Does a synthetic sheath cheapen a knife?

afishhunter said:
I prefer Leather, Nylon, Wood, or home made with glued, painted, and waxed cereal box cardboard sheaths for my knives.

If Kydex is what Cold Steel uses for their "Secure Ex" sheaths ... I don't want Kydex (or any other fiberglass reinforced plastic) anywhere near my knives. It dulls the blade out of, and in to, the sheath.

I've only had leather or nylon Gun holsters, so cannot comment on the Kydex pistol/revolver sheaths.
Since I only like and used a Small of Back and a verticle shoulder holster for the Gov. size 1911, and 6 inch barrel revolver I had, I've never tried Kydex.

From what I've seen, Kydex only comes with a clip, not a loop. Therefore, I will probably never use it.

I don't trust clips.

I had a leather OWB holster for my compact 1911 with a clip. Holster came off when I sat in the car. Fortunitally, it and the pistol didn't fall out of the car when I opened the door.
I had an Ontario RAT 1. It was clipped to my pocket while I was riding my bicycle a few years ago. It came out of my pocket. I didn't hear it hit the ground. Turning around and back tracking the 9 miles I'd ridden as soon as I got home and realized it was gone ... I didn't find that knife. Someone apparently found and kept it.
Click to expand...

If you're wearing a holster that has a clip then you need to be more careful.
 
If you don't care about the scuffs and scratches that only Kydex can provide, then you're looking at a really great tightly-fitting retention system. I also always wondered about my Mad Dogs and how those said scratches affect the value. And in actuality, they do. I've seen people try to use Saran Wrap over the blade to try and prevent this from happening to no avail. If you're going to go with a Kydex sheath, you're willing to deal with the blade damage that inevitably occurs but you'll be sure that your knife is held firmly in place. Certainly is a tradeoff. 😒
 
000Robert said:
If you're wearing a holster that has a clip then you need to be more careful.
Click to expand...
Yeah. Don't sit down or move unless you take it off and set it somewhere "safe".
The clip was all the way on my belt, not half way or less. I'll take a belt loop, thanks. At least then the holster is useable.
 
afishhunter said:
If Kydex is what Cold Steel uses for their "Secure Ex" sheaths ... I don't want Kydex (or any other fiberglass reinforced plastic) anywhere near my knives. It dulls the blade out of, and in to, the sheath.

From what I've seen, Kydex only comes with a clip, not a loop. Therefore, I will probably
Click to expand...
......lordy.

"Secure Ex" is not Kydex or Boltaron, that is why it gets it's own mention.

You can Kydex with about any manner of retaining device you want, loops, hooks, drops, Tek-Loks etc etc etc. Clips on a holster have their place, knowing when and where is the trick. I do generally prefer a loop of some description.
 
I don't use fixed blades much anymore. Not much time for hiking or camping like I did.

1. Synthetics (kydex, etc)
2. Leather

I prefer kydex. I don't care about scratches or scuffs. Also, a little work with a heat gun can adjust retention.

Nothing wrong with leather. I know there are some leather workers out there making great, custom sheaths but they just aren't my style.

This also follows my taste in pocket knife handles.
1. Synthetics (g10, micarta)
2. everything else
 
jlydon said:
If you don't care about the scuffs and scratches that only Kydex can provide, then you're looking at a really great tightly-fitting retention system. I also always wondered about my Mad Dogs and how those said scratches affect the value. And in actuality, they do. I've seen people try to use Saran Wrap over the blade to try and prevent this from happening to no avail. If you're going to go with a Kydex sheath, you're willing to deal with the blade damage that inevitably occurs but you'll be sure that your knife is held firmly in place. Certainly is a tradeoff. 😒
Click to expand...
this

I cannot fathom why custom makers use Kydex.
I've had a couple of blades get scratched straight from the maker.
Now I just purchase the blade and make my own sheaths.
Leather FTW.
My fishing knives are Kydex because they could get wet.
 
A leather sheath is traditional, extremely durable and very beautiful. Like some others here I too grew up with leather sheaths. Initially wasn't a fan of nylon/cordura sheaths when they started getting popular but eventually learned to appreciate their lightness and durability. I think I had even more resistance to kydex at first but after use in the field I discovered that it was the most practical type of sheath. If you clean an animal or a fish and put your knife away in your leather or nylon sheath, well you're going to have a smelly mess. With kydex it makes no difference as you can wash out the whole sheath. Hell you can soak the whole knife and sheath in a bucket.
Ultimately of course it's a matter of personal taste and preference.
 
Kydex > all. I could care less about scratches and wear, because that's going to happen anyway if I use my knives or gun.

Pretty much all my fixed blades get a kydex sheath if they didn't come with one, except for my kabar dogs head so far. I'll probably get one at some point.

Gun is always iwb on my hip in a kydex holster with a clip. Combination of tight clip that clamps onto the belt plus the belt tightness... It ain't coming out.
 
soc_monki said:
Kydex > ...Gun is always iwb on my hip in a kydex holster with a clip. Combination of tight clip that clamps onto the belt plus the belt tightness... It ain't coming out.
Click to expand...
I use a GALCO sheepskin-lined leather S.O.B. with my .45. It easily conceals "Ole Slabsides", and is as secure as a baby in Church.
 
afishhunter said:
Yeah. Don't sit down or move unless you take it off and set it somewhere "safe".
The clip was all the way on my belt, not half way or less. I'll take a belt loop, thanks. At least then the holster is useable.
Click to expand...

Personally, the only holster that I would wear that uses a clip is an IWB. I made an IWB holster that has a clip for my #1 son several years ago, and he loves it.

G22-IWB-1.jpgG22-IWB-2.jpg
 
I like leather the best generally, but a nice synthetic sheath is fine. Either can be good (or bad).
I have had bad leather sheaths too, cheaply made junk is cheaply made junk, and bad design is bad design. I have had knives poke through cheap leather sheaths before (and one not so cheap too) but have never had that happen with kydex.
 
I prefer all-leather, but for non-Stainless knives, I use Kydex. Always with leather loops though. Have a couple of Nylon sheaths for backpack or car storage, but they are the exception.
 
afishhunter said:
...From what I've seen, Kydex only comes with a clip, not a loop. Therefore, I will probably never use it.

I don't trust clips.

...
Click to expand...
Some holster makers have a belt loop option for Kydex. NSRTactical comes to mind... although they don't make holsters for my EDC.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top