My Knife quirks

Status
Not open for further replies.
Gordon

Gordon

Member
Joined
Dec 26, 2002
Messages
13,726
Location
Southern Oregon
I have two cases which I hold the non sword collectibles. One is a large old school leather rigid large brief case which houses many 7" to 13" Custom knives in their sheaths, and another half dozen small blades in the lid pockets. The other case is good size but was a diamond merchant friend of mine's display case of Black Israeli leather and has mostly all Mad Dog knives with ONE Polkowski Kasper that is unbelievably size effective . I'd put my Breed group buy large necker in there if I could take it off. It is that good!Sam's Camp Defender is prolly worthy of camping in the luxury condo but it's butterscotch coloring would be happier in the other case if I could ever take it off my "Pic nic " rig !:evil:
 
You're intentionally storing knives with their blades in leather? That's goes counter to everything I've ever seen or read or been taught.
 
If blades are treated properly I have seen no deterioration in 35 years doing so. Remember I mostly have carbon steel ones!:cool: The Mad Dogs and some others are in Kydex , of course, but they are the new comers actually.
 
Gordon,

What are you putting on the blades? I'll assume you keep them in a climate controlled space, but storing knives in sheaths is one of the cardinal "no-no's" in knife collecting since the leather traps moisture and the acid in most leather processing promotes corrosion. Of course, low humidity environments can prevent that so you may not have the problem most of the rest of the country would experience.
 
I am only a mile from the ocean, but in a valley that does not get the salt fog. I do keep them in climate controlled container with dehumidifiers. I have knives stored in Leather that go back to 60s FWIW, only where BRASS is involved do I see leather reactions. I know leather is NOT good if moisture is involved.
I often , no longer than a couple months and certainly after our Oct-Feb rainy season (we get less than 40" of rain around here) wipe and lubricate the knives. Sheaths are Lexoled when they start to appear dry. I have used many lubes over the years; from veg oil, mineral oils, waxes, synthetic oils and various CLP products , Balistol , synthetic greases and finally arriving on Mad Dog Labs XF7 . XF7 is a non toxic waxy grease. I'll not espouse it's gun benefits but just say Kevin invented it as a way to protect his carbon steel blades from deep sea salt water immersion. My son buys small tubs of XF7 to use on deep submersibles and equipment FWIW and has found nothing close to it for that use. It is butt ugly when it dries looking like a thin soft paraffin coating .
Any way I don't want to o a sales pitch for XF7 and I am no way financialy involved with it , it is just a superb knife storage product. For me the sheath is part of a knife package and I store them that way, but I pay attention to what is happening.If I see a leather reaction starting with discoloration ect. then I ususually go to plan B , which would mean separating the two, and yes I have had it happen. For a using carbon knife most are in Kydex and I have NOT seen a reaction. I did recently get a reaction from my custom Skihn Dhu I wear in me sock when wearing me kilt. The blade is 5160 I think and the sheath is beech covered outside with black ostrich . After wearing it in me sweated stocking for a Celtic weekend I was horrified monday when I put her to bed to see the blade orange freckled which I Flitzed away and XF7ed. Kim Breeds Neker has been worn almost every day for a few months now and I keep it wiped with XF7 after use and every week or so. It is developing a patina, from cutting food I think which is VERY hard on non stainless knife color IMHO.
 
I'll have to try Kevin's goop. I keep all my sheaths separate and coat my blades in the bike product White Lightning. It also dries to a white waxy haze.
 
yeah, it's amazing how much more protective a sheath is when kept properly oiled.

I frequently store knives in sheaths. but NEVER when there is brass or copper on the knife verdigris is not pretty
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top