OK to store fixed blade knives in their sheath?

H

Happy Hippo

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For my Buck folders with brass bolsters, I store the leather sheaths separate from the knives. If they came with nylon/polyester sheaths or pouches, I leave the knives in them. But what do I do with the fixed blades? I just bought a set of heritage fixed blades (102,103,105,119,120) and currently have them in their sheaths because there is no safe way to do otherwise. The pommels/guards are aluminum, not brass. Is it OK to leave these in their sheaths without being corroded from the chemicals in the leather?
 
Happy Hippo said:
For my Buck folders with brass bolsters, I store the leather sheaths separate from the knives. If they came with nylon/polyester sheaths or pouches, I leave the knives in them. But what do I do with the fixed blades? I just bought a set of heritage fixed blades (102,103,105,119,120) and currently have them in their sheaths because there is no safe way to do otherwise. The pommels/guards are aluminum, not brass. Is it OK to leave these in their sheaths without being corroded from the chemicals in the leather?
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brass would corrode..I haven't seen aluminum ones I own left in their leather sheaths corrode....yet......
 
I have quite a few knives, so not really possible to display them all. I was thinking of using these thin cardboard sleeves that some knife sharpener services use or maybe making my own. Then I would put the leather sheath in a zip lock bag and keep the knife in its original Buck box.I want my knives to stay nice. Don't plan on using these.
 
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jmh33 said:
I keep probably 80% of my FBs in their sheaths.. Have for eons.. No issues.. ;)
John
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Same here. I’ve heard people the last 10 years or so saying how you shouldn’t store knives in their leather sheaths because it will ruin them. I have done it my whole life without an issue. I also doubt if very many old timers stored their knives snd sheaths separately, but I could be wrong.
 
Carbon steel blades can corrode if left in a leather sheath, even if they are coated with oil or other protectants. Of course, they can also rust if stored in a nylon sheath, cardboard sheath, or pretty much anything else! Leather is just the worst for corrosion. It really depends on the humidity in the environment and the acidity of whatever the blade is touching. Brass will also react with leather. However, my 100 series Buck knives with stainless blades and aluminum/phenolic handles have been stored in their leather sheaths for decades with no corrosion whatsoever.
 
The type and quality of leather will make a difference as well. If the leather processing doesn’t neutralize the tanning acids closer to a balanced ph then it is more likely to cause corrosion. Even oil won’t help. There have been a few times I’ve soaked leather goods in water with a bit of soda to help neutralize the acids and then rinsed and air dried well, then mink oil to keep it supple. Another condition that is more likely to cause corrosion is the amount of humidity it is exposed to or stored in. Desiccant packs really help and they do no harm.
 
I leave my knives in their sheaths. That includes 420HC, 1095 Cro Van, 1075, 1080, and probably some others.

If I'm worried about corrosion, I apply Ren Wax and stop worrying. I leave my brass bolstered Buck 110s in the leather sheath as well. By the time I'm getting to pulling the guts out of a deer, I don't care if there's a little verdigris on the bolsters.
 
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