I like the Russel Green River blades , I have a few of them but I haven't tried this one yet

the Belt knife 4 1/2 inch blade

I really liked my Camp knife , before I lost it , one of those blade shapes that has been around for almost 200 years as I understand it. in all sorts of cutting tasks I found it was what I needed with little I didn't need and I am getting a very similar feel for this one.



this is my sons green river camp knife mine was the same 5 inch blade



what are your favorite blade shapes?

If I had to have one one shape to do everything, it's probably a filet type blade
Though about twice as thick a normal filet knife.

they both seem to have some of the attributes of the Nessmuck but also some of the Kephart

http://www.thetruthaboutknives.com/the-original-kephart-knife-examined/

http://www.thetruthaboutknives.com/know-your-knives-the-nessmuk-knife/

both knives that are all about function , both men carried a hatchet if they needed wood cutting done.

A lot of nessy knife fans forget about that part.

I fillet a bunch of fish with the camp knife it did well , but better scale them it isn't so good at skinning fillets

I like different tools for differnent jobs , but I am not a fan of knives that are really thick
I prefer under 1/8th inch generally

I think a lot of your Modern "Bush-craft" knife people forget that about both knives and that both men carried a hatchet , as htey have lots fo wood to cut and play with but a lot less game prep to do.

while Gorge Washington Sears and Horace Kephart probably spent more time doing food prep than making feather sticks and other common "woodcraft" things today

I am a knifemaker myself and have been studying the Kephart style for a long time. I have been putting together a big pile of antique 2-man saw blades and circular saw blades from which I will be soon making them. Everything about the Kephart is pure utility, including the taper he put into the handle for fit in the sheath.

Been producing hundreds of ulu for many years. Health issues have kept me out of the shop for quite some time but I am thinking it's time to get back at it and the Kephart will be a fun build.

Moosetrot

" He buried the blade to the Green river"

From a book I read as a kid.

...could have been Centennial or Hugh Glass

I would like to see that when you finish

an update

have been using the Belt knife for couple months now



I found the edges of the scales to be sharp and prolonged use I could see those edges causing blisters. I radius-ed the back corner of the handle , I also wanted to give it a bit of the kephart contour to the scales as I did that I found it felt nice it the hand.




I may still take these scales off and put some thicker scales on to make it fill the hand a bit more but this is feeling good so I will leave it a month or so of use and see how it feels.

it is a great sandwich knife , food prep is much of my knife use , it cuts the cheese , slices the tomato and spreads the mayo very well. food prep was also much of Carvers and Kepharts knife use granted less in the kitchen and more in the field.
it also sliced through meat and vegetable well

Nice modification to a trusted and true design!

Moosetrot

I have a Green River beef siding knife that I liked until I got to try a Forschner sheep siding knife and I'll grab it when I know things are going to get hectic . They aren't fancy but boy do they work well !
Allan

You can buy just the blades for $10-20 bucks depending on design and put on your own scales. I have a couple of them and they are now both relegated to kitchen service where they work very well. The steel is good and they make a great belt knife or kitchen knife. It's hard to find a decent kitchen knife for that price. Most kitchen knives available are cheap SS that won't hold an edge through a loaf of bread.

I found this one for 3 dollars more than the blank and this had free shipping so I figured a win and ordered it.

I have gotten some others , 6 inch boning knife and 3 camp knife blanks from Track of the Wolf , I got the kit with the scales and pins

I like them for both Kitchen and belt knife

I despise cheap SS knives , why when you can have good carbon steel for less than 20 dollars the kits with blank , walnut scales and rivets are 16-18 dollars on track of the wolf


I am thinking it is time to make another order , I had looked at this blade for a while now I see a Kephart blank that was a design before kephart knew what he wanted all it needs is scales and fitting.https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/453/1/KNIFE-KIT-RGR-W?PageSize=100