Kephart Knife: Options In The Outdoors Do-All

Four repros emulate the knife Horace Kephart made famous.

Before Rambo provoked people to rush to their local sporting goods stores searching for a hollow-handle, saw-back survival knife and long before Ray Mears popularized the quest for the perfect Scandi-ground knife, a timeless classic woods knife endured the test of time—the Kephart.

Who Was Horace Kephart

Horace Kephart (1862-1931) was a prominent figure known for his contributions as an author, librarian and outdoorsman. His extensive exploration of the Southern mountains led him to conduct valuable research on the region and its inhabitants.

Among his many books, he is best known for Our Southern Highlanders and Camping and Woodcraft, with the latter serving as an enduring guide for outdoor living. Both works are still widely available and highly regarded. In the 1920s, Kephart was pivotal in advocating for establishing the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

What Is a Kephart Knife?

The Kephart-style knife features a spear-point blade and an oval cross-section handle. The blade is typically 4-to-5 inches long, 1095 carbon steel, and forged using techniques reminiscent of 18th-to-19th-century bladesmithing. The blade is typically an eighth inch at the thickest, supporting a sturdy and durable structure. A distinctive feature is the asymmetrical spear point with a full-length edge enhancing its utility in various cutting tasks. The scales are often walnut or maple. The overall design aims for simplicity, with attention to detail to ensure comfort and usability.

In the words of Horace Kephart, “A camper has use for a common-sense sheath-knife, sometimes for dressing big game, but oftener for such homely work as cutting sticks, slicing bacon, and frying ‘spuds.’ For such purpose, a rather thin, broad-pointed blade is required … It is tempered hard enough to cut green hardwood sticks, but soft enough so that when it strikes a knot or bone it will, if anything, turn rather than nick.”

ML Knives Kephart

Kephart Specs
Blade Length: 4”
Blade Material: 1095 carbon steel
Blade Grind: Convex
Blade @Thickest: .125”
Blade Finish: Forged
Handle Material: Tiger maple
Overall Length: 8.25”
Sheath: Leather
Country of Origin: USA
MSRP: $295

I received my first Kephart-style knife from Matt Lesniewski of ML Knives back in 2007, and it instantly became my favorite. The craftsmanship of the piece is truly remarkable, as Matt employed early 18th-to-19th-century bladesmithing techniques, using 1095 carbon steel and handforging each blade. The handcrafted sheaths are also stunning works of art that truly stand out.

My ML Kephart features a 4-inch blade and a 4.25-inch handle, with scales of beautiful tiger maple. The handle’s oval cross-section provides a comfortable grip, with just the right amount of rounding to prevent discomfort during use. The spear-point blade and eighth-inch thickness, along with the full convex edge and visible forge marks, give the knife a rustic yet simple charm.

Naturally, after reading Horace Kephart and Nessmuk, I made many backcountry trips and always had a stout, reliable fixed blade. When traveling afoot, as the old timey adventurers would say, I had minimal kit and seldom took a large axe or saw. I used a light tomahawk, as Kephart spoke of, and a jackknife in the form of a Swiss Army knife. I had to do more with the fixed blade, and I did. The ML Kephart excelled at woodcraft as the convex edge was ultrasharp and robust.

I always test every cutting tool by shaving arm hair*, whether it’s an axe, long blade or anything with an edge. The next task is always shaving wood, as a fire is ultra important when camping or woodcrafting. The ML excelled at the task—but could it drill? I broke a few old seasoned planks apart by drilling through and twisting them for kindling. The handle seemed comfy, and the natural maple gave me enough traction to keep a solid grip during any task. The flat primary grind with a convex edge is the best of both worlds. And no camp food or sandwich was safe from the ML Kephart.

KA-BAR/Becker Knife & Tool BK62 Kephart

BK62 Specs
Blade Length: 5.125”
Blade Material: 1095 Cro-Van carbon steel
Blade Grind: Flat
Blade @Thickest: .158”
Blade Finish: Satin
Handle Material: Walnut
Overall Length: 9.625”
Sheath: Leather
Country of Origin: USA
MSRP: $232.29

The KA-BAR/Becker Knife & Tool BK62 Kephart is a modern tribute to the classic American bushcraft knife based on the version of renowned author, outdoorsman and gear designer Ethan Becker. “Many copies of the Kephart are based on the one at Western North Carolina University because it was the only one anybody knew about,” Ethan said. He added that his design is based on the only known example, which was virtually pristine, outside a museum. That’s why Ethan said the BK62 is the closest anyone can get to the original Kephart.

Precision crafted, the BK62 features a 5.125-inch blade of 1095 Cro-Van carbon steel, known for its durability and edge retention. Overall length: 9.62 inches. The blade’s full flat grind and spear-point design make it versatile for wood carving and food preparation. The handle is walnut, providing a comfortable grip and a timeless aesthetic. The BK62 is a functional tool and a piece of history, as it closely replicates the original Kephart knife, which played a significant role in the early 1900s wilderness culture. Each Becker Kephart comes with a leather sheath.

The BK62 arrived when I was about to do a little cooking, so I quickly put it into service cutting roast and chicken breast. The flat-ground blade sliced meat like a champ. It performed like a kitchen knife and felt natural in the hand. The BK62 did its share of slicing potatoes, carrots and beef for a pot roast. Thoroughly convinced of its ability to handle food, I moved on to the woods test.

