Custom leather sheath causing discoloration

[WildBill]

I have a Western W49 bowie knife ( I know, I know, but it works real hard out in the sagebrtush hills of southen California.) I finally wore out the old sheath, and had a leathersmith make a custom one. I believe the chemicals used in the tannig process are causing discoloration of the blade. Is there any way to neturalize this process? Any help is appreciated as this knife and I have been real close for many, many years....thanks

 

[Gary W. Graley]

You could try to apply a coating of Mink oil and Bees wax, 50/50 soloution. Melt down the wax and mix in the oil, you might want to heat up the sheath with a hair dryer so the mixture will soak in better, pour it into the sheath and make it so it covers all sides of the interior, then let the excess drain out and brush it onto the outside of the sheath, it'll make the leather firmer as well and might stop the acids from the leather attacking the steel, can't promise that it will but it should help in this situation.

If there is room in the sheath, buy some 2/3 ounce leather and cut to shape and stick that into the sheath to cut down on the contact to the nasty leather, use some Barge cement or contact cement to hold them into place.

Good luck!
G2

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I don't have a solution,

But I admire your problem.

www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Cabin/7306/blades.html