How to prevent oil soaking through leather sheaths?

[LUTNIT]

My first carbon steel knife came with my first leather sheath. Being my first carbon steel blade its also the first blade I've had to keep oiled and the oil soaks through the sheath whenever its flexed or the knife drawn/sheathed, its leaving stains on my pants. The sheath came pre-oiled so there isnt that much I can do about that and its not that I over did it. Is there anyway to stop the oil from leaching through like this? A couple sites I went to talked about soaking the leather in wax but that wasnt for this exact problem. Or is there a material that works with knives such as this that wont soak so much? I've read a little on kydex sheaths and fiberglass/nylon combinations but are these for a carbon blades and so they prevent the soaking problem?

Thanks

 

[DGG]

Lutnit -

Here are some tips that might help:

1. I never never never over-oil a knife or gun, etc. I should never have any runs, drips, or smears of lubricant left on the knife to soak into the leather sheath. A little lubricant goes a long way and any excess should be wiped clean. I use Breakfree CLP as a lube and wipe the knife down completely after using it. Too much is not good for anything touching the metal like leather sheaths or wooden gun stocks.

http://www.botac.com/breakfreeclp4.html

2. I don't store my knife in any leather sheath, they really don't like each other. The tanning chemicals used on the leather will fight with the steel of the knife (and win). I only use the sheath when I'm actually carrying the knife (and then it is very lightly oiled). The rest of the time my knife sits inside a layer of bubble wrap until I'm ready to use it again.

3. To get the excess oil out of the sheath I would wash out the sheath with leather saddle soap (as many times as necessary) and then use a good leather oil/protector afterwards so the sheath doesn't crack when it dries out. I keep my sheath along with my bubble wrapped knife in a ziplock bag so it doesn't get moldy (the leather will) when stored in the basement waiting for the next hunting season.

4. If leather sheaths are too much of a hassle there are a number of good nylon and kydex sheaths available for both folders and fixed blades.

Heres some leather treatment stuff.

http://www.preservation-solutions.com/category.php?category_id=1001

 

[yoda4561]

Use less oil? There should only be a thin film on the surface, it shouldn't be dripping wet or anything.

 

[DGG]

Yoda -

Amen! I wipe my knives and guns completely off. I never see any oily film but I know it is there protecting the steel.