In making my interpretation of this classic design I did my best to stick to both mueseum examples and the information that Horace Kephart provided in his book. While this blade design may look a bit strange and simple today it is extremely comfortable and effective for many tasks.
From Camping and Woodcraft by Horace Kephart
“Its blade and handle are each 4 ¼” inches long, the blade being 1 inch wide, 1/8” inch thick on the back, broad pointed, and continued through the handle as a hasp and riveted to it.”
“The handle of this knife is of oval cross-section, long enough to give a good grip for the whole hand, and with no sharp edges to blister one's hand. It has a ¼” inch knob behind the cutting edge as a guard, but there is no guard on the back, for it would be useless and in the way. The handle is of light but hard wood, ¾” inch thick at the butt and tapering to ½” inch forward, so as to enter the sheath easily and grip it tightly. If it were heavy, it would make the knife drop out when I stooped over. The sheath has a slit frog binding tightly on the belt, and keeping the knife well up on my side. This knife weighs only 4 ounces. It was made by a country blacksmith, and is one of the homeliest things I ever saw; but it has outlived in my affections the score of other knives that I have used in competition with it, and has done more work than all of them put together.”
Blade Steel: Carbon steel and CPM steels
Grind: Full Flat
Blade Length: 4 1/4"
Blade Thickness: 1/8", 5/32", 3/16"
Overall Length: 8 7/8"
Price Range: $280-$375 Depending on Materials Selected