Do sheaths dull a blade?

R

RubyFan

Joined
Mar 27, 2012
Messages
43
Does taking a knife from a sheath eventually dull the blade? Seams like every time you pull the knife out or put it back the blade rubs on the leather or kydex, so in theory i would figure it would need to be sharpened quicker than a folder.
 
Welcome to Bladeforums.

To answer your question, Kydex itself is not a very abrasive material, and a well crafted Kydex sheath does not allow the cutting edge to contact the sheath in a manner that would cause significant wear. Leather is the same way, though you may find yourself accidentally cutting the retention strap upon drawing your knife, causing wear.

In sum, the short answer is no, especially if the sheath is well made.
 
In theory, every time you pull the knife out of the sheath, you're using it to cut something, right? So now you're talking about regular maintenance anyway....the degree that a sheath would contribute has got to be pretty close to nil....I would think.
 
Some stock Becker sheaths are notorious for doing this, but we deal ;)

Basically, avoid glass reinforced nylon! Or buy an after-market sheath, especially if it's an awesome knife at a awesome price, then it's worth it.
 
Technically any and everytime the edge of a blade makes contact with another material (abrasive or not) it causes wear on the edge. If I draw a knife in and out of any sheath 1000 times the edge will not be as sharp as it was before the first draw. Leather, and G.R. Nylon, will wear the edge much quicker than kydex or other plastics, but they will all cause wear eventually. Every tool needs maintainence, every steel dulls eventually.
 
Ray is wrong. I make my sheath out of rock - and cross draw it out of my sheath. My the time I get the knife out - I can't tell which end is the spine.

;)


TF
 
Amateur... ;)


TF

P.S. I have been thinking about this - if you sew in your welt correctly - it will stay about 1/16th to 1/8th away from the blade. It shouldn't rub the welt when being put in and pulling it out.
 
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