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Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
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zytel vs. leather sheaths
- Thread starter Jeff H.
- Start date
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2004
- Messages
- 629
Leather (more of a personal preference than anything)
Never heard of "kniveworks."
Are you sure that's the correct name?
FWIW, there are over a dozen online stores called knifeXXXX.com or kniveXXXX.com
- Joined
- May 20, 2007
- Messages
- 279
I just received an order from knifeworks. Great store, their selection is good and I got my knives within 4 days. That's pretty good for Louisiana-NY order processing and shipping. Wouldn't hesitate to buy from them again.
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2008
- Messages
- 1,768
i'm a firm believer, that plastic sheaths or holster WILL scratch the finish on guns and knives. i know all kydex holster makers say that this is the result of debris between the holster and weapon, but it must take a VERY SMALL amount of debris because i've noticed draw scratches on weapons that ride in kydex which is WASHED all the time.
i also believe leather WILL hold moisture against your weapon.
that said - i prefer kydex
i also believe leather WILL hold moisture against your weapon.
that said - i prefer kydex
JTR357
Gold Member
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2007
- Messages
- 14,038
Hi Jeff,Just seen your post.Don't know much about fallkniven.I've always preferred leather myself,though zytel has it's place too.Depends on how you carry.
Knifeworks is an excellent merchant.I've spent $100's there without a single mishap.I highly recommend them.
Oh yea...welcome to to BF
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ah ok - good to know. i didn't realize that about the scratch hazzard with the kydex.
since the fallkniven blades are stainless, would you suspect the possible moisture issue with the leather sheaths will be an issue?
Hi Jeff,Just seen your post(didn't read whole thread).Don't know much about fallkniven.I've always preferred leather myself,though zytel has it's place too.Depends on how you carry.
Knifeworks is an excellent merchant.I've spent $100's there without a single mishap.I highly recommend them.
Oh yea...welcome to to BF
that's great to know! thank you for the insight on the store!
yeah this forum seems to be loaded with lots of good info. im new to knives, but i can see myself getting hooked. i'm looking forward to learning here
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2008
- Messages
- 1,768
i'd go with leather
i had a stainless Ruger SP101 that i carried in a Blade Tech kydex holster, the cylinder ended up with noticeable draw scratches. so, i know that it's not only coated steel that has a problem with kydex. unless you get it soaked or live in an extremely humid environment. i would feel safer keeping a SS blade in leather (if i cared about how it looked)
btw - congrats on the new purchase, i'm anxiously awaiting the UPS guy's arrival
happiness is a new knifei'd go with leather
i had a stainless Ruger SP101 that i carried in a Blade Tech kydex holster, the cylinder ended up with noticeable draw scratches. so, i know that it's not only coated steel that has a problem with kydex. unless you get it soaked or live in an extremely humid environment. i would feel safer keeping a SS blade in leather (if i cared about how it looked)
btw - congrats on the new purchase, i'm anxiously awaiting the UPS guy's arrival
yeah i'm leaning toward the leather in light of your guys' info. i really appreciate that!
i've been looking at literally thousands of knives over the internet and i'm really excited i've found a line that i like!
oh and congrats on your purchase too
(what are you getting?)
- Joined
- May 17, 2002
- Messages
- 5,757
I'd recommend choosing leather over Zytel, unless you're unwilling to do some basic maintenance.
I have all the sheaths there is from Fallkniven, from the first leather sheath made for the Swedish AF to the new zytel sheaths, which by the way has two different looks. The early ones are a bit shiny and the latest ones have some kind of black coating on them.
Anyway, kydex sheaths do occasionaly scratch the blade, it is mostly because the plastic is hard and sometimes the blade edge snags inside the sheath and cuts curls or nicks on it. Those nicks then scratches on the blade. The new zytel sheaths are a bit softer and I have not seen any scratches on my knives from the zytel, it might happen though.
One reason for Fallkniven to convert to zytel is that the kydex supplier went out of business. I still think that the early kydex sheaths are the best for what you guys might call "tactical" use (inverted on combat vests and such).
I first bought a closed leather sheath for my first F1 and the kydex for the S1. However I eventually got every sheath there was depending on what I should use the knife for.
The leather sheaths look really nice and people have use leather for thousands of years so it can not be wrong after all. there are some advantages with zytel after all. You do not need to worry if you get the knife and sheath under water, it is easier to take out the knife with one hand (this does not work with the open leather sheath until after some hundred ins and outs), if you are hunting and get your knife full of dead animal you can just shove the knife back into the sheath and throw everything in the dish washer when you come home.
