Oil tanned leather - bad for knives ..

[tsunkasapa]

I can't speak to knife sheaths, but chrome tan will take the bluing off of firearms, and latigo, which is combination tanned, will corrode brass and copper. So there is definitely something about chrome tan and metals.

[fredk]

I'll throw this idea in the pot here; if you have some nice chrome tan you want to use, maybe for its colouring or pre-made impression, you can laminate it with veg tan

Glue the two leathers together flesh side to flesh side. Use the veg tan for the inside of the sheath or holster and have the chrome tan on the outside. If the veg tan is thick enough and the chrome tan thin enough you can even wet mould the laminated leathers

I do this but use them the other way round on shoulder bags; ie I buy thin chrome tan leathers for their colours and laminate it with thicker veg tan. The coloured chrome tan is the inside lining of the bag and the veg can be tooled or stamped for the outside

[SUP]

@fredk, that is a good idea! Not just for the sheaths either. I make sheaths only to protect the knives, so plain veg tan will do. But other things where a peep of the inside will show a beautiful chrome tan and on the outside, the veg tan.

And I am so glad to hear they can be wet molded together, with the proper thicknesses. I have a lovely old purse I found at an estate sale I plan to make in leather. The purse is wood covered with cloth and I want to make it with leather in place of the wood and no cloth. I was wondering how to do it but this way would work.

Thank you for that tip.

Edited June 25, 2023 by SUP
To complete an incomplete sentence.