Yeah! I've modded the 7" OH Hop knife to a drop point a few years ago and I love it (it's thinner than the Butcher, not too good for wood work but great for food and stuff like that).
I have the same three knives you compared.I am sorta partial to the OKC 51/2 inch hunting knife.I use it a lot camping.Sharpens like a dream to a razors edge for about 20 bucks.The Becker is nice.but a little pricey but had to have it.It’s like a piece of knife history.The OKC Kephart knife Is a nice little knife also.I’m a Esee man but can’t beat the OKC for use at a reasonable price.If something happens to one just replace it.No big loss.
The knife Kephart actually used most was a 4 inch version.........he also had a 5 inch but used it less.....so the Old Hickory is actually closer to the one he actually carried compared to the BK-62.....
I carry Old Hickory knives in my business and I agree with you. MADE IN AMERICA means just that. I didn't know the sheaths were made in China. That really pisses me off. I sell American for a reason. So OKC you better catch on to that real quick!
I have both of the production knives you show. I like your comparisons! I feel like the old hickory is about the best budget Kephart and a great starter platform for customization. If you ever start selling your Old Hickory Kephart CUSTOMS let me know I would definitely buy one!
Thanks Michael, I agree that the price is right and it is just begging for a little customization. I really like the knife and you can't beat the price for a Kephart.
Have both......the Old Hickory is a little shorter......and that was the actual size that Kephart used.....the 4 inch....not bad for the price.......if I would have purchased the Old Hickory first........I would not have purchased the BK-62.
It's amazing the number of people making money from the Kephart and Nesmuk names. I got the Old Hickory version to add to my collection and a new sheath was made to replace the ridiculous original which is way too shallow to securely hold the knife . The price for the Becker "kephart" version is total nonsense. Nice video and have fun with the modifications . All the best.
Thanks for the kind words. I did modify the handle scales and the knife is pretty useful as a general purpose camp knife, which I think Horace was after in the first place.
I made a Kephart from OH-Butcher knife. I traced out the blade shape from L.T. Wright Kephart. It is interesting to see a O.H. production model. I also did a O.H. project with Mora blade shape. And still yet I have a Viking Seax knife made for me from O.H. And yet another O.H. project was converting their full tang parring knife into a Sloyd knife which did not take much more than sharpen the tip, the large handle gives great control of smaller blade which is customary of carving knives. Perhaps the parring knife would be of interest to you and your viewers.
Thanks for showing this knife did not know about the this one. Wanted to try this style but, did not want to spend the big bucks. I can do $30 to try it out.
I always liked this kind of old school knives, wish they made more of them even here in Europe, I'm not a soldier and I really dislike the way tactical styled knives look, feel and cost (most knife makers seem to be of the idea that if you slap a couple of military green g10 grips on a 440c knife, you can charge 100 euros or more for it).
I like them too, obviously, LOL. I did modify this knife with an acid etched blade and tan/black micarta scales with red liners. I also added a lanyard loop.
@@FreeAmericaChannel Nice addons, I don't have a problem with micarta or g10, its just that they are often used as an excuse to charge more (I still don't understand the logic behind it). Knives seems to have gotten so espensive lately that you are really better of into contact with a craftsman and get one custom made for you, I just had one done in 440c and birch grips for 200 euros and unlike a commercial knife, this one is tailored to my needs and hands.
Id actually rather Rock with the old hickory. Thin, light and slicy. I do like the bk19 as a nessmuk but I think esee had the right idea on their nessmuk to go thinner.. Imo small knives shouldn't be more than .165 in thick and actually inthink .125 to .08 is the range. For large choppers 3/16 thick. Think about what you do with small knives. You aren't batoning anything larger than 3 inches.even a thickness .08 can actually handle that except maybe really hard wood. If you want to chop with your small knife which you shouldn't do unless you really had to you can just baton sideways down on a thin tree or branch. Really. Good to carry a large blade. I usually carry two or one large blade and a midsize. I don't need so much more weight in my small knife. Good to carry a mira companion for Bushcraft.
This little knife is a great all around knife for just what it says, processing fish and small game. I am very happy that OKC made this little Kephart style knife.
Yes, I do have a Condor Kephart as well. I find it a tad small for my hands and I'm not a big fan of the handle shape, but you can customize the handles.
Got mine from Amazon.....surprisingly not so easy to find.....I think for a production knife....it is the closest to the original Kephart design...only thing missing here would be a convex blade.....and the wood handle flare just a little at the choil.....with those two additions they could name it the KEPHART KNIFE and have a clone of the original.....they would sell like hotcakes.....the way this one will.....cheap well made knife just like the original Kephart design.
If you wanna get creative and do anything fancy with the handle and the pins, by all means. But, I think it's fine with the ones you have right now. If it was me, I would file and remove that hand guard metal sticking out. Thank you for the video. I just ordered one and it's coming tomorrow.
I love the size and shape ...The kabar is to long for my liking. I do have an Ontario Sk5 and prefer it over moat my knives. I think the old hikory would be a great project knife....Yes I'd pay more for usa 🇺🇸
Old Hickory nailed it with these!! The sheath I threw in a box of other sheaths that I never use but the knife is the bees knees! Truest Production Kephart I have seen so far’ I also convert old Case and Old hickory knives into Kephart style as well’ good steel’ easy to sharpen and easy to modify to your liking.
@@FreeAmericaChannel yes they have! I always have an eye on Fleabay for them and grab what I can when I can when the price is right’ scored quite a few really nice specimens for next to nothing’
Hello sir I recently got into fixed blades and been buying lots of Ontario fixed blades but I'm not sure if there QC is of or what but I bought a 2020 camp series knife and it looks poorly made and I got really lucky and bought a used one on the bay and its much better then there new production i kinda like your made or version of the kephart
@@FreeAmericaChannel I did sir and funny thing is that the person on the other side of the phone had no idea what I was talking about and I'm listening and thinking to my self are these folks just hiring anyone that has no passion for what they are doing so I hate to say this but that's the reason the Chinese and all these other countries took our jobs they got nothing and will make something whit the highest of standards just a thought is like we have no more love for our MADE IN THE USA but good knife review
Hi Mark, thanks for joining us! I got mine from a local place in Fredericksburg, VA, called KnifeCenter, but they don't have them at the moment. Try Smokey Mountain Knife Works and sometimes you can find them on ebay. Availability seems to ebb and flow with this model for some reason.
I purchased this old hickory kephart and I have to say it sucks. The steel feels like it was cut from an old mailbox on a Friday afternoon after a liquid lunch..
That made me laugh, even though I don't agree. I have replaced the handles on mine and acid etched the blade for a darker color, but it takes a super edge. The blade steel is no different from the rest of my Old Hickory knives. It 1095 steel.
@@B_L_Smith LOL, I can't argue with that logic. Fact is, it holds an edge and does its job well. Its not winning any beauty contests, but all of my beautiful knives live in the safe.
Hi it's Mark, would you be willing to make a ttade i have a brand new leatherman muli tool or one of my knives, i really like it a lot, just let you know, some of the knives i have are over 100, but i have so many and i believe i would love this on Thanks in Advance
