Horace Kephart was a librarian-turned-expert-woodsman in the late 19th to early 20th century. Known as the father of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, Kephart was a master of survival outdoors. His seminal work Camping and Woodcraft is considered by many to be the Bushcrafter's Bible. In it, he describes the tools that got him through numerous outdoor adventures. His belt knife is one of those, and this is a modern interpretation of his now legendary blade.
Crafted by stock removal from O1 Tool steel, this knife remains faithful to the overall design of Kephart's original, with a few modifications to benefit the modern-day bushcrafter. Rather than the original flat grind, this knife features a Scandi-ground blade for greater woodworking potential. The false-edge has been retained, however shortened. This relief on the last third of the spine creates less resistance during cuts, as well as aids in disjointing game. The remainder of the spine has been left squared for the scraping of tinder, or for striking sparks from a fero rod.
The comfortable handle has been crafted from olivewood and has a gorgeous grain pattern.
Included with this knife is a heavy duty, hand-stitched leather sheath with solid copper rivets.
Details:
Overall Length: 8 3/4:
Blade: 4 5/8"
Width: 1 1/2"
Thickness: 1/8"
Material: O1