You offer a fine practical review here. When I was a scout, many of us thought 'Bigger was Better.' It took me some time to learn that a knife like this, with a good handle and a shorter blade, could do EVERYTHING BETTER. (Well...aside from EASILY slicing up large diameter cuts of meat.) I recommend the knife you demonstrate to any teenage scout. Learn to put a keen edge on it...and you will have a woodcraft friend for many years!
Nice review Mr Dyer, I also have the old hickory kitchen knife set but mine is added into a bigger knife block with the “forgecraft hi-carbon” kitchen knives my grandmother had given me 42years ago. I’ve made a kephart style knife out of an old hickory butcher knife; by printing the stock photo of the Becker kephart and then using it as a template for mine and it worked very well. I’ve also made a Nessmuk copy out of an old hickory Buffalo Skinner knife which also turned out well. Keep up the great videos they’re really enjoyable!!!
Good job on the review and I heartily agree with all of your thoughts. I really like my Kephart knife and carry it camping and hiking regularly. I describe it as a "Jack of all trades and a master of none." Mine's a 4.5" blade made by Matt Lesniewski of ML Knives. I've used it for just about everything, including field dressing and skinning a big cow elk. I don't carry it hunting anymore, there's better shaped blades designed especially for those 2 different tasks that work much more efficiently.
Been a fan of Old Hickory all my life. I have been using the Old Hickory Outdoors Fish Fish and Small Game Kephart knife for my camp kitchen since it’s introduction. It will do all I want it to do. It’s a great slicer once you put a keen edge on it, which is easy to do by the way. Just found your channel and subscribed.
Kephart was an extraordinary man, highly intelligent. There are two biographies about him on Amazon both are about 500 pages. He became an outdoor enthusiast after attempting suicide and recovering from life threatening alcoholism. I love reading his book and he may have been the first ultralight backpacker. Like ur channel fond it by accident
Thanks for watching and sharing the biographies. It would be awesome to go back in time and share a cup around the campfire with him. Such an intelligent man.
I bought a regular Old Hickory butcher knife from Ace hardware for $10 bucks and cut it down and modified it myself with a Dremel tool. It works great and it's customized to my own hand.
I highly recommend you check out the BPS Knives BS2FT. For $30 you get a really excellent sheath with a dangler, a 4.3 inch kephart style blade with a Scandi grind and nice sharp spine. My wife gave me one for Christmas and I've really enjoyed using it.
I would strop the old hickory knife and give it a better 90 degrees spine. And for your knife I would give it a little bit some were on the spine a 90 degrees for striking the fero rod. Great video. Great review. God bless. From Glenn CATT in Massachusetts. Oh you can take apart a bic pen and take a Swiss army knife saw and cut down the middle and put it on the back of the spine and use it for a guide for sharpening. Works great.
@@honorableoutfitters ya the pen guide works great for boy scout pocket knife. And will work good with that old hickory. You can leave it on when you strop the blades too . I hope it helps you. GOD bless. From Glenn CATT in Massachusetts.
I do a lot of bushcraft, this knife I love to use, but I found it lacks for bush crafting. But after sharpening it is my favorite outdoor kitchen knife.
Very cool knife. Probably really good for beginners. I have always been found of sheath knives for learners to begin with, especially for its safety, proper handling techniques, and such. But I usually recommend an entry level Mora’s like their craft line. Their cost and durability is great, but usually stuck to a scandi grind.
It’s a great little knife for camp chores. It’ll do most of the stuff you need it to do, with the exception of the stuff “bushcrafters” seem to want to force a knife to do these days. CAN it baton? Maybe, but maybe you should use a hatchet instead. Otherwise you’re going to be using the knife exactly as our pioneer ancestors intended their knives to be used, and with probably about the same quality of steel as they had.
I like my OKC Kephart but still ordered a Condor Kephart to test out, mainly because of that little metal nub and the cheap sheath the OKC has.... I think I'm just slowly taking myself into buying Ka-Bar Kephart.
Besides Mors' try stick for beginners cutting up vegtables and when the skill is there meat is important lessons. Really how many out there these days can't cut up a chicken? That knife being dull out of the box allows you a chance to teach a lesson on sharpening. All great opportunities.👍
👍 Good fair overview of this knife. I have one and my initial impression was the same as yours. As you point out sharpening to a better edge was easily done. I also applied some Tung Oil to the handle which improved the feel IMHO. The little nub of a finger guard also initially bothered me, but thus far it has caused no problems, agree with you that a little more work on shaping the handle could have made this feature better; if it becomes an issue I will simply file or grind it off. I made my own sheath. At the price point I have found this to be an excellent knife. It does everything I need a knife to do.
