- Joined
- Jun 5, 2012
- Messages
- 28,212
I understand and agree on many of your points, the craftsmanship in a fine leather sheath is amazing. The main thing I disagreed with was your insinuation that kydex was a tacticool item and that leather is superior. They each have strong and weak points, that is a fact. It doesn't matter how many people on earth love leather, it doesn't change the physical properties, advantages and disadvantages of either material. Your opinion isn't fact any more than mine, but coming off insulting with an opinion that isn't addressing the very real advantages of one of the materials was in my opinion worthy of disagreement.Fair enough
I think the two main reasons plastic sheaths have become so popular are that they are cheap and easy to make
I think in prouduction knives it is easier for a company to produce a better quality plastic sheath than a Leather one.
As for sheath makers it is a very small investment for a guy to get into Kydex sheath manufacturing where it is a bit more involved in cost and talent level to do Leather
so it makes sense that one would be more popular when most people buy a prouduction fixed blade with a poor quality leather or factory plastic sheath to have a Kydex sheath make 35 to 55 bucks vs a high quality leather sheath say 100 to 300 bucks
Also there is a number of Kydex benders that keep a large amount of prouduction knives on hand to use as molds and most Leather smiths ask for the knife to be sent in
So time and cost wise it’s easier and quicker to go with plastic
I’ve traveled the globe and I’ve seen many Proffesional outdoorsmen and in my experience they all seemed to prefer Leather and took the approach that it had to be maintained much like their leather boots, saddles, etc
I have been involved in the world of knives for 4 decades and I’ve worked the largest knife show in the world for many years where I have the opportunity to meet and see many people and what they are carrying. Regretfully to add to the tacticool comment when I’m at a show and someone shows me a nice fixed blade in a Kydex sheath it’s usually being carried by someone who is also carrying the 2 pound over built folders and I’m not gonna say much more about that
Yes I have seen some very well made carry systems based around Kydex but for me nothing will ever carry or feel like Leather. I carry center line and for the same reasons a leather belt feels better than a nylon one a plastic sheath with clip will never pull into your body and move with it the same as Leather
Like I said for me plastic has its benefits like marine applications and certain military applications where it is being mounted to Molle gear etc but even than the hybrid Kydex and Leather creations available today like from Daniel Winkler are imho much better options
So a simple answer is when your looking for a cheap , quick sheath option or a marine application Kydex is king. But to each his own
Your a strongly opinionated person and I respect that, I am very much the same. Agreeing to disagree is part of what makes us civilized.
As to the folder comment, hell I'm all over the place with folders lol In this day and age everyone should buy what they enjoy.
I own a farm and hunt as well as spent a few years active duty not to long ago. I'm pretty familiar with knives, their sheaths, and pros and cons. I butcher dozens of animals a year from emus to cows with many critters in between.
