How best to take care of your leather sheath in the field..?

[Jayex]

Sorry for all the questions,

but I'm wondering about something trying to get some finality with the expert opinions around here.

1. What is the best way to take care of your leather sheath in the field? When it gets sand, dirt, or gets wet. How do you maintain your sheath if you were away from your oils and such? Are there any natural oils that can be substituted in nature?

2. What is the best way to take care of your sheath when your at home and have access to oils and the whole nine? Which oils, method of application, if any?

I only ask, because I know you guys here know your stuff down to a science. Would love the perfect answer. I always try to think of thing in a worst case scenario.. Like outside of civilization, survival, etc.

Thanks again, and I'll shutup for a bit.. As I have too many threads open

[903Lew]

If I'm going to be gone for longer than a day I always bring a tin of dubbin for my boots. I use the same stuff on my leather. It might not be the best but it's worked so far (for me).

[TLM]

Don't eat it, that way it'll last longer. It should be treated so that a few days anywhere where one survives should not be a problem.

[tatsumi]

What TLM said

[Nightfly]

Already said above. Keep it dry, keep it as clean as you can, treat the leather with some sort of leather feed/protectant suitable to the finish of your sheath.
That should protect it well enough to last your field trip. Then repeat the process when you get home. Store it without the knife ofcourse.
If you risk getting it soaking wet, invest in a second sheath (like kydex) for those occasions.

[goat]

if you were permanently away from civilisation then there are things in nature you could probably use, never tried them myself though so not saying they would be appropriate. Things like birch tar, pine/spruce resin, maybe resin from cherry trees. Nuts and seeds obviously have oils but don't know how you go about extracting them. Beeswax is obviously naturally occurring. catch and kill a mink to get oils from its fur. catch a duck and squeeze its preen gland on to your leather, would love to see someone try that, any volunteers?

[scrubber]

Already said above. Keep it dry, keep it as clean as you can, treat the leather with some sort of leather feed/protectant suitable to the finish of your sheath.
That should protect it well enough to last your field trip. Then repeat the process when you get home. Store it without the knife ofcourse.
If you risk getting it soaking wet, invest in a second sheath (like kydex) for those occasions.

What brand names for that product in little Belgium?? Cheers

[Nightfly]

I use a product called Snoseal. It weatherproofs boots and the like. Keeps the leather supple and repels any moisture.
I get it at AS Adventure right here in Brussels... Give a shout if you cannot find it. (If you feel up to trying it ofcourse )

[scrubber]

Thank you! We have an AS Adventure shop less then a 1km from my door : Nossegem.

[parbajtor]

if you were permanently away from civilisation then there are things in nature you could probably use, never tried them myself though so not saying they would be appropriate. Things like birch tar, pine/spruce resin, maybe resin from cherry trees. Nuts and seeds obviously have oils but don't know how you go about extracting them. Beeswax is obviously naturally occurring. catch and kill a mink to get oils from its fur. catch a duck and squeeze its preen gland on to your leather, would love to see someone try that, any volunteers?

Pretty much any animal fat/suet would do. Rub it in and buff off. The buffing helps stop it going smelly rancid.
Rule of thumb, animal fats for animal products vegetable oils for vegetable products.
Most vegetable oils are cold pressed.

EDIT: Waxes generally create a protective barrier rather than penetrate and nourish.

PS: Goose fat was highly prized for leather treatment (and for eating) and was used extensively on 10th century Magyar Bows. These were composite bows held together with fish glue (Still one of the strongest bonds around, until it gets wet.) and then covered in leather and kept well greased/oiled.