You might check out the BPS Knives Bushcraft Knife. Even just visually it has a few issues: the sheathe has a riveted belt loop, and the blade's scandi-ground. But it's the same price range, it's a smidge longer, and it's got a better handle scale shape, and based on one of the customer videos it throws spark from a ferro rod well. I thought about it, but let myself get, er, overenthusiastic and ordered the Ka-bar. :p It's got a finished and chamfered spine, but I think I'll take a file and flatten and roughen that one of these days.
Would be great for any age and experience and expertise. In my opinion ,you get used to whatever grind you use regularly. Its personal preference...God bless you and your family and happy camping 🏕 🙏 😊. Lee
This is funny so, I was watching your video earlier today thinking to myself I should order this knife just to check it out. While watching your video I heard a thud on my doorstep, it was this knife being delivered. Totally forgot I already ordered it! So I did an unboxing of this knife while watching your video. What are the chances of that 😂. Anyway I'm not real impressed with this knife. The sheath is really cheap, it's got a plastic insert glued in that's already coming apart and catching on the knife. I recently bought a green river hunter knife that I'm practically in love with, so much that I bought a second to put away. There's a sheath you can buy for about 15 bucks for that knife that's actually very nice quality. I bought a second one if those too. You should do a video on that knife if you haven't already, I'll have to check to see.
I must have got lucky. I have seen other reviews and their sheaths would not hold the knife as mine did when shaken to death. I want to get a Green River as well for my other son. I have heard good things. Let me know what you think, I would appreciate it! Thank you brother!
I have a hickory almost like that I have a round file in is case I sharpen it with the file It has a special sort of edge If something absolutely positively has to be cut off A edge made by a file is hard to beat Takes but a second to resharpen it too Hard on the knife I admit But is serves its purpose well
@@honorableoutfitters No I am not totally stupid The thing is !!! A relatively inexpensive carbon steel blade and a file You can debone a tyrannosaurus in a matter of minutes Or cut the tires off a automobile You can keep it sharp in a matter of seconds It not a edge you could shave with witout bleeding profusely It is a wicked edge though Great in a emergency survival situation Not a thing for a fine cutting tool such as a boker or similar
@@honorableoutfitters my thoughts exactly. Still do enjoy it quite a bit made a decent patina with vinegar looks very nice but I’m very interested in the kephart you suggest from prairie forge and axe made by quapp. That thing is gorgeous.
I would agree to an extent but my SAKs, Gerbers, and Leathermen all came really sharp. Now these household brands certainly cost more than the $30 Old Hickory. I don't have a new out of the box Mora or Green River to compare it to so I can't say and those would be the ones that come to mind in the same class. I appreciate your feedback and support brother.
@@honorableoutfitters yea, it looks like a 20$ knife with the materials and construction, that sheath and not being razor sharp out of the box. I was only slightly disappointed with my 10$ Amazon sheath and old hickory 7 inch butcher I put a clip point on for what that cost, the handles were cut uneven. It still cuts after sharpening, just thought it should be slightly cheaper for what you could get annother knife for value wise. If you want slicey, the thin blade slices food better. This shorter blade would be more handy, so meh, good enough I guess. Thanks for the review, I'll check out your other stuff!
I love your videos but why didn’t you sharpen it first? No knife can do anything well dull. The test only means something if it does it well or poorly when it’s sharp.
It was an fresh out of the box review. A quality knife should comes sharpened. Now this particular knife sharpened up easily, which I expected. Time will tell how well it will keep its edge with stropping.
Buy your own here! amzn.to/3LkRPwu
You offer a fine practical review here. When I was a scout, many of us thought 'Bigger was Better.' It took me some time to learn that a knife like this, with a good handle and a shorter blade, could do EVERYTHING BETTER. (Well...aside from EASILY slicing up large diameter cuts of meat.) I recommend the knife you demonstrate to any teenage scout. Learn to put a keen edge on it...and you will have a woodcraft friend for many years!
Nice review Mr Dyer, I also have the old hickory kitchen knife set but mine is added into a bigger knife block with the “forgecraft hi-carbon” kitchen knives my grandmother had given me 42years ago.
I’ve made a kephart style knife out of an old hickory butcher knife; by printing the stock photo of the Becker kephart and then using it as a template for mine and it worked very well. I’ve also made a Nessmuk copy out of an old hickory Buffalo Skinner knife which also turned out well.
Keep up the great videos they’re really enjoyable!!!
They are awesome! Easy to sharpen and great slicers! Thanks for checking it out.
Good job on the review and I heartily agree with all of your thoughts. I really like my Kephart knife and carry it camping and hiking regularly. I describe it as a "Jack of all trades and a master of none."
