This is a fun read for me... Thanks.....
The spine is relieved for a reason..... The relief allows a smooth exit from flesh(wether fish, owl or good red meat).... This is something I did not understand until I was a part of but, mostly a bystander when The great Jerry Fisk and Greg Phillips we’re talking about this feature on another blade which, I had always regarded as a fashion statement.... It was, as so frequently happens to me when around Brother Fisk one of those Aha moments.... I had to do some comparison cutting just to see and, it was revelatory......
A lot of people are concerned about the continued good health of their clubs(batons). I cannot remember which of the Northeast gatherers put it to me but, the Baton(club) is the last piece of firewood that makes it on to the fire...... A point can be made about scraping stuff...... Kephart went for an overall utility in everything........
One of the things that always impresses me about HK’s writings is their continuing relevance..... All you have to do is update the technology i.e. if you substitute Nysilk for”balloon cloth” his work reads just fine 120 years down the trail...
This blade, given the manufacturing and materials technology of the day, is just incredible in it’s Design philosophy and execution.......Would he have used different materials, maybe ...Would he have contoured the scales a bit differently, maybe....The steel is probable equivalent to 1095, the scale material is walnut or perhaps chestnut and today he may have wanted to use a more robust material which would argue for zytel or Micarta......First principles...... I could go on and on.....
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Walnut or chestnut?....Chestnut was extremely plentiful and popular in Kephart’s day and a fine choice it would have been.... I am extremely curious about this but, I refuse to do the destructive testing I would have to do to resolve the issue....e
