Recommendation? Making kydex without tape?

J

Johnnyreeve

Joined
Feb 1, 2020
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9
Recently I got a great satin finish knife and contacted a kydex maker for custom sheath, he is the only one who making custom kydex in my region.
I suggest him to use more tape to cover the blade for preventing scartch but he said the tape is not necessary and told me the kydex won't scratch the blade.
Actually he made a lot of pistol holster, not main focus to knife sheath, so, what do you thing about making kydex sheath without tape? Should I spend more cost to send the knife to foreign sheath maker?
Thanks
 
Kydex is more likely to scratch your blade after it's made, but then, are a few scratches going to affect it? You might consider having a leather sheath made -- properly sealed (I recommend SnowSeal) it won't absorb moisture, and IMHO leather s a lot classier than Kydex.
 
I make kydex sheaths and even when taping the blade, I still get some scratches in use. This is not unusual. As others touched upon, scratches are almost inevitable, when using the knife. Some scratches appear because of dirt/grit trapped in the sheath. I like to keep the scratches to a minimum - hence the tape - but they dont bother me that much.
 
Taping the blade when forming the sheath will give the knife a little extra space in the sheath. Usually the edge is taped for the forming process. Scratches still are inevitable with kydex. As mentioned above, dirt and debris get into the sheath and can cause it.
 
As others have said, if you want to keep the great satin finish as smooth as possible, kydex is probably not the best way to go if the knife will be used and going in and out of the sheath on a regular basis. Regardless, if you ask the sheath maker to use tape, then he should. Why not? When a custom maker isn’t willing to honor a customer’s simple request, time to look for a different maker IMO.
 
Kydex will definitely scratch a blade and more likely without the masking tape.The only way I see a sheath will not scratch a blade or has very minimal is one with somewhat weak retention.Look for another maker
 
I've got a Kydex sheath lined with felt and it seems to be holding up pretty well.
I could only imagine that the leather lining would last longer over time, but like I said, the felt seems to be holding up pretty well
and makes the knife quiet on the draw if that even matters at all.
 
I assume the more air space around the blade, the less chance of moisture being trapped and causing rust.
 
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