Mine's a 4.5" blade made by Matt Lesniewski of ML Knives. I've used it for just about everything, including field dressing and skinning a big cow elk. I don't carry it hunting anymore, there's better shaped blades designed especially for those 2 different tasks that work much more efficiently.
Thank you brother!
Been a fan of Old Hickory all my life. I have been using the Old Hickory Outdoors Fish Fish and Small Game Kephart knife for my camp kitchen since it’s introduction. It will do all I want it to do. It’s a great slicer once you put a keen edge on it, which is easy to do by the way.
Just found your channel and subscribed.
Thank you brother. It took an edge super well, perfect for out in the field. :)
Kephart was an extraordinary man, highly intelligent. There are two biographies about him on Amazon both are about 500 pages. He became an outdoor enthusiast after attempting suicide and recovering from life threatening alcoholism. I love reading his book and he may have been the first ultralight backpacker. Like ur channel fond it by accident
Thanks for watching and sharing the biographies. It would be awesome to go back in time and share a cup around the campfire with him. Such an intelligent man.
I bought a regular Old Hickory butcher knife from Ace hardware for $10 bucks and cut it down and modified it myself with a Dremel tool. It works great and it's customized to my own hand.
I have heard many people doing that to great success. Is yours a favorite?
@@honorableoutfitters Yes, I don't go into the woods without it.
I highly recommend you check out the BPS Knives BS2FT. For $30 you get a really excellent sheath with a dangler, a 4.3 inch kephart style blade with a Scandi grind and nice sharp spine. My wife gave me one for Christmas and I've really enjoyed using it.
Thank you, I will!
I would strop the old hickory knife and give it a better 90 degrees spine. And for your knife I would give it a little bit some were on the spine a 90 degrees for striking the fero rod. Great video. Great review. God bless. From Glenn CATT in Massachusetts. Oh you can take apart a bic pen and take a Swiss army knife saw and cut down the middle and put it on the back of the spine and use it for a guide for sharpening. Works great.
You just blew my mind brother!
@@honorableoutfitters ya the pen guide works great for boy scout pocket knife. And will work good with that old hickory. You can leave it on when you strop the blades too . I hope it helps you. GOD bless. From Glenn CATT in Massachusetts.
I do a lot of bushcraft, this knife I love to use, but I found it lacks for bush crafting. But after sharpening it is my favorite outdoor kitchen knife.
I sharpened it and it got a good edge quickly. Do you baton wood with your knives?
Very cool knife. Probably really good for beginners. I have always been found of sheath knives for learners to begin with, especially for its safety, proper handling techniques, and such. But I usually recommend an entry level Mora’s like their craft line. Their cost and durability is great, but usually stuck to a scandi grind.
I have nothing against scandi per-se but prefer a V or convex.
It’s a great little knife for camp chores. It’ll do most of the stuff you need it to do, with the exception of the stuff “bushcrafters” seem to want to force a knife to do these days. CAN it baton? Maybe, but maybe you should use a hatchet instead. Otherwise you’re going to be using the knife exactly as our pioneer ancestors intended their knives to be used, and with probably about the same quality of steel as they had.
I really don't like batoning. If I was in an emergency situation I can get it but to do it just so you can doesn't make sense to me
I like my OKC Kephart but still ordered a Condor Kephart to test out, mainly because of that little metal nub and the cheap sheath the OKC has....
I think I'm just slowly taking myself into buying Ka-Bar Kephart.
lol, I would like to find someone who has the Ka-Bar to compare my custom Kephart against it...I may just need to ante up and buy it too, lol.
How did your testing go
Besides Mors' try stick for beginners cutting up vegtables and when the skill is there meat is important lessons. Really how many out there these days can't cut up a chicken? That knife being dull out of the box allows you a chance to teach a lesson on sharpening. All great opportunities.👍
Been very curious about this little gem!! Thank you for the video!! 💜💜
You are welcome brother, thanks for stopping by!
👍 Good fair overview of this knife.
I have one and my initial impression was the same as yours. As you point out sharpening to a better edge was easily done. I also applied some Tung Oil to the handle which improved the feel IMHO. The little nub of a finger guard also initially bothered me, but thus far it has caused no problems, agree with you that a little more work on shaping the handle could have made this feature better; if it becomes an issue I will simply file or grind it off. I made my own sheath.
At the price point I have found this to be an excellent knife. It does everything I need a knife to do.
I think your last words sums it up really well, nothing flashy but utilitarian.
Look at BPS Kephart knife models, if you can live with the Scandinavian grind. They do make good sharp knives with good sheaths.
Thank for the suggestion brother!
You might check out the BPS Knives Bushcraft Knife. Even just visually it has a few issues: the sheathe has a riveted belt loop, and the blade's scandi-ground. But it's the same price range, it's a smidge longer, and it's got a better handle scale shape, and based on one of the customer videos it throws spark from a ferro rod well.
