Sheath question

[swimmerdude1127]

Hi, I am fairly new to knives and am fascinated. I am starting to start a small collection and came up with questions about sheaths for the SEAL pup...

What is the big difference between the kydex and nylon sheath for the SEAL pup? i know the nylon comes when you buy it, but why would you want to get a kydex one -- what advantage does it offer?

also, i have read that many do not like the SOG kydex sheaths. why is this?

 

[Vaako]

My biggest gripe about Kydex isn't limited to SOG. Kydex is a hard material. Grit and dust inevitably get in the sheath (or are already present from the manufacturing) and brutally scratches the finish. Kydex sheaths take "sheath wear" to a whole new level. Kydex always makes knives look like they were abused, even when they weren't. It's not a question, like some might claim about "working knives" getting "character" through use. Ugly scratches and gouges aren't "character". They're avoidable abuse inflicted by a hard, unyielding sheath material.

Leather and nylon being soft material, provide less pressure on the surfaces of the blade, which drastically reduces the abrasive action of grit and dust. Sheath wear from leather or nylon is a much more gentle process.

Most factory kydex sheaths are also very wide, usually have rigid belt loops that don't allow the sheath to flex during wear, and have a pancake flipper apperance. The tie-down slots increase the visual similarity. They're very clunky and bulky in relation to the blade.

Compare the factory SOG sheath to the classic SOG Cordura nylon sheaths (that model long now long-unavailable).

If the covered flap on the current SOG nylon sheath isn't to your taste, here are two alternative after-market sheaths which don't have it.

Uno

Dos.

 

[Eric N.]

Look at the Spec-Ops sheaths. For the money,they are best that I have seen. I have the short one (6 in) and have the big (8 in) on order. These are the Combat Masters. You wont be sorry.