A question about leather handles and humidity.

[IChooseLife]

I decided to get a Mark 1 straight edge, now I have to decide between a Kraton and a leather handled version

I live in Houston and it gets humid here just sitting indoors. My question is: are leather handles pretty durable? and if so, how long can you expect it to last? Assume no wax/oil/etc. is or will ever be used to preserve the leather, it will be used just as it comes out of the box. This thing won't be dunked in water ever, unless it's an accident, but it is very humid here and may occasionally need to be used during a moderate rain.

 

[Moosez45]

I decided to get a Mark 1 straight edge, now I have to decide between a Kraton and a leather handled version

I live in Houston and it gets humid here just sitting indoors. My question is: are leather handles pretty durable? and if so, how long can you expect it to last? Assume no wax/oil/etc. is or will ever be used to preserve the leather, it will be used just as it comes out of the box. This thing won't be dunked in water ever, unless it's an accident, but it is very humid here and may occasionally need to be used during a moderate rain.

Very durable. You might want to seal it with something like SnoSeal, or another wax based leather treatment. Don't use oils they will break down the fibers over time.

Even without treatment, the handles are very durable. Humidy, not gonna both them much. We got guys that live in Florida, Louisiana, and I live in East Tennessee, where we are now classified as a temperate rainforest. Lots of water in the air.

If you choose leather, you are good to go, if you choose Kraton, you are good to go.

Welcome to the Kabar forum and Bladeforums. Stick around, always nice to have another.

Moose

 

[thatotherguy]

you might wanna invest in a plastic sheath if you get the leather one though, humidity+leather+carbon steel= nasties