How do you store your traditional sheath knives?

WhittlinAway

WhittlinAway

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Porch friends, I'm seeking your advice. I've gradually accumulated a small collection of traditional fixed blade knives, all with leather sheaths. This is new territory for me and, so far, I've been storing them in their sheaths in a drawer.

I recently read somewhere—and I wish I could remember where—a recommendation to not store knives in their sheaths. Unfortunately it did not explain why.

I know many members here have beautiful examples of traditional fixed blades with leather sheaths. Do you store the knives tucked away in their sheaths? If not, would you please explain why?

I'd also be curious whether you do anything to maintain your sheaths' leather.

Any advice you have is greatly appreciated.
 
Good question. What you read is true, it's not a good idea to store knives in leather sheaths. This dilemma is one reason I like the wood lined sheaths of puukkos. I myself keep my knives in their sheaths regardless. I only have three knives with unlined leather sheaths and carbon steel blades; it's not a big deal for me to wipe them down and oil them once a month. I choose the increased maintenance because I like the extra measure of safety that keeping them in their sheaths provides.

As to how I maintain them, I'll rub the the leather down with Sno-Seal once a year. I do that during the winter, when I'm not getting much use out of them anyways.
 
Thanks kamagong kamagong . Is the concern that unlined leather promote oxidization of carbon steel?

I have been keeping the blades wiped with oil, so at least I have some protection.
 
If you carry a leather sheath or slip and the leather gets wet from rain, sweat, what-have-you, the leather will hold that moisture and create a moisture-rich environment for your carbon steel knives. Also, I've found that my leather sheaths pull all oil and moisture out of my wooden handled knives. I can wipe down a wood handled knife with mineral oil, let it soak in for a full day, and after a couple hours in the sheath, the handles look neglected and dried out.

I use my leather sheaths for transport only. I only have one leather pocket slip that I use for my GEC #14 TC. It's in my sweaty pocket for 10-12 hours a day, and dried out over night. I've experienced less corrosion by using a pocket slip, but I absolutely have to let the knife and slip air out over night.
 
I am no expert, but I believe that depending on which method the leather was tanned can also cause vertigis on the brass, even if the leather is not moist
I know one of my (US) Old Timer 7OT or 6OT sheaths (not sure which knife came with that sheath) turns the brass bolsters green.
 
The concern that a lot of folks have is chrome tanned leather (most soft leathers) vs vegetable tanned leathers which is what most fixed blade knife sheaths would be made out of or should be anyway. Chrome tan leather has the reputation of causing corrosion and or vertigis. This is relatively rare and mostly has to do with poor leather quality and probably more so poor tanning procedures. The thought is that not all the tanning solutions got rinsed out. I have made literally hundreds of my folding pocket knife pouches out of chrome tanned leather and only ever had one that caused vertigis. I replaced it with a veg tan one for the customer.

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Many of my own personal handguns live in holsters lined with chrome tanned leather and have for many years. I have noticed no ill affects on the finish. This Ruger Vaquero has lived in this Rangeflap holster for about 11 years now:

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No rusting:

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This little guy was my own personal EDC for about 3.5-4 years. High carbon damascus and I'd wipe it down with an oily rag once in a while. The only time it wasn't in its sheath was when it was in my hand cutting something. The only time I ever had any issues with corrosion was when I forgot to wipe some blood off it from castrating a calf. Pulled it out of the sheath a couple of days later and noticed a little surface corrosion/rusting. About 30 seconds of wet sanding with some gun oil and a 2,000 grit wet and dry paper and it was show me where the corrosion was. That was obviously my fault not the sheaths.

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The knife in its sheath, cutting out a belt for a fellow BF member in Europe couple years back:

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I do not hesitate to store my knives in their sheaths, handguns in their holsters and even a rifle in its saddle scabbard. I have seen no ill effects personally. Granted I live in a semi arid climate. But I do wipe things down once in a while.

As far as conditioning leather I have three products I recommend and also use personally: Skidmores, RM Williams and Oakwood. A Google search with the word conditioner after the name will net ya all three. I much prefer these cream based conditioners over an oil type product. It is very easy to get too much oil on and over soften the leather. Not so easy with these guys.
 
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I've stored a cheap knife in a sheath for a couple of years, boy was that a mistake. The brass got a case of the greasy greens and the knife was covered in pits. Last time I do that!
 
Thanks for sharing your insights and experiences, folks. It appears that, like so many things, local conditions and context play a role. As does what you're willing to put up with.

Thanks Horsewright Horsewright for explaining the differences between tanning processes and the tips and recommendations for leather conditioning products. I always enjoy reading your detailed posts.
 
My experience with this is "all over the place." I keep my Buck 119 in its original sheath and there has been no harm but, of course, it's stainless steel. I have a Western L66 that has been in a home-made sheath of vegetable tanned leather for 20 years with no ill effects. I have two Western G46 "shark" knives that were stored in their original government-issue leather sheaths in a humid climate for probably 60 years and that developed some rust and pitting on the blued blades. They have cleaned up fairly well, but still look a bit rough. I used to keep my Schrade USA 505SC in a home-made leather slip that I think is not vegetable tanned and it didn't seem to harm it. (I kept some 22LR ammo in a pouch of the same leather and it corroded.) Finally, I recently came across a cheap carbon steel knife that has been in a home-made sheath (not vegetable tanned) for maybe 50 years and there is just about nothing but rust left.

Based on my experience so far I now keep the L66 in the same sheath but oiled, and I have the G46's stored outside their sheaths.
 
Just to be on the safe side, I store my fixed blade knives in a drawer out of (but beside) their sheaths.
 
Depends on how the leather was tanned. Best to store knives out of sheaths as there is then no doubt.
 
I store my Ontario butcher's knife in a Kabar knife sheath, it has not had any oxidation issues over the years.
 
leghog said:
Depends on how the leather was tanned. Best to store knives out of sheaths as there is then no doubt.
Click to expand...

Very much so.

I've had slips for pocket knives made out of nice Horween Dublin leather. Beautiful to look at, takes wear gracefully, but yellows nickel silver in as little as a day!
 
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