collect beer coasters. Or matchbook covers.

They would look at that and see this, a perfectly good knife and ask “What’s the difference?”



Quite a bit actually….

(By the way, the skirt steak was quite nice )

 

[dh1633pm]

Beer coasters are great for something small that will fit into the suitcase as a reminder of where you had a beer world wide and take up minimal space. I also collect knives. Have two Flat Rock knives. Both are excellent.

 

[argonn]

Speaking of old knives, at 77 this is one I remember as a kid at my grandfather’s house. I’ve had it a long time. Many a fine meal has been prepared with it.