Are there safety problems with leather sheaths?

E

EKG

Joined
Nov 26, 2005
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4
As a relative newbie to the fixed blade world (only folders before), I don't know anything about sheaths. I purchased a Busse Anorexic Badger as a hard-use hunting/fishing knife, and need to purchase a sheath. I've seen Kydex and leather options.

My question is this: Do leather sheaths present safety problems in the field (puncture, etc.) when worn horizontally on the belt? I'm headed on a series of fly-in hunting/fishing trips, and cannot afford an accident out there. A search of the archives did not yield a straightforward answer, and I don't know enough about sheathmaking to even guess the things that can go wrong in the field.

Is the "puncture" problem alluded to on the forum an issue if I fall/slam into something?

Thanks,

Erik
 
Neither is an issue if the sheath is made correctly. The only concern would be if you didn't pay attention to what you are doing and tried to violently slam the knife into the sheath without taking care to position it properly. This however isn't a good idea for other reasons.

-Cliff
 
well made leather sheath will be more tough than the kydex one
advance of kydex is that it can be made very thin (when compared to leather) and that they can securely hold the knife without safety locks - therefore they usually are smaller
AND in the very wet enviroment it is better plastic kydex than a leather because wet leather could cause your knife rusts

but remember that dirt and sand and such things can get to kydex sheat and scratch the blade

I would prefer the leather sheath - it is more durable, it won't break in cold, it is better looking and if well made it won't be much bigger than a kydex one
 
The chemicals used to cure, tan, and dye leather can cause a blade to tarnish, rust, or otherwise oxidize your blade if kept in the sheath for a long period of time. A wet blade in a leather sheath is a particularily bad idea.
 
Kydex is not bad and it is durable and tough. I've always thought it was less likely to be punctured than leather when in certain thicknesses but stiff thick leather is quite tough to poke a hole through too. For what its worth: When we lived in Alaska kydex just didn't hold up well. I had two just break on me with no warning from the cold. Once in Florida (St. Pete) I had one start to get very soft from the sun through a closed window in the car. I can't say it melted but it was on the way there when I happened to catch site of it and move it under the seat in the shade.

As for punctures. If you fall on your knife while carrying it and hit it just the right way, there is always the possibility of a knife with a good point forcing it's way through the sheath and perhaps even injuring you. It has happened, can happen and is always there as a remote possibility. Even a stiff well made sheath is not going to be able to hold back the point of a good knife if someone of my size falls on it just the right way. Fortunately it does not happen often though.

STR
 
STR said:
Even a stiff well made sheath is not going to be able to hold back the point of a good knife if someone of my size falls on it just the right way.
Click to expand...

The sheath can be made so it tapers around the blade and the guard will lock the blade from going further or rotating. In order to do either the leather would have to be tore away from the stitches or rivots or just heavily/compressed or deformed. Any of this is possible of course, however the amount of force it would take is massive with thick leather sheaths. I have 1/8" multiple layered leather sheaths that are rigid as a rock. Wilson's sheaths are massively overbuilt compared to his knives, the sheath would come away unscathed from impacts that would likely shatter the wood grips and thin blades. Of course there are a lot of simple pouch sheaths that knives can cut apart easily.

-Cliff
 
I haven't carried a fixed blade on my belt since I was a kid and, except for tourists, I rarely see one carried that way in alaska. When hunting, I carry fixed blades in my pack and no matter what I am doing, I carry a folder in a sheath on my belt.

I ran sled dogs for many years and part of running dogs means taking spills and getting dragged behind the sled on occasion. When this happens, a folder carried in a belt sheath is a lot safer than a fixed blade.
 
Then you have the crappy kydex ones that don't lock the knife in place..
Me, I prefer nylon- SOE gear style
 
I seriously doubt that either the kydex or the leather sheaths would get punctured from the blade tip if you fell on them. There is always a chance that it could happen though.
 
I personally feel that Buck, Marble's, and a few other manufacturers have found the perfect middle ground - leather sheath wrapped around a plastic liner.
 
I regularly hike and ride horses wearing knives in leather sheaths.

I have never had any safety concerns and/or a problem, because the sheaths I own are all well made, provide excellent retention, and fit the knives correctly.

My assumption is that If any of my knives ever puncture/come through their sheaths it means that something horrific has happened, and no sheath would have stood up to that extreme trauma.
 
The only problem I've ever had with leather sheaths were those made my manufacturers who use cheap leather to a make a sheath (probably made in China too) I've stabbed right through them, but a custom sheathmaker isn't going to use that crappy grade of leather, and you won't have any problems. Part of it is that the interior had a suede like interior that would catch the knife tip on the way in. Talk about a lousy design. Sheesh! The nerve of those people, I'd much rather have a nylon sheath than a cheap leather one, but a high quality leather sheath is tough to beat.
 
Cliff Stamp said:
Neither is an issue if the sheath is made correctly. The only concern would be if you didn't pay attention to what you are doing and tried to violently slam the knife into the sheath without taking care to position it properly. This however isn't a good idea for other reasons.

-Cliff
Click to expand...

That's pretty much it. I carry an older SHBA EDC in a leather sheath that goes between the belt and the body.

I often fall asleep on that side wearing the knife. Never been poked or, for that matter, being uncomfortable while wearing it and lying on top of it.

I HAVE poked myself with careless resheathing. LOL

That only happens once, or twice, if you're really slow on the uptake. LOL

Leather is more comfortable next to the skin for 12 to 16 hrs/day. Just an observation.

Being able to sleep while wearing the knife is also a big plus. For me anyway.

Rob
 
Hey Guys..

Both leather and kydex sheaths if made properly are very safe to carry and shouldn't puncture a tip through the side..
In fact on a properly made kydex sheath, I would say it is near impossible to push a tip through either the side or the tip of a well made sheath..

For something like this to happen it would take a Serious fall or major incident to happen, and poking the knife through would be the least of your problems...

Both materials have their time and place with knives,, I think if you treat each sheath as it is meant to be used,for the right circumstance, then you won't have any problems...

I did a job for a fellow(USMC KaBar) who was riding on the back of his buddies Quad; during this time the knife cut it's way out of the sheath and sliced and diced the fellows Quad seat all to heck....

ttyle

Eric...
 
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