Gunkote color changing… Is this normal?

[double gun]

I have a shadow IV that lives in its sheath, in the original box, in my sock drawer. I recently pulled it out to look at it since I hadn’t touched it in many years. Interestingly the parts that were in contact with the leather (blade and where the thumb snap rests) are still the original grey, but everywhere else has a greenish hue. Anybody else seen this happen? If anything I would have thought the areas in contact with the leather would have changed color but this is the reverse.

 

[PBnTi]

There is molybdenum disulfide in gunkote from googling it and that plus oxygen and moisture in the leather would make molybdenum trioxide which is yellow but can look blue/greenish. The parts touching leather wouldn't get exposed to oxygen so those parts stayed gray while the parts exposed to the air (and some moisture from socks and leather) slowly formed a layer of MoO₃. Apparently you have to oil gunkote if that is right. I didn't even know that.

 

[double gun]

Interesting. I would never have guessed that Gunkote wants oil…
Thanks for the reply

 

[jjg6319]

Leather can hold moisture and I would not store a knife/gun in leather for an extended period of time. Vegetable tanned leather is better then others for use as well.

 

[XL883N]

I've read to not use chrome tanned leather with knives for this reason.