{"product_id":"damascus-kephart-knife-black-micarta","title":"Damascus Kephart Knife, Black Micarta Handle and Leather Sheath","description":"\u003cp\u003eCamp work is mostly small work. Kindling to split, a strap to cut, supper to deal with while the light goes. The Kephart pattern was made for that kind of day and it has outlasted plenty of shapes that looked better beside it. This one carries a 4.5 inch blade in Damascus over a high carbon core, and the scales are black canvas micarta. Old outline, modern grip.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecification\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4.5 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOverall length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9.25 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHandle length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4.75 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade steel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDamascus, high carbon core\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade finish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEtched ladder pattern\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrind\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHigh flat grind\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSpine\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSquared ninety degrees\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTang\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull tang\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHandle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlack canvas micarta, three brass pins, brass lined lanyard hole\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSheath\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStamped leather belt sheath\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEngraving\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 dollars per blade\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMade in\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eForged and finished by hand in High Point, North Carolina.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWarranty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifetime warranty against defects, free sharpening for life.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe blade\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe steel is Damascus over a high carbon core, etched with a ladder pattern. The grind is a high flat grind, so the bevel starts well up the blade and little steel sits behind the edge. The point stays low and the edge runs long and nearly straight, and steel ground that thin slices instead of wedging. The spine is squared at ninety degrees, a hard corner for a ferrocerium rod or for shaving tinder. Carbon steel sits under the pattern, so it darkens to a grey patina and spots if left wet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe handle\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe handle is black canvas micarta, layers of cloth set in resin. It does not swell in the damp or shrink in a heated room, and it holds grip when wet. Three brass pins hold the scales to a full tang, so steel runs the whole length under your hand. The lanyard hole is lined in brass. At 4.75 inches the handle is longer than the blade, which is what makes a knife read as a woods knife rather than a hunting knife.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe leather sheath\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe sheath is vegetable tanned leather, hand stitched, with a welt set between the layers so the stitching sits in a channel out of the way of the edge. The face is stamped. It is cut to this blade's own outline, so the knife seats with some friction and stays put when you bend over. There is no fire steel loop on this one, so the rod goes in a pocket.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWho it suits\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis one is for a buyer who has landed on the oldest answer and would rather not nurse a wooden handle.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePeople who want the Kephart outline in a modern handle\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnyone who prefers a thin slicing blade to a thick one\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuyers who want Damascus and still mean to use it\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCarvers who work off the edge more than the point\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat comes in the box\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Damascus Kephart knife\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe stamped leather belt sheath\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA care card\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEngraving details\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eEvery piece is different\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo two finish the same. Each blade is forged, ground, heat treated and sharpened by hand, and the runs are small. The ladder pattern lies its own way on every billet. Ground micarta shows whatever the cloth was doing under the resin. The leather takes the stamp differently each time. Yours will not match the photograph.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eLooking after it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eWipe the blade dry when you are done and do not leave it in the sheath wet. Oil it lightly before it goes away for a season. The grey patina that comes up with use is fine. Sharpen on a stone and finish on a strop. Sharpening here is free for life, so it can come back to the shop whenever you want a fresh edge. More in our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/knife-care-sharpening\"\u003eknife care and sharpening page\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003ePut a name on it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eEngraving is 20 dollars per blade, added here before you check out. Around 30 characters fits, so a name and a date, or a short line. You get a proof image to approve before the laser runs, which puts another 3 to 5 business days on the order. Ten blades or more and we do it for nothing. Details are on the \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/engraving\"\u003eengraving page\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eQuestions buyers ask\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy has this pattern lasted?\u003c\/strong\u003e It does not specialise. A long, nearly straight edge carves as well as it handles food at camp.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs the Damascus only for looks?\u003c\/strong\u003e The ladder pattern is cosmetic. The high carbon core under it is what cuts.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat does a high flat grind do?\u003c\/strong\u003e It leaves less steel behind the edge, so the blade parts wood instead of pushing it apart. The wide flat also lies nicely on a stone.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy micarta on an old pattern?\u003c\/strong\u003e The handle is the part that lets you down first. Wood moves with damp and dries out indoors. Micarta does neither.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it rust?\u003c\/strong\u003e It can. Carbon steel sits under the pattern. Dry it after use and keep a light film of oil on it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow long does shipping take?\u003c\/strong\u003e Most US orders arrive in 5 to 7 business days.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe same outline in plain carbon steel is the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/kephart-knife-hand-forged-oak\"\u003eKephart in oak\u003c\/a\u003e. For Damascus in another shape there is the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/damascus-bushcraft-knife-olive-wood\"\u003espear point in olive wood\u003c\/a\u003e. The woods knives sit in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/bushcraft-survival\"\u003ebushcraft knives\u003c\/a\u003e, the pattern welded blades in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/damascus-steel\"\u003eDamascus steel\u003c\/a\u003e, and the whole bench is under \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/all-knives\"\u003eevery knife we make\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Viper Edge USA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44144333914230,"sku":"VEF-BSK-DAM-1109","price":169.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/2427\/9670\/files\/bushcraft-knife-09-damascus-black-micarta_cef82713-276b-4f2e-8d93-c015def95ef5.jpg?v=1788840235","url":"https:\/\/viperedgeforge.com\/products\/damascus-kephart-knife-black-micarta","provider":"Viper Edge USA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}