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Horace Kephart fixed blade

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 5:52 pm
by wildcat
This knife is based on the knife that Horace Kephart supposedly carried on his adventures. I added a little more roundness in the belly of the blade. His was a little more straight. 4 1/2" blade is from and old crosscut saw, handle is Maple Burl. The sheath didn't quite come out like I wanted, but it works.

The pic shows how the blade is in the handle. It's held in by epoxy and 2 peened brass pins.

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:06 pm
by muskrat man
Nice interpretation of the design Wildcat. Here is one I did up, off original dimensions, only difference is mine has a high scandi grind instead of the flat grind of the original. I like to recreate these old knives


Image

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:18 pm
by wildcat
that is a nice one for shore ::tu::

how thick is the blade on yours?

Mine is 1/16" thick. Modern knifers would say that is way too thin. Those old woodsman would prolly think it is just right. I know it will slice without binding.

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:50 pm
by muskrat man
mine is aboout 3/32". alot of the old knives were thin. I've made some really thin knives, andthey do slice well. When you flatgrind 1/16" steel it gets silly thin on the edge :lol: when you sharpen it you can almost see the edge bend when you press it on the stone, then it will spring right back up after the pass is done. :D

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:52 pm
by wildcat
do you heat treat your blades made from the saw or do you retain the saw blade hardness?

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 10:22 pm
by muskrat man
it depends on the knife.

Do you?

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 10:28 pm
by wildcat
when I use the saw blades, I leave them as they are. I dip the blade in the slack tub after every two or three passes to keep it cool.

I do the same thing with files when making a knife from an old file.