Protect Leather Sheaths & leather handles

[slingshot]

This morning, while doing a quick inspection of my knives, I found that there was a thin layer of white wispy fungus on the stacked leather handle of the KaBAR USMC 7 inch.

I immediately wiped it with a dry cloth and removed all the fungus. The fungus was only a day or 2 day time lag. I check the knives almost every day during the monsoons. So no harm done.

I keep extra care of knives. And the steel is either coated with Birchwood Casey Sheath oil, WD 40 or Tuff Cloth. This is the first time I have faced an issue with the handle or sheaths.

Suggestions from the forum are welcome, on how to protect the leather sheaths and the leather handles of my knives from humidity, fungus or any other threats.

Thanks, slingshot.

[hellfire_m16]

Hi Slingshot,

I usually use the natural/neutral-liquid or normal wax shoe polish. Works decent…after applying keep the leather out in the sun just a wee bit so that it warms up and soaks in the polish.

There are other better leather preservatives out there…members with experiences with those should be able to provide you a better insight.

Best.

[slingshot]

Thanks Hellfire. I have been using shoepolish on the sheaths. But not on the stacked leather handles as they might make the handles slick and greasy. Even shoe polish on sheaths has not worked earlier, especially on the insides of the sheaths

[prasanjit.baul]

As per what i have read. Fungus grows in moist and dark conditions. What I would have done is keep the knives in a transparent tub or big airtight jar/boxes or a glass box and put some silica gel packets which absorb moisture. Must help i guess.

Regards
Prasanjit Kumar Baul

[Mack The Knife]

I use Ballistol and/or Montana Pitch Blend. I am told they use castor oil to maintain the leather at the Bangalore Turf Club. I think it's castor oil but best you verify this with Lazybones as it was he who told me about this.

[Safarigent]

http://www.argentinapolo.com/

Scroll down and check out the whale grease.
Thats what i use on all leather items.
Less is more with this and it keeps the leather supple and protected.
Never had a problem in many years of using it.
Its a reliable website that i have used many a time.
Cheers

[hellfire_m16]

Mack The Knife…even at the Mysore Turf Club Castor Oil is used on the saddles and leather accessories daily…have tried it on some cheap leather sheaths it does work especially to make /keep the leather supple…has a nasty smell though… but, am not sure if it should be used on the expensive leather gear. More refined castor oil is available for about 100 INR a bottle at the local chemist.
Slingshot what Mack The Knife and ab have mentioned should work well…

Best

[Mack The Knife]

Read up on the whale grease and it claims to turn stiff leather soft. I would use that with caution as scabbards are usually stiff and meant to be stiff and you do not want to soften them too much.

You may find the same problem but to a lesser degree with Montana Pitch Blend. Ditto for Neats Foot oil.. Use Ballistol or get yourself some Obenauff leather dressing. I am told that's even better than Montana Pitch Blend and wont soften leather.

V, thanks for the castor oil confirmation.

[dr.jayakumar]

I use Ballistol and/or Montana Pitch Blend. I am told they use castor oil to maintain the leather at the Bangalore Turf Club. I think it's castor oil but best you verify this with Lazybones as it was he who told me about this.

yes we use castor oil on leather goods,like saddle,harness etc.i am not sure about knife sheaths,
regards
dr.jk

[Gursarvinder Singh]

Hi Friends!
1,Buy some clear linseed oil.
2,Boil it till Starts smoking but boil slowly.
3,Cool it.
4,Repeat again the boiling.
5, Cool Again covered so it should not pic moisture.
6, Store in dark tight bottle.
When you want to use it to protect leather put the leather in sun and when it warms up coat it with oil rub till you cant get it on your hand. Use on any tanned leather but don,t use on shoes.
Regards,
G.Singh

[Bruno22]

Some photographers in Mumbai used to store their equipment in a cupboard with a very low watt bulb (or some type of bulb) fitted on the inside. This was supposed to keep the moisture away. Please do check this with someone in terms of an electrical or fire hazard.
A good airtight box might work too.
Some vacuum cleaners have vacuum bags. These are used to store costly clothes n stuff once the air is sucked out and then sealed. One could look into that too.

[Bruno22]

Hey guess where I got this link from...just what you need.
http://www.kalabhai.com/products/photoo ... gicabi.htm

[Mack The Knife]

The low wattage bulb method is used by some for their gun safes as well and they claim it helps.

The vaccum method would be quite impractical for someone who handles his knives frequently. Also, it may not be as effective as we may want it to be. Here's why....I hadn't touched my guns in a very long while but I recently had the urge to shoot and was shocked to find that they were covered with a fine layer of dust. No rust fortunately. This despite being locked in a gun cabinet. If dust can get into a locked cabinet, moisture may very well find it's way into a vaccumed bag unless it was truly hermetically sealed.

[Mack The Knife]

Bruno, that link isn't working.

[akayar]

Mention of low wattage bulbs reminds me of something like 6 to 8 bulbs kept below billiard tables to keep it warm so as the moisture does not affect the billiard table cloth surface. These bulbs are basically carbon filament bulbs as against the usual tungsten filament bulbs used in houses.
akayar