Leather knife sheaths may not offer the flexibility of Kydex and other thermoplastic knife sheaths, and they will require more maintenance, but they’re still popular classic alternatives nonetheless.
It is also the case that there are two things you should know about them that you don’t really need to worry about or even consider when it comes to modern synthetic knife sheaths. Here they are.
Leather Knife Sheaths Need to Be Periodically Conditioned
This is a big one that you don’t need to apply to modern thermoplastic knife sheaths at all, but if you don’t observe it with leather, you will ruin the knife sheath in short order.
Leather is a natural material with fibers and pores, unlike plastic. It can absorb moisture and it is also subject to organic decay, which, for the most part, does not affect synthetics like plastic.
As a result, exposing leather to adverse conditions is only one way to ruin it. Through the simple oversight of failing to condition it periodically you could also destroy it.
Leather conditioners are not all the same, but they all contain oils and other agents that will fill the pores of leather and keep the fibers soft. This helps to prevent the leather from excessively absorbing moisture which leads to rot.
In addition, the fact that conditioners keep the leather soft also helps prevent the fibers from breaking down, so the leather doesn’t become too stiff or crack or warp.
All in all, conditioning your leather knife sheath periodically, such as every 6 months (or else on an as-needed basis) will protect it and help extend its lifespan.
You Shouldn’t Store a Knife in a Leather Sheath Long-Term
The other thing you need to know about a leather knife sheath is that you should not store a knife in it for too long.
This is because, as leather is absorbent, it will hold moisture and can trap it against the blade and in contact with it. As you can deduce, this will in turn cause rust, corrosion, and other issues.
There are steels that are capable of tolerating exposure to these kinds of conditions, but all the same there is no reason to subject them to that stress. Some alloys, like 1095, will rust outright, and quite quickly at that.
The bottom line is that while you can carry in a leather knife sheath daily, when you store the knife, you should either keep it out of the leather sheath, or else in a different one. If you don’t, you will likely walk into corrosion when you draw the knife again.
Here for a New Leather Knife Sheath
If you’re in the market for a new leather knife sheath for a knife you already carry because you’re interested in a classic upgrade, visit The Knife Connection.
The Knife Connection carries a wide range of knife sheaths, including leather knife sheaths that are compatible with popular models such as ESEE Knives. On top of that they carry other knife sheaths and supporting accessories like ferro rods.
To learn more about what they offer or to find something compatible with your daily carry, visit their website or get in touch with them directly for more information.
