Tactical sheath style question...or Kydex vs Leather

R

RobertHankins

Joined
Jun 10, 2001
Messages
1,385
Kydex VS Leather in a tactical sheath Which do you prefer?
Who's tactical sheath design do you like...Why?
Questions I am really curious to hear about.
 
Probably Kydex because I think it's a lot easier to deploy from than leather. Everything just sort of snaps into and out of place.

I don't actually have this design but I do like the double shoulder holster for the Gunting as seen on www.gunting-museum.com.

My sheath is just the regular belt clip one.
 
Overall I'd probably say kydex because of the durability and you don't have to worry about releasing any retention straps. But if you need to unsheath your knife quietly then I think the leather would be best.

I like both Bladerigger stuff and Survival Sheath Systems.
 
Well I prefer a Riggercoated Kydex :)...why? looks cool, feels cool, sounds cool (actually, it makes no sound...that's what is cool!) etc. etc.

My favourite carry style? I'll give you an "unbiased" (yeah right) answer and say: Spinal Backup! Why? Well, for my body shape, it's the safest mode of carry...plus I can deploy the blade in reverse grip, forward grip, or with my weak hand in around 1 second.

My favourite sheathmaker? James Piorek of Bladerigger. Why? Because his designs are so well thought out and his quality is second to none.

brend-5r.jpg



That having been said, if I got a Jerry Fisk bowie, I'd certainly mate it with a Kenny Rowe leather sheath with snakeskin inlays and either the belt-frog or his pin retention system. :)


RL
 
I like Kydex or concealex. Leather is beautiful and can be enhanced in an exceptional manner. As to leather's silence, perhaps no one will notice a kydex extraction sound during the heat of a scuffle. (Unless the objective is for a person to unsheath slowly and silently as they sneak up on someone, like injuns in the movies.)
 
I absolutely love the look and feel of leather, but prefer Kydex for ultimate functionality. My favorite is the Dozier Wilderness style sheath. It has a web belt loop, so it hangs low and moves with gravity. There’s none of that sticking in your side when you bend over. It also has a unique release mechanism, where you press on a finger lip. Pressing the lip parts the Kydex, and allows for a smooth silent draw of the knife. Bob Dozier really went to town on this one.

wilder2.jpg

wilder1.jpg
 
That is Doris, my stag handled Dozier K-4 Straight Hunter. One of the best knives I've ever had the pleasure of cutting with. :D

dozier.jpg
 
Wow thats wild.
I actually expected a totally different response to this thread. Kydex seems to be gaining much more acceptance.

Sounds like a silent draw is the only real concern so far...
 
Robert,

I provide Kydex and Concelex with most of my knives. The only problem with these materials is noise and sheath wear. I really like to see higher finshed knives in leather!! Here is one by Kenny Rowe with a Gator skin inlay ;)


Neil
 

Attachments

  • kennyr3.jpg
    kennyr3.jpg
    65 KB · Views: 353
I prefer the synthetics such as Kydex and Concealex. I like a simple single sheet "taco" design with a minimal number of eyelets sized to accomodate a g-clip or IWB strap. The g-clip should be large enough to drill additional holes to cant the sheath. I prefer to be able to draw the knife without having to repostion my hand to attain a usable grip. As for sheaths I liked here are a couple that come to mind: RW Clark, JSP, RiverCity Sheath (especially the Southern Comfort), Normark, Survival Sheaths and Rob Simonich.
Stay Safe,
Clyde
 
Originally posted by Buzzbait
My favorite is the Dozier Wilderness style sheath. It has a web belt loop, so it hangs low and moves with gravity. There’s none of that sticking in your side when you bend over. It also has a unique release mechanism, where you press on a finger lip. Pressing the lip parts the Kydex, and allows for a smooth silent draw of the knife. Bob Dozier really went to town on this one.
Click to expand...

Wow, I like that a lot. I just e-mailed Bob about changing my order from left-hand vertical to left-hand "wilderness". I've got a K-1 scheduled to be completed in March '03.

Mike
 
Originally posted by TheBadGuy
Isn't Kydex known for sractching up blades though?? I like a nice leather sheath
Click to expand...

This is pretty much a myth if the sheath is A: made properly and B: kept clean.

If they get dirty the debris can scratch the blade but that will happen with leather as well, and leather is harder to clean.

I have made hundreds of sheaths without scratching the blades.

With that said, I think it depends on the knife, some just look better in leather.

***Neil, that is beyond a doubt the best sheath I have ever seen Kenny put out. Did you kill and skin the gator in your back yard?
 
This is pretty much a myth if the sheath is A: made properly and B: kept clean.
Click to expand...


Thanks for clearing that up for me, This was just an observation from descriptions in the Knife Exchange saying things like "A few standard kydex straches on blade" and things like that.
 
Originally posted by Michael_Aos
Wow, I like that a lot. I just e-mailed Bob about changing my order from left-hand vertical to left-hand "wilderness". I've got a K-1 scheduled to be completed in March '03.
Click to expand...

Good taste you've got there!!! I've also got a K-1 on order. It should arrive somewhere around late November.
 
Chad,

You are right about Kydex construction. A lot of thought has to be built into the sheath to prevent wear on the knife!

The only gator in our backyard is an inflatable one for the pool ;) Gator hunting down here involves a lottery for a tag, etc., etc., etc. I never gave it a try. I have been VERY close to some VERY big ones though.


Neil
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top