Kydex sheath scratches

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I am finding trace scratches on blades pulled from kydex sheaths. Wierd how a plastic can do this to steel.

Is anyone else finding this to be the case?
 
unfortunatly I think that scratches and rub marks are the standard for knives in unlined kydex sheaths. They can be minimized but I haven't found a way to eliminate them:( Also kydex can hold debris that will scratch blades so even if the sheath itself doesn't scratch the debris will.
 
I have 2 neck knives from a well known maker that get scratched pretty bad from the kydex. Wierd isn't it? Maybe we should be making the sheaths from steel and the blades from kydex :p
 
Kydex doesn't scratch the Blade.Dirt,or any type of grit caught between the Blade and Kydex during drawing or insertion into the sheath will cause the scratches.There is no real way to prevent this "Street finish" from occurring with an all Kydex sheath.
I put a Satin finish on the blades I sheath in kydex.It hides the scatches better then a mirror finish.While forming it around the blade, a strip of masking tape is placed on the cutting edges.This gives a .004-.006 clearance between the blade and plastic inside the sheath.A quick pass on a Scotchbrite wheel will take care of most scratches,but most people do not have access to this type of setup.
Most of my Kydex rigs are made as "Using" Knives.I guess the scratches are what gives "Character" to a blade.

Mickey
 
Is there a particular grit of Scotchbrite that might do a good job, with elbow grease as the application?
 
I use a blue Scotchbrite 2 by 72 belt.The grain runs up and down (Spine to cutting edge) as opposed to lengthwise.You can try working a Scotchbrite pad slowly ,but the results are a lot faster on the Grinder.

Mickey
 
Thanks for the info, Mickey.

Only, if my wife catches me buffing up on my blades, she'll berate me as to why the shower faucet continually drips and that I'm "too busy" to get to fixing it.

;)
 
Lining Kydex with material might sound like a good idea, but it is not. The liner material will pick up and HOLD gunk forever. Once it is caught into the material it is near impossible to get it out. Unlined Kydex is much more practical because you can use a wet rag or gun cleaning swab to remove the little specks of grit.
 
When i make a sheath, i put a layer or 2 of masking tape on the blade, and when i form it, I do not go as tight as many people do. I don't go for the panty line look. I try to have the tightest part of the sheath at the handle, so that the blade isn't right up against the kydex. i also do a drain hole at he bottom of the sheath so it can be rinsed out. if the blade gets dirty, try to wash or wipe it off before it goes in the sheath and gets the sheath dirty.
 
What Taz said is true, The knives he has made for me with kydex sheaths both have alot less scrathes than my other knives with tight fitting kydex. They still get a few but not nearly as many. I think they key is just not making it so super tight that any little piece of dirt will be forced to rub into the blade. Oh and cleaning the knife after use before sheathing it helps too.


P.S. Taz whats the word on the bowie? gone to HT yet?
 
Most of my Kydex rigs are made as "Using" Knives.I guess the scratches are what gives "Character" to a blade.
Click to expand...

Absolutely! That plus the fact that if you finish satin, and especially if the final buff is parallel to the long axis of the knife, you never notice the scratches. I don't think mirror finishes and kydex go together well unless you just don't care about the scratches (character in a user after all), or the knife is a collector only so the sheath doesn't collect the stuff (usually fine sand particles) that causes the scratches in the first place. I also think a drain hole(s) should be standard in a kydex sheath so sand and other grit is at least easy to rinse out.
 
New knives I have bought have particulate matter on the blade when extracted. Sometimes, the stuff is on there right away; sometimes it appears randomly over several blade extractions.

I am assuming that this can only be kydex shavings and detritus that has not been air-compressor blown-out of the sheath on the maker's bench prior to inserting the knife and packing it.

It's because none of the knives showing the scratches has really been used, the scratches I am seeing have to be all about both tight-fit and failure to remove kydex matter from the inside.
 
Hey Guys...

I'll pretty much agree what has been said here about scratches, why,how and how not to....

I will also agree and Strongly suggest that you stay away from lining a kydex sheath with Anything,,including the fluff from a duckling's ass..It to will cause scratches..

As it has been said before,,its not the plastic doing the scratching, but the crap either left behind,and or introduced into the sheath after it is manufactured..

The small pieces of material you see being extracted on the knife are called "Shavings"...

This is caused by several different problems, either on the knife, the sheath or both..

An improperly fitted sheath will cause this as will knives with sharp edges on the bolsters,plunge lines, guards, choil, traction and spine...Refered to as "Skating"

A lot of this can be illiminated by rounding edges, knocking off the edges and polishing..

The makers I work with closely have changed their habits slightly, listened to what I had to say, and now they enjoy sheaths that have smooth draws and crisp lockups..

Theres a lot into fitting a sheath properly..If the sheath is not pressed properly, it will rattle and what not...

A tight fitting sheath will give you buff marks, scuffs, Wicked as hell scratching and a all around general miserable fit..

Scratches are a part of life, Any sheath will scratch,including leather,,so stay away from lined sheaths and synthetic sheaths with Magnets(Completely useless IMHO)

ttyle

Eric..
 
I put my Kydex sheaths together with screw rivets so that they can be opened up and washed out... all it takes is one day at the beach ;-) if you use regular rivets the chances of washing out the sheath are slim to none...
 
Hey Kevin...

Very true about washing the sheaths...

To completely clean out a sheaths screws are very good for doing this...

However I feel that more moving parts on a sheath can be a liability for some.. A sheath that is put together with eyelets has less things to go wrong...

With proper care when in these type of places, there shouldn't be a problem...

Nice knives BTW Kevin..

ttyle

Eric....
 
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