If you’re reading this blog, chances are you’re pretty interested in knives. Maybe you own a few and are always looking to add to your collection of rare, custom knives. Or maybe you’re just a knife lover who loves all knives, from the rare and exquisite to the ordinary but well crafted knife used for day to day tasks.

Why is a Good Knife Sheath Important?

A knife sheath is a great complement to your knife. It can look stylish and rugged clipped onto your belt. However, it’s safe to say most knife collectors aren’t fashionistas in many cases. The true utility of a good knife sheath is to protect your knife from the elements or getting nicked. Also, it’s probably not wise to carry around a knife in your pocket or waistband, so a sheath is a must.

Materials

1. Leather. Leather is one of the most time-tested materials out there. It’s known for its highly durable and classic look. It is one of the few materials that is as useful as it is aesthetic, and few materials invoke a sense of ruggedness like leather does. Leather, while durable, must be taken care of. It should be oiled from time to time, if you do that it’s very possible the sheath can even outlast the knife in many cases.
2. Nylon. Nylon is another common material that is found on the sheath market. The benefit of nylon is that it has a good cost to quality ratio. Nylon sheaths are fairly inexpensive compared to leather but still offer good durability and protection. Nylon can range quite a bit due to the fact that there are many different constructions and weaves of the material.
3. Kydex. Kydex is a new, more modern material. It’s type of plastic that is noted for its incredibly durability and resilience. Unlike with leather, you needn’t be afraid of constant changes like getting the case wet and then jumping out into high temperatures which would dry out and crack leather sheaths eventually. Unfortunately, kydex is pretty frequently described as ugly. It just doesn’t carry the aesthetic appeal that leather does. Another downside to kydex is that repeated sheathing can dull the edge of your knife due to the friction between the kydex and the knife.
4. Plastic. Lastly, there are plastic sheaths available that—unlike kydex, are not useful for much at all besides the fact that they are cheap and widely available.

Does Sheathing Your Knife Feel Good?

There are many ways to complicate your evaluation of the sheath. There are many small details that enthusiasts care about such as how easily the sheath can be adjusted or how high or low it hangs on the body—as well as how tight. While these are all important details, they are minor gripes. Those details only become relevant if you require some special qualities such as if you’re a hunter and need something quiet or close to the body.

How smoothly can you sheath and unsheath the knife? Because how good a sheath is will also depend on the knife. Ultimately, the only way you will know is by sheathing your knife and seeing firsthand how smooth the action is.

Custom Knives For Sale

Ultimately, the only thing that matters when choosing a sheath is if you’re satisfied with it or not. Every choice has pros and cons. Do you want something durable but may not look as good? Are you okay with paying a premium for custom leather that requires maintenance? If you’re using a throwaway knife, is it okay to just use a cheap plastic case? Only you can answer those questions for yourself.

That’s the great thing about owning and using knives, there’s so many options that vary from person to person, but they nonetheless show the depth of collecting and using knives. If you would like to add a new custom knife to your collection, give us a call at (760)-945-7177 or drop us a line on our contact page!