If I only could take ONE knife from my collection, if the Soviet tank regiments started rolling across the country or such, I would pick the F1 3G with kydex. It one of 110 units ever made, but it is the strongest F1 there is.
Anyway, in order to decide which sheath to use, I suggest you get them all. Here is my suggestions:
Camping and walking about with other people and using the knife when more or less stationary = closed leather. Looks classy, sophisticated and not combat. To get the flap to stay open you just fold it backwards and showe it inside your belt.
Same as above but you want to look like you have been around for a while and you might use the knife a bit more often = open leather. Looks more classic, shows off the knife a bit but still not combat looking. It looks like you have lived with the knife since you were two, kind of.
Hunting, canoeing, rafting etc. When the knife gets full of guck or you are near or in water = zytel. It does look like a 5 bucks Mora, it is a bit more combat than leather but still quite sheeple. Just practical, nothing fancy.
Military use in any way = zytel, which fits really neatly between the Molle straps and locks the sheath really tight. You can spray it sand, black, green whatever you like. It is not jumping proof, but that is easily fixed with a piece of paracord through the lanyard hole and tied to the sheath, or a zip tie, or some duct tape.
The WM1 with zytel sheath is a great neck knife. The old kydex is also really great for military use, as well as the aftermarket kydex sheaths.
Good luck with your choice. I have given away a couple of F1:s as gifts. The closed leather on the micarta handled F1 as a 50 b-day gift and the normal F1 with zytel to a girl who are to use it.
http://hem.passagen.se/nodh
Anyway, kydex sheaths do occasionaly scratch the blade, it is mostly because the plastic is hard and sometimes the blade edge snags inside the sheath and cuts curls or nicks on it. Those nicks then scratches on the blade. The new zytel sheaths are a bit softer and I have not seen any scratches on my knives from the zytel, it might happen though.
One reason for Fallkniven to convert to zytel is that the kydex supplier went out of business. I still think that the early kydex sheaths are the best for what you guys might call "tactical" use (inverted on combat vests and such).
I first bought a closed leather sheath for my first F1 and the kydex for the S1. However I eventually got every sheath there was depending on what I should use the knife for.
The leather sheaths look really nice and people have use leather for thousands of years so it can not be wrong after all. there are some advantages with zytel after all. You do not need to worry if you get the knife and sheath under water, it is easier to take out the knife with one hand (this does not work with the open leather sheath until after some hundred ins and outs), if you are hunting and get your knife full of dead animal you can just shove the knife back into the sheath and throw everything in the dish washer when you come home.
If I only could take ONE knife from my collection, if the Soviet tank regiments started rolling across the country or such, I would pick the F1 3G with kydex. It one of 110 units ever made, but it is the strongest F1 there is.
Anyway, in order to decide which sheath to use, I suggest you get them all. Here is my suggestions:
Camping and walking about with other people and using the knife when more or less stationary = closed leather. Looks classy, sophisticated and not combat. To get the flap to stay open you just fold it backwards and showe it inside your belt.
Same as above but you want to look like you have been around for a while and you might use the knife a bit more often = open leather. Looks more classic, shows off the knife a bit but still not combat looking. It looks like you have lived with the knife since you were two, kind of.
Hunting, canoeing, rafting etc. When the knife gets full of guck or you are near or in water = zytel. It does look like a 5 bucks Mora, it is a bit more combat than leather but still quite sheeple. Just practical, nothing fancy.
Military use in any way = zytel, which fits really neatly between the Molle straps and locks the sheath really tight. You can spray it sand, black, green whatever you like. It is not jumping proof, but that is easily fixed with a piece of paracord through the lanyard hole and tied to the sheath, or a zip tie, or some duct tape.
The WM1 with zytel sheath is a great neck knife. The old kydex is also really great for military use, as well as the aftermarket kydex sheaths.
Good luck with your choice. I have given away a couple of F1:s as gifts. The closed leather on the micarta handled F1 as a 50 b-day gift and the normal F1 with zytel to a girl who are to use it.
http://hem.passagen.se/nodh
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2008
- Messages
- 59
I think it depends on what you're doing with it. If I'm going to be around the yard, good weather etc...leather, no doubt about it, but if I'm going to be in the woods for a week...kydex, no doubt about it. I'd be constantly worrying about my nice leather sheath getting all ruined.
+1 :thumbup:Hi Jeff,Just seen your post.Don't know much about fallkniven.I've always preferred leather myself,though zytel has it's place too.Depends on how you carry.
Knifeworks is an excellent merchant.I've spent $100's there without a single mishap.I highly recommend them.
Oh yea...welcome to to BF