Vegetable Tanned or Oiled Leather

[Kani]

A friend asked me about leather and I told him I didn't have any idea but would find out for him. He wants to know what type of leather should he make a knife sheath out of. Someone told him if he used vegetable tannned leather it would rust his knives. They told him to use the oil tanned leather. I'm a little confused on this. Isn't it the same?

Could they have been talking a chrome tanned? I have no idea what they meant.

Thanks

[Bob]

hello Kani, I would only use Veg tan leather for knife cases. Because I want them to keep the shape and hold the knife in. Under certain conditions veg tan can rust your knife. IF, the leather is wet or damp. Make sure the leather dry. If you don't oil your knife with a light film of oil. I store my good knife in a veg tan case for years now and it's not rusted. All the knife cases you buy in the store are made with Veg tan leather. The leather is usually lightly oiled. NOT heavy oiled. It will get too soft. Thats the beauty of Veg tan leather, it's keeps it's shape. Just take care to not store your knife in wet conditions.

When I made a new knife case for a customer, I use the knife itself and wrap it in suran wrap (from the kitchen) and stuff it into the knife and leave it couple days. This way the knife stays dry, and when the leather is dry, the case is not too tight for the knife.

Hope this helps

Bob