Kydex of Leather sheath?

[OliverQueen]

No sure if this is the best place to post this but, I know most of you get sheath's made for your BUSSE's.

So what are the pro's and con's of having a leather or Kydex sheath?

 

[Greg45]

Leather:
Traditional
Softer
Quieter
Usually a little easier on a knife finish
Usually looks better (to most, I think )
Smells good

Kydex:
Very rugged / tough
Lighter weight
Thinner material
Waterproof material
Usually costs less for a good one
Easier to clean

These are a few points - I'm sure others will be added :thumbup:

 

[xaman]

excellent points!

but for hunting purposes, leather smells...not good for game (of course, as stated above, it is quieter though -- which may be more important depending on what kind of hunting you are doing.)

 

[Cobalt]

excellent points!

but for hunting purposes, leather smells...not good for game (of course, as stated above, it is quieter though -- which may be more important depending on what kind of hunting you are doing.)

What? so you think the animal is going to notice the leather before your smelly ASSuming your out there hucking it and getting sweaty BALLisong knives just won't cut it.

I like both for different reasons. Leather protects a finish better, but kydex is lighter and easier to conceal. On smaller blades I like Kydex and on big ones I like leather, but if I want to conceal a big one I might go kydex as well. Silence, leather is better.

 

[idahoskunk]

i use leather in the woods and kydex in the water

hunting = leather

rafting = kydex

i usually have one of each for each user knife.

 

[Hog Feet]

i use leather in the woods and kydex in the water

hunting = leather

rafting = kydex

i usually have one of each for each user knife.

How about a kydex/ leather fusion?

 

[idahoskunk]

i think the leather would get wet and never dry out :thumbdn:

 

[mfaster7]

Leather no matter how it is tanned is said to contain corrosives that can hurt a blade. That is why a knife should not be stored in a leather sheath.
Kydex seems to leave marks on the blade but has none of those corrosive properties.

 

[Fakeducci]

Leather no matter how it is tanned is said to contain corrosives that can hurt a blade. That is why a knife should not be stored in a leather sheath.
Kydex seems to leave marks on the blade but has none of those corrosive properties.

I have had carbon steel knives in leather and never had a problem. Oh wait, let me go check. I just pulled my knife out of the safe, there is the handle, I unsnap the leather sheath and pull it out, oh no, there is no blade, it rusted away,,,,all I have now is a handle.

Let me go check my kydex sheath...I have my nice custom blade in it. I pull it out, oh man look at that longscratch, crap.

Back to cardboard it is

 

[Kloneducci]

i like the soft supple feel of skin..eerrrr..i mean leather

 

[xaman]

What? so you think the animal is going to notice the leather before your smelly ASSuming your out there hucking it and getting sweaty

LOL It's kind of like a watch band... You wear it running and sweat in it, then it retains a lot of the smell 2 days later when you're hunting. Same with a well used leather sheath -- eventually it'll smell like you, your pet and everything else in your world. Some guys are freaks about all this and store everything in ziplock bags --- it might make a difference if you're trying to get a smart 6 year old buck to come w/in 30 yards of you when bow hunting :thumbup:

I hunt a lot, but still prefer leather way over kydex... It's not that big of a deal to me obviously

 

[Fakeducci]

did i mention i like leatha

 

[Juicyducci]

i like it too, mabe we should meet up some day big fella :thumbup:

 

[Andros]

How about a kydex/ leather fusion?

You are right on target! Check this one out: http://www.armoralleather.com/kydexfusion.htm.
That's why they say "watch what you are wishing for; you may as well get it!".

 

[leatherman]

i think the leather would get wet and never dry out :thumbdn:

So far no problems drying out, I've got several rigs up north, and a few on the coastal areas. Deal is theres no leather that is totally surrounded so it doesnt act like a sealed sponge. The lining on most is a double split so it dries so much faster that un split leather, and the others use very thin stuff. Plus, you can pour some neatsfoot oil in the mouth of the sheath and soak that lining and it will be water repellent.

Leather no matter how it is tanned is said to contain corrosives that can hurt a blade. That is why a knife should not be stored in a leather sheath.
Kydex seems to leave marks on the blade but has none of those corrosive properties.

That is true with the cheap leathers, they are not well tanned and not well rinsed. Its those tanning agents that leech out on to the blade and cause corrosion. That is NOT true of quality leathers, most of the tanning agents are rinsed out. I've got super high carbon knives resting in sheaths I made 5 years ago and no adverse effects. Its all in the quality folks, dont listen to those old wives tales.
Another old wives tale is that its the kydex making marks in the blade. If your knife steel is softer than plastic, its time to find another maker. Kydex will smooth a bead blast finish, kydex, like leather, will hold sand and dirt, that is where the marks come from, clean the knife before you put it in the sheath. A well made kydex sheath will not rub your blade smooth, the retention is the handle and the blade "floats" in the sheath.