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@bruce johnson and @dikman. Yes there are so many brands and compositions. LOL I think it will be best if I use a paste wax for those I do not use all the time and mineral oi for when they are in continuous use. Only still to decide the paste wax to use - probably make it myself though - I enjoy that. Thank you for all your guidance, all.

@doubleh would that be like the wax you get from Montana Knife Company?

That is nice and a lot more individual than a generic compass in its metal casing. Very nice indeed.

@fredk I just used the food grade mineral oil as I had it at home. I will go look for the 3-in-one. A thinner oil is better. Thank you. I did not know that.

I have been searching online and several sites say waxes are best for knife blades while other recommend oils. I have been using food grade mineral oil on the blades on my knives. I am wondering whether waxes are better and I need to shift to using that? Could I get some advice on this please?

@Gezzer Going to follow that from now on. No more "let's see...". @fredk, I have not had an issue with a single knife sheath made with veg-tanned leather. So I suspect that here, or at least where I get all my leather from, the oil-tanned leather is in fact chrome-tanned leather with oil-finishing, and that chrome tanning evidently adversely affects knife steel.

Yes. That is when it hits home the most, when we do something and the person we do it for is suddenly not around. The formalities are painful, especially when you see the name on all those documents. I'm sorry. This is a really difficult time for you.

Oh. So 2 differently tanned leathers have the same generic name of 'oil tanned'. Hmm.

@fredk, oil-tanned leather is sold as a sub-section of chrome-tanned leather, at least where I buy it from, Springfield leather. In the description too, the type of tannage is given as 'Chrome'. From what I have read, 'oil-tanned leather is not really tanned in oil. It is finished with some sort of oiling, post chrome-tanning. Since I got this from a seller as well as other articles online, I thought it is possibly true.

I am so sorry for your loss. Consider it a blessing for both of you, that you were with her until the last. The last thing she knew was that her son with her. Our prayers are with you. I lost my mother in 2021. I could not be with her as she is not in the country and I could not travel due to health reasons. She was ailing - she never really recovered from losing my father in 2008. I spoke to her 10 minutes before she passed away suddenly. The only consolation for me is that her last words to me were 'I love you very, very much" and I replied ' I love you too". Every day that we were apart for over 35 years, I called her twice daily so that when she awoke in the morning and then went to bed at night, she knew I loved her and that I was fine. I still sometimes reach for the phone to call her - habit of half-a-life time. One never really gets over losing parents but it does get a little easier. It might take while but that day will come when you can remember her with love and affection without the deep associated pain.

@bladegrinder the steel, I think, is some form of high carbon Steel. The knife is an Henckel, an old one. It is very humid here, in Georgia, too. But my other knives kept in veg-tanned leather sheaths are fine. Like all my knives I coated this one in mineral oil as well. @fredk, I have not tried chrome-tanned leather on any other knives, not even the newer stainless steel ones from Osbourne. Maybe I will switch sheaths with a new knife and check tomorrow. That will at least tell me if it is the metal of the knife or the leather that causes the problem.

All my knife sheaths are veg-tanned leather except one. A coupe of weeks ago, I read several articles which declared that chrome-tanned leather did not damage knives; knife makers who said they have used chrome-tanned leather for sheaths for ages with no damage to the knives. More fool me, I thought to give it a try. I used oil-tanned leather on one sheath - knife had a thin layer of rust within a couple of days. Cleaned it up and making a sheath with veg-tanned leather now. it is possible the knife is old and that makes a difference. No idea but I am not risking it again.

@Klara. Probably. I have seen some knives with this shape though. I spend a lot of time online looking at tools, techniques, leathers, etc. and have come across it a couple of times. Whether they have all been sharpened badly or this shape is also of use, is the question.

@TomE That is a great idea! Wish I had the space for that. @Klara I just put up a magnetic strip for my knives last weekend and it is very convenient. Stuck on a couple of leather cutting scissors as well.

@Klara, Very true. I just wondered because I saw this and the shape is a little unusual. Not seen many Blanchard knives around . The only ones I have seen are on eBay and they are much more expensive. This seller has a good reputation and had several knives on sale, different brands, all at reasonable rates - so naturally all sold. Did not plan to buy any of them, so no loss. Incidentally, after an extensive internet search, I have seen other old Blanchard knives with 'A Paris' on it. I have heard that Blanchard is a very old and respected brand and the older knives are supposed to be good while the new ones, not so much.

In the photographs I have seen when I searched online, it is always "PARIS' while here it is 'A PARIS' That is one of the reasons why I wondered. Also, it is available for the price of 29 Euros, which is rather low for an old Blanchard, I thought, but I might be wrong.

Is this an authentic Blanchard? I don't know how to determine if it is authentic or a fake, so I thought I would ask here.

I have an old snakeskin bag. I have applied an exotic leather conditioner on it. Is that sufficient to care for it? It is shiny and soft now but I was wondering if some other protectant would be needed. I plan to continue to use it quite often. I have looked up the threads on snakeskins here but did not find anything about protection after conditioning. I just looked it up and it appears the skin is Burmese python.

I saw a video of an East Asian woman making a leather handbag. She applied diluted Toconole with a brush on the flesh side and went over it with a glass burnisher. She did this in small areas to prevent too much liquid from being absorbed. Then she allowed it to dry. I used it on the inside of a leather bag and it worked for me. It smooths down the flesh side. I could not find the link, else I would have attached it here..

The people here are experienced leather craftsmen and they generously share their knowledge from their own experiences. It is up to each person asking advise to use what works best for them, or not.

@dikman, @bruce johnson, @Wepster Thank you for all the information. From my experience last evening, I must say a small old, unbranded knife that was thrown in with some other things is my sharpest. it is easiest to sharpen and keeps sharp, is light and very comfortable to hold! Can't be too hard, as it is easy to sharpen, more like an old C S Osbourne. I plan to follow the same care as for the old, branded ones.

@fredkWill try that technique for my next project. Thank you.

@fredk tapping on the stitches sounds simple but whenever I do it, it looks smashed, even with a light rubber mallet. I will need to be even lighter. Too impatient, I think. My scissor sheath last night has stitches looking a little the worse for wear because of that. Your coin wallet pattern is really nice - simple and elegant. It is a key chain too, isn't it? I make one but not a key chain. That makes it even more useful.

@Tugadude yes that is absolutely true. Not growing up here, had no idea of their uses in that way.

@Tugadude Yes I see. Everything ready and, like I mentioned to @fredk I feel its like cheating when everything is cut and punched and ready to sew. Finally, nothing quire like a pattern, piece of leather, some cutting tools and chisels to work with.