110 Leather Sheaths

[nolan raborn]

None of the Buck leather sheaths should be made of Bonded leather. How did you confirm the type of leather used in the sheath?

We never spec out a sheath using bonded leather - if we need to use a less expensive sheath we make it out of nylon. Our leather sheaths are made of good, heavy cowhide. Sometimes a new leather sheath will be somewaht still, but that doe not mean it is made of cheap bonded leather. - Jim

I have several newer Bucks and quite a few older ones and I can gurantee there is a definite difference in the leather used in the sheaths. Bonded leather is to real cowhide leather as particle board is to lumber. I don't carry my Bucks anymore but I would be very surprised in one of the newer bonded ones would last more than a month if carried every day. As a solution, learn to make your own sheaths and buy good leather from Tandy's or another leather store. It is fun, very satisfying and you end up with the sheath that you really wanted.

 

[jimmer_5]

Jimmer,

I sent in my sheath to Pete and he looked it over and said it was defective being it was a bonded leather...and then very nicely sent me a non bonded one.

Is it possible that the leather supplier tried to sneak some in to keep a higher margin for themselves?

I'm going to look into this on Monday - Thanks - Jim

 

[plowboy]

Awhile back I received a black sheath with a custom shop 110 that was definitely not quality. I've not mentioned it, but I have another custom 110 on the way and I specified tan leather...I hope it is better.

 

[jimmer_5]

Ok -

I checked around and spoke with Joe Houser. Buck does not use bonded leather in the creation of their sheaths. There were some sheaths that came in from the supplier that were overly stiff, and steps have been taken to get that fixed, but these sheaths were NOT made of bonded leather.

As leather is a natural product, I will not dispute that there may be some differences in the suppleness of the leather in our sheaths. However, the leather used in making them is full grain leather. I hope this helps.

Thanks - Jim

 

[jimmer_5]

Just to chime in on this topic...I got an answer straight from the source on this one when I sent in my sheath to Buck...it was in fact bonded leather and I was sent a replacement. I think that a bunch of the 07 110's have gotten bonded leather sheaths...I'm guessing that the leather sheath supplier may have switched without telling Buck?

So if it smells chemical and is also extremely stiff, it's very possible you have a bonded leather sheath.

aza - I spoke with the employee that told you this. He was mistaken in telling you that the sheath was made of bonded leather. Sorry for the confusion - Jim

 

[A.P.F.]

Thanks for looking into this matter, Jim. It is good to know that the sheath leather is the genuine article.

 

[jimmer_5]

Noproblem, APF - I think my reaction was more like "for what they charge us for 'em, they'd better not be bonded leather!!"

 

[aza77]

Jimmer, yes, thanks a lot for clearing that up. I was already trying to figure out how to tell a real leather sheath versus bonded leather sheath by looking through the clamshell...but I think you saved me a lot of trouble even thinking about it

I now have another hard and chemical smelling sheath...will this sheath get softer with age and be more like the other ones...or is the stiffness and smell permanent?

Thanks for the info...

 

[Tin Sue]

Jimmer, yes, thanks a lot for clearing that up. I was already trying to figure out how to tell a real leather sheath versus bonded leather sheath by looking through the clamshell...but I think you saved me a lot of trouble even thinking about it

I now have another hard and chemical smelling sheath...will this sheath get softer with age and be more like the other ones...or is the stiffness and smell permanent?

Thanks for the info...

I'm not sure about the stiffness, but the smell, which is a result of the dye, will definitely go away.

 

[Messersmith]

I've noticed that the sheath with my 06 dated 110 is starting to become softer with light use over the past few months.

 

[Blue Sky]

If they're really too stiff, a few treatments with Neatsfoot oil might loosen them up a bit. One of the few knocks against NF oil is that it softens leather, but in this case that's a plus.

 

[GronK]

Neatsfoot or mink oil may make them too soft. A knife/sheath maker friend of mine reccommended a hot blend of mink oil and parafin. Treats the leather but keeps it formed correctly. The best "over the counter" treatment I've found is by Redwing and combines mink oil with pine pitch and bees wax.