If anyone is using a Kydex sheath for any of their blades perhaps you might remember my question and next time you unsheath a blade please give it a quick inspection for linear scratch marks. Do you think that these scratches are about the same, better or worse than those associated with use of leather or wood core sheaths/scabbards?

Perhaps the question could be asked this way: "Do the particles of dust and dirt carried into the sheath embed themselves in the Kydex and cause scratches in the blade? Is this comparable to the same phenomenon with scabbards made of other materials?"

A respected scabbard maker I know does not use any thermoplastic for this reason.

Kind regards,

Mike

I would say yes that one will get wearmarks but how visible they will be will depend in finish: On a bead bladed knife finish the wear marks will become very visible, on a mirror finish or a sating finish it might look like a more or less well polished part of the blade where contact happens every time one pulls the blade out or puts it back in.

If grit does gets in a scabbard I would imagine to see deep scratches if the particles are big or coarse.

My ka-bar has a kydex sheath and haven't seen an issue with it yet - its the all black recon tanto. I don't have any complaints about my kydex pistol holsters either nor have I heard of issues with them.

Also not all thermoplastics are equal. while a don't see an issue with the kydex sheath i could see a problem with the plastic inserts in a Buck knife i own. Grit has gotten ground into the inserts before.

Any one out there have any real preference for sheath material. I like Kydex for my hunting knifes, the clean up and dry quickly. But could leather be better because if grit did get into the sheath it would be pushed all the way into the leather and not touch the blade? but on the same note would that mean wood inserts could cause problems with grit?

So remember to clean the blades before [putting them in the sheath.

Just know that one of my custom knives has light wear marks on the blade: Not a problem for a using knife.

Grit might not get into the kydex but grit in between the blade and the kydex may scratch unless it is cleaned out.

Probably much easier to rinse the inside of a kydex scabbard and get it dry again than try to wash out a leather or wooden one ? Getting them to dry out inside being the biggest problem. The last thing one wants to do is to leave a blade inside a humid or wet scabbard !

The reason I ask is because I was thinking about sheathing up a new Angus Trim Tactical Longsword in Kydex.

Mike

Not really noticed any wear on my Kydex sheathed knives (several).

Holster-wise my Glock 30 has somewhere in the THOUSANDS of draws from Kydex holsters over nearly ten years and has no noticeable slide wear. Granted Glock's Tenifer finish is much tougher than most blade finishes, but.......

Other guns (blued, etc) show the same amount. If you keep the weapon/blade clean and the holster/sheath fairly clean it should not be a problem.