Leather vs. Kydex Knife Sheaths: A Comparison

The choice between a Kydex knife sheath and a leather knife sheath is more than a question of style or taste. It’s a question of speed, safety, and security.
It’s not that leather is bad. We carry both leather and Kydex knife sheaths at Montana Knife Company, but we ship all our knives with a Kydex sheath. Let’s talk about why that is.
Learn more: www.montanaknifecompany.com/b...
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[@IvIidnight]

Honestly, I would love to see more leather wrapped kydex sheaths.

[@IvIidnight]

Or maybe a leather "show side."

[@jack_batterson]

I've had knives get rusted and scratched in kydex. A bit of grit can imbed itself into the interior wall of a kydex sheath and act like sandpaper every time a knife is removed and replaced in that sheath. This happened to me with one knife and rove me nuts! Kydex can be noisy. Anything that taps the sheath, e.g. a sling, will make a very unnatural clanging sound. And water can condense on the inside of a kydex sheath as well. This happened to me with a knife I was carrying up in Glacier. Kydex doesn't let water dissipate the way leather can. Kydex has some virtues, but it isn't that much better than good, ol' leather.

[@CeeZeeZ]

Im very happy MKC has taken the time to source on brand kydex and make it a standard to ship them with every knife the make. Thats f'in awesome

[@jimmydaniels8409]

I purchased one of your leather sheaths for the Blackfoot and the very first time I put the knife in it, I did just like you mentioned, poked the knife tip right thru the side of the sheath.

[@cajunpipesmoker1519]

I just like leather!!! Although, I’ve noticed some pocket sheathes are nice. But I’m just a leather fan

[@Iamthedudeman00]

Hi i am pretty excited to see your products, could you please also include some footage of the knives and sheath as you talk about it? Thanks a lot.

[@1lostJoshua]

I just want to say thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@MontanaKnifeCompany]

Thank you for watching!!

[@kwill1911]

I prefer Kydex for the washability factor. Leather looks and feels great but clean a few animals and it is junked up and impossible to clean very well. BUT--that is also a problem for paracord wrapped handles. They have to be re-wrapped after every use (cleaning an animal) or they are nasty!

[@lifehacksformen8427]

Just finally got one if your speedgoats. Love it. Question how did I get the fast die last banner?

[@johnschettler3342]

I have both the Kydex and leather sheaths for my Blackfoot. I am currently using the leather sheath on my belt, but after playing with the pocket clip on the sheath of my wife's Mini Speedgoat, I think it would work to carry my Blackfoot in my pocket the same way. Any chance you will be releasing just the pocket clip so I could add that to my Kydex sheath?

[@kurtandrews7450]

How would you EDC a mini speedgoat, just on the off chance I'm ever lucky enough to get one into my shopping card before they sell out? I don't really want it drawing a lot of attention in the office or in public.

[@reggierico]

I bought a Stonewall Skinner and just love everything about this knife! I also bought an extra leather sheath to go with the Kydex that came with it. Unfortunately , the leather sheath is very bulky, has four excessively thick layers of leather and really doubt if I'll ever use it. And, it cost $65 which is not cheap.

[@zacharydear9139]

I was thinking of buying one for when I eventually buy a magnacut stonewall. Let me know if you decide you do not want the leather one and I'll buy it off you.

[@OnTheRiver66]

I have knives with both leather and Kydex sheaths, and I like both materials, but prefer Kydex EXCEPT for the Kydex that is reinforced with glass fibers. When the edge rubs again glass reinforced plastic you lose the edge immediately. Mora and Glock do NOT use glass fiber in their sheaths, but use of glass fiber sheaths had increased greatly over the last few years. On some knives with GF Kydex I can make sure only the back of the knife touches the sheath both in and out. With some, double edged for example, that won’t work. With some knives I can reinforce the inside edge with epoxy and that works. I have tried rubbing the glass fiber off the plastic with a file and that does not work because the fibers are firmly held by the plastic. I keep a fine edge on my knives and having that edge dulled by inserting and withdrawing the blade is irritating, and for self defense it can cost you your life. Does your Kydex contain glass fibers?

[@trevermccall6762]

👍

[@JPHomeland]

I prefer hybrid sheaths, like the sheaths fom Dawson Knives.

[@MontanaKnifeCompany]

🙌🔥🙌

[@jdemeter4357]

I pushed a Spyderco Sustain, ( a pig sticker style blade) through the leather sheath and the knife never left the house yet . Didn't even feel the knife go through but somehow missed cutting myself.

[@MontanaKnifeCompany]

Definitely lucky it wasn’t worse!!

[@dumdum5520]

Im based, i just really like kydex over anything else because of the satisfying click-clacking when sheathing and unsheathing your knife

[@ilovekaiyko]

6:25 this is me

[@rgjohnson3rd]

I like Kydex better anyway!

[@ilovekaiyko]

leather is better. quieter.

[@PeasantPB]

Kydex is too loud for hunting knives. Most of us prefer leather for that reason

[@MontanaKnifeCompany]

It all comes down to personal preference - there are many thousands of folks out there who have their knives in the kydex sheaths while hunting and have not had any problems 👊 we get tagged in a countless amount of photos during the hunting season by folks with their animals down!

[@longrider42]

Funny, I am a leather worker, and keeping a leather sheath stiff, is all about the finish and water proofing. I can make a Leather Drinking Jack. And I put drain holes in my leather sheath. Plus leather sheaths are quiet. You really do not have any idea about leather. Leather has been being water proofed, since the invention of leather. In extreme heat or cold, Kydex will fail. But, each to there own. As for attaching things to the leather sheath's to other things, that's a matter of punching the right holes. And finding the right clips. But each to there own.

[@bradb.4570]

Relax long rider, go build your own company then.