I thought about it, but let myself get, er, overenthusiastic and ordered the Ka-bar. :p It's got a finished and chamfered spine, but I think I'll take a file and flatten and roughen that one of these days.
The Ka-Bar one is on my distant wish list. I'll check out BPS, thanks for the suggestion!
Reminds me of the Improved Bowie and Bull Camp Knife
😊thanks for the initial impression of this knife. Thanks and take care 😊
Thank you brother!
Would be great for any age and experience and expertise. In my opinion ,you get used to whatever grind you use regularly. Its personal preference...God bless you and your family and happy camping 🏕 🙏 😊. Lee
Thank you! God bless brother!
Hey, thanks for the review. I definitely have some food for thought on that knife.👍👍⚓⚓🇺🇲🇺🇲
Let me know brother and thank you for the support!
I'd say that's a pretty good knife for the money. Sharpen it up and take care of it and it will most likely last a lifetime.
I think so too. I hope my son will get a ton of use out of it
This is funny so, I was watching your video earlier today thinking to myself I should order this knife just to check it out. While watching your video I heard a thud on my doorstep, it was this knife being delivered. Totally forgot I already ordered it! So I did an unboxing of this knife while watching your video. What are the chances of that 😂. Anyway I'm not real impressed with this knife. The sheath is really cheap, it's got a plastic insert glued in that's already coming apart and catching on the knife. I recently bought a green river hunter knife that I'm practically in love with, so much that I bought a second to put away. There's a sheath you can buy for about 15 bucks for that knife that's actually very nice quality. I bought a second one if those too. You should do a video on that knife if you haven't already, I'll have to check to see.
I must have got lucky. I have seen other reviews and their sheaths would not hold the knife as mine did when shaken to death. I want to get a Green River as well for my other son. I have heard good things. Let me know what you think, I would appreciate it! Thank you brother!
I have a hickory almost like that
I have a round file in is case
I sharpen it with the file
It has a special sort of edge
If something absolutely positively has to be cut off
A edge made by a file is hard to beat
Takes but a second to resharpen it too
Hard on the knife I admit
But is serves its purpose well
True brother. Do you use a file on a multitool or use a separate file?
@@honorableoutfitters No I am not totally stupid
The thing is !!!
A relatively inexpensive carbon steel blade and a file
You can debone a tyrannosaurus in a matter of minutes
Or cut the tires off a automobile
You can keep it sharp in a matter of seconds
It not a edge you could shave with witout bleeding profusely
It is a wicked edge though
Great in a emergency survival situation
Not a thing for a fine cutting tool such as a boker or similar
I personally like the nub on mine, but I can see how it's not for everyone.
Don't get me wrong, I understand the purpose behind it but I don't like the feel of it on my finger
thanks for the info ,new subscriber
Thank you for the support!
Mine Absolutely did not have a 90*. I couldn’t have it spark a rod at all very dull spine
So everything varies...humm that's not good for a big company like OKC.
@@honorableoutfitters my thoughts exactly. Still do enjoy it quite a bit made a decent patina with vinegar looks very nice but I’m very interested in the kephart you suggest from prairie forge and axe made by quapp. That thing is gorgeous.
It's a great knife. If you reach out, tell him I said hi!
Get a BPS Knife the # 2 model instead.
A Scout is thrifty.
Indeed my friend!
Most knives don't come out of the box really sharp. Would have been a fairer test if you sharpened it first. Otherwise, nice video.
I would agree to an extent but my SAKs, Gerbers, and Leathermen all came really sharp. Now these household brands certainly cost more than the $30 Old Hickory. I don't have a new out of the box Mora or Green River to compare it to so I can't say and those would be the ones that come to mind in the same class. I appreciate your feedback and support brother.
@@honorableoutfitters yea, it looks like a 20$ knife with the materials and construction, that sheath and not being razor sharp out of the box. I was only slightly disappointed with my 10$ Amazon sheath and old hickory 7 inch butcher I put a clip point on for what that cost, the handles were cut uneven. It still cuts after sharpening, just thought it should be slightly cheaper for what you could get annother knife for value wise. If you want slicey, the thin blade slices food better. This shorter blade would be more handy, so meh, good enough I guess. Thanks for the review, I'll check out your other stuff!
I love your videos but why didn’t you sharpen it first? No knife can do anything well dull. The test only means something if it does it well or poorly when it’s sharp.
It was an fresh out of the box review. A quality knife should comes sharpened. Now this particular knife sharpened up easily, which I expected. Time will tell how well it will keep its edge with stropping.
I think the Condor Kephart is a better knife…
Based on what I have heard and my experience with the OKC I would bet you are right!