Leather handle care

P

patrickjames

Joined
Feb 11, 2006
Messages
274
I'm sure this topic has came up before but I'm kinda new to the blade forum and can not find any info. in previous post.I got the bright idea to buy some Armorall leather wipes and clean and condition the leather handles on my old Randalls.Well the only thing it seamed to do is dry them out.what is the best thing to use to maintain the leather handles on my knives?I have a Treeman knife that I just bought that was left in the sheath and the side of the handle facing the sheath is dry.This handle is horse leather but I supose it's the same as cow.
PJ
 
I just used a good leather conditioner like Oakwood. Hein Gericke (of motorcycle fame) distributes some good stuff, too.

Lexol ain't bad, but it softens too much.
 
Someone in a post long ago wrote about sealing the leather handle on a Ka-Bar with Danish Oil (a linseed based wood finish oil). Has anyone ever heard of or tried this?

-- Sam
 
The three best natural leather protectants I've found are:

Oakwood (mentioned above)

Montana Pitch Blend

Obenauf's LP
 
Before you seal it..... you can use Rennaisance wax.....
You may want to moisturize it a bit with any number of shoe products.
I have some gunk that I think is part lanolin and mink oil maybe? If I remember correctly. I have to check on this for you. Either way, you can get it any shoe store. Mink Oil is what it is called. You can also by Saddle soap. Both are available from Kiwi products.
 
Rennaisance wax is great for just about everything, leather, bone, metal. You can coat the entire knife and it will protect it from rust, drying out, etc.

Watch out for Pecard on leather. I used it on several holsters and it can develope a white film over time that can be buffed off, but keeps coming back. I may have used too much Pecard, so if you use it, I suggest you apply a VERY small amount.

I have had NO problems with the Ren Wax on leather or anything else. Do an internet search on "Rennaisance wax" and you will be amazed at what it can do. If it's good enough for the Smithsonian, it's probably going to be OK for the rest of us.
 
I'm glad someone brought up a thread on leather handles. Because recently I have been in the market for a premium, production bowie. I just sold a CS Trailmaster because of some dissatisfaction I've had with that company. I was pretty close to buying a Fallkniven THOR model earlier this last fall but one thing kept me from opening my wallet.

That model has a handle with stacked leather washers. I have always been suspect of leather washer handles and I worry about it's endurance ability for the long haul. That Fallkniven THOR is truly a work of beauty and I may still end up getting one but I need to know more about leather handles.

There are just so many handle materials out there that I like better than leather anyway i.e. Micarta, Sambar Stag, all kinds of hardwood or even a polymer with a good grip such as the Spyderco FB Temperance for instance.

So I guess the question I am throwing at you guys/gals is this?>> Is my predjudice against leather washer handles founded in genuine concerns or are they better than I think they are? To be honest a friend of mine had an old Marble's hunting knife with a leather washer handle and it just felt weird to me. But maybe there are treatments that could remedy that? Or am I just plain predjudice :( ???
 
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