leather or kydex, and why?

Moloko Plus

Moloko Plus

Joined
Jan 20, 2008
Messages
653
Personally, I like the look and feel of leather. And I don't like the abrasiveness of kydex (leaving scratches and rubbing off coating).

On the other hand, I like how kydex holds the knife, and I like how it can be made to hold a knife in a large variety of positions for backpack carry, concealed carry, pocket carry, belt carry, etc.

So, which sheath material do you prefer, and why?

What are the pro's and con's of each?

What alternatives exist, and when might they be preferable?

Thank you all for your input!
 
okiedokie,

i like leather in the woods and street, quite, soft, like a womans bosoms gently holding your blade.

i like kydex on my boats, four wheelers, trunks, tool boxes and rafting, cause they take abuse and won't hold water, take my licking and keep on screaming.

i own one of each for all my user knives.

the busse sheath ain't to bad either.... :thumbup:

.
 
Cardboard and duct tape!!! :)

If'n you want sturdy, go with the corrugated stuff!

If'n you want fancy use printed boxes! :D

The ultimate would be colored duct tape.
 
Leather for blades 6"+
Kydex for blades up to 5"

With the inherent design of kydex, it will ride high since the belt attachment is almost always where the blade meets the handle. With a bigger 6" blade the handle will be too high. It needs to be a drop design that leather sheaths deliver. Of course there are special drop design kydex out there like Okuden....but generally speaking.
 
idahoskunk said:
okiedokie,

i like leather in the woods and street, quite, soft, like a womans bosoms gently holding your blade.

i like kydex on my boats, four wheelers, trunks, tool boxes and rafting, cause they take abuse and won't hold water, take my licking and keep on screaming.

i own one of each for all my user knives.

the busse sheath ain't to bad either.... :thumbup:

.
Click to expand...

Word.
 
leatherman said:
Cardboard and duct tape!!! :)

If'n you want sturdy, go with the corrugated stuff!

If'n you want fancy use printed boxes! :D

The ultimate would be colored duct tape.
Click to expand...

I saw some colored duct tape down at the ol' Boise Army Navy suplus store. I'll see if I can get a case or two over to Blade West. :p

.
 
dduangrat said:
Leather for blades 6"+
Kydex for blades up to 5"

With the inherent design of kydex, it will ride high since the belt attachment is almost always where the blade meets the handle. With a bigger 6" blade the handle will be too high. It needs to be a drop design that leather sheaths deliver. Of course there are special drop design kydex out there like Okuden....but generally speaking.
Click to expand...

I tend to follow this as well, but have small and large leather and small and large kydex. All depends on the knife and it's use as well. Skunk's plan is sound and I follow that on some users as well... :thumbup:
 
Jeepnut22 said:
I tend to follow this as well, but have small and large leather and small and large kydex. All depends on the knife and it's use as well. Skunk's plan is sound and I follow that on some users as well... :thumbup:
Click to expand...

psst, speaking of good smelling stuff, veery soon my friend, very soon.
 
idahoskunk said:
i like leather in the woods and street, quite, soft, like a womans bosoms gently holding your blade.
Click to expand...

I second that. :D

Kydex scratches things up more than necessary - get kydex only for those that are going to be used hard and in wet environments. Otherwise, leather.
 
Kydex because it is so concealable.
I have a lot of chuddybear stuff too:D

DSCN1800.jpg
 
I like both. It depends on the knife and what I'm going to do with it. In the summer I like kydex because it's less bulky and is easier to conceal. In the winter I like leather because it's more comfy. A Cultie in leather is pure joy. Leather looks nicer, but kydex is more worry-free. Lately I've been getting more kydex than leather. My NMFBM will be getting kydex for sure, because that knife is going to get beaten. Hard.

I guess kydex gets my vote overall.
 
I use kydex for it's durability, ruggedness, lack of moisture retention and semi modular nature. I have all of my blades in OKuden kydex and am extremely impressed with the fit and finish and the retention. Additionally Okuden uses a different style of retention that greatly reduces the amout of contact between the blade and the sheath thus greatly reducing the chances of scuffs and scratches. Of course all my blades are heavily used so I don't worry about scraches. Even so if I had a satin finished user I would not hesitate to use an Okuden sheath.
 
BOTH-I mean you are the designer and most of the leather benders can do what your after. Leatherman, and Rainwalker do I know. Either one of them combine into a fusion sheath the leather outside and inside so that the blade is craddled in a soft leather, but they insert a kydex plate on each side of the blade for stiffness and added protection.
Both do excellent work. Here is one by Rainwalker:
IMG_1259.jpg
 
I like Leather (but I also shoot revolvers, lol.)

Russ, that's a great looking rig --- how about a pic of the entire thing?


Here's one I just posted for the rats to look at:

RatDaddySheathSharkskin010.jpg
 
xaman said:
I like Leather (but I also shoot revolvers, lol.)

Russ, that's a great looking rig --- how about a pic of the entire thing?


Here's one I just posted for the rats to look at:

RatDaddySheathSharkskin010.jpg
Click to expand...

Eli, at your request Bro::thumbup:
IMG_1258.jpg

IMG_1254.jpg
 
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