Leather sheath & handle care

[Barry E Harris]

Any suggestions as to how to maintain leather sheaths and stacked leather handles? I'm concerned about using a leather dressing that might react with the blade metal.

 

[sheathmaker]

Barry; There is very little in the way of leather care products that would be detrimental to your blade steel or other metal parts of your knives.

First things first. The sheath, if very old and very dry and perhaps dirty would benefit from a good cleaning using saddle soap and water. This will clean out the pores of the leather and allow it to breath a little better. When this step if finished and completely dry apply a light coat of PURE Neatsfoot oil, not Neatsfoot Compound. When this has "leveled out" and the more natural color has started to return, you can apply a product by Fiebing known as Fiebing's TanKote. This will seal the pores and make it slightly water resistant, not water proof by any stretch. You can follow this with Tandy's NeatLac if you like. Both the TanKote and the NeatLac are applied with a sheepskin pad.

If you just want to maintain a relatively new sheath, then the saddle soap routine and follow with light coat of Neatsfoot about once a year or any time the sheath gets really wet. Be sure it's completely dry before you do any of this.

The stacked leather handle gets the very same attention as mentioned above, but does not need the TanKote or NeatLac.

If you need more information don't hesitate to call on me.

One final thought always clean and lightly oil or wax the blade and metal parts when you are through cleaning the leather.

Paul

 

[Barry E Harris]

Thanks for the info. It is very helpful and much appreciated.