I performed two tasks with the BK62. The first was batonning practical pieces of wood approximately the width of a pencil. The blade’s .158-inch thickness allowed it to glide into the wood, and a twist of the wrist made the seasoned oak split. However, it didn’t perform as well as a saber grind for the latter chore. The next task was feathering hard oak, and this is where the blade’s thinness shone. The feathers were thin and curly, perfect for tinder with a ferro rod or coarse kindling.

ESEE Knives PR4

PR4 Specs
Designer: Patrick Rollins
Blade Length: 4.19”
Blade Material: 1095 carbon steel
Blade Grind: Saber
Blade @Thickest: .125”
Blade Finish: Tumbled black oxide
Handle Material: Sculpted Micarta®
Overall Length: 8.9”
Sheath: Leather
Country of Origin: USA
MSRP: $190.64

The PR4 is part of the Camp-Lore series from ESEE Knives and is named after the initials of its designer, Patrick Rollins, lead instructor for Randall’s Adventure & Training.** The knife features a 4-inch 1095 carbon steel blade with a high saber grind. It pays homage to the timeless Kephart design while incorporating Patrick’s modifications. The approximately 4.5-inch handle is suitable for large hands or use with work or winter gloves. The knife has a black oxide tumble finish resembling a patina but not a coating. The handle is fitted with textured brown Micarta® scales for a distinct look and comfortable grip. The knife comes with a plain tan leather sheath made by Wickett and Craig, one of the oldest tanneries in the USA.

I used the PR4 extensively in the Eastern Woodlands for various camp tasks. The knife proved versatile and was particularly effective for making camp implements and starting fires. It excelled in splitting small sticks and igniting the ferro rod to create a fire. Its sharp spine was practical without being overly flashy.

While I don’t typically baton wood when a chopper is available, I found the PR4 excellent for cross-grain baton work, making precise stop cuts on trap parts, stakes and pot hooks. I also used the PR4 to carve a chisel point on a thick piece of maple for a digging stick and found that it easily sliced dry maple. The knife remained effective despite exposure to various weather conditions.

After establishing a fire, the PR4 proved equally adept at culinary tasks, precisely slicing onions, peppers, potatoes, mushrooms, garlic and sausages for a stew. The thin grind made kitchen tasks a breeze, especially achieving paper-thin garlic slices. The knife performed exceptionally well in all tasks, including prepping tinder from fatwood and dry, split poplar. The high saber grind and sharp spine made the PR4 ideal for camp and woodcraft chores.

Bear Forest Knives GT-3

GT-3 Specs
Blade Length: 3”
Blade Material: 80CrV2 carbon steel
Blade Grind: Flat
Blade @Thickest: .125”
Blade Finish: Rock tumbled acid wash
Handle Material: Micarta®/G-10
Overall Length: 7.25”
Sheath: Black kydex (.08”) w/nylon cross-draw/Scout belt loop
Country of Origin: USA
MSRP: $149.99

Garrett Tremblay of Bear Forest Knives based the company’s GT-3 on his favorite bushcraft knife, the ESEE PR4. After discussing it with the knife’s designer, Patrick Rollins, and receiving approval, Garrett developed the Bear Forest entry.

The knife boasts a striking design, featuring a full-flat-ground, 80CrV2 carbon steel blade with a black oxide finish. The handle showcases an exceptional blend of burgundy and green burlap Micarta scales complemented by vibrant orange G-10 liners, all held together by Corby bolts. The difference in cutting performance between the full-flat-ground edge and the PR4’s saber grind was instantly noticeable. The GT-3 is equally at home as an everyday carry tool, a useful household companion or a reliable camping partner.

The knife is perfect for making notches for tarp stakes and trimming the ends to a chisel point to pound into the ground. The 90-degree spine is ideal for scraping poplar tinder and striking ferro rods. The 3-inch blade is just the right complement for a campsite that includes a bow saw and tomahawk/hatchet.

As Horace Kephart mentioned, a sheath knife is always “get-at-able” for quick tasks, which saves the jackknife from the messier work. This perfectly describes the GT-3. The handle is consistently comfortable. I keep a charred coffee can full of wood shavings—tinder and kindling—in camp. I whittle poplar and maple until the can is full. This is the last but most important task of the night, as it prepares for the next morning’s fire. The GT-3 is always up for the task.

*BLADE does not recommend shaving arm hair as a test of edge sharpness as it can cause injury.

**Both ESEE Knives and Randall’s Adventure Training (RAT) are owned by Jeff Randall and Mike Perrin under the parent corporation of TransEquatorial Solutions, Inc.

Check Out More Outdoor Knives:

• NESSMUK KNIFE: OPTIONS IN THE ALL-AMERICAN OUTDOOR KNIFE
• BEST TOMAHAWKS: OUR TOP HAWKS FOR BACKWOODS TO BATTLEFIELDS
• BEST BUSHCRAFT KNIFE: WHEN STEEL MEETS THE WOODS
• BEST EDC FIXED BLADE KNIFE: A CUT ABOVE THE REST
• BEST CAMP KNIVES: OUTDOORS DO-ALLS