Thread: Leather cases promote rust

Does anyone keep their razors in a leather case? Firearms are never kept in leather holsters because leather holds moisture next to the steel. I would imagine this to be the same for razors. Has anyone noticed a problem with leather sleeves and cases causing or promoting rust?

Have kept mine in leather rolls for yrs with never an issue.
Do not think it is a moisture issue with leather,People have expressed concerns about acids and tannins from the tanning process.
But again I have not had any issues.

I agree with Pixel, I've kept razors in leather rolls for years but I do keep oil on them.

Originally Posted by mattluthier

I agree with Pixel, I've kept razors in leather rolls for years but I do keep oil on them.

My best razors... and I use Tuf-Glide

I've kept a pocket knife in a leather belt case for years. More than one, though I never wear them anymore. No issues there either. TI and Hart, to name two, furnish a leather case with their razors. I suppose if it was going to be an issue they wouldn't do that. Just the same I never store my razors in leather, though as Bill said, "People have expressed concerns about acids and tannins from the tanning process." That, or not being careful to avoid exposing the razor/case to moist environments, might be an issue. Fortunately the companies that make leather cases for razors seem to use the leather tanned with the process that won't leach corrosives onto the blade.

The hart razor is the reason for my question. Mine is starting to rust I am religious with keeping them dry and oiled but still rust is forming

SRD now sells razor socks, I only store my razors in these with additional drop of Tuf-glide on the pivot area. The razor socks are akin to gun socks, they work great.

Originally Posted by JTmke

The hart razor is the reason for my question. Mine is starting to rust I am religious with keeping them dry and oiled but still rust is forming

OK, then keep THAT one away from leather.

I have been aware of the risk of corrosion from leather for a long time but I have stored a set of my first razors in a leather roll since 2002, and for the first 9 years that roll was kept in an old and humid University gym locker. Those 7 razors still have no rust issues.

I use a suede roll and a vintage leather case - no problems with rust so far.

Honestly I have never tested the "Razors"

It is just counter-intuitive to an old gun guy to store anything in leather for an extended period..

Last year or the year before I forgot my trusted Uncle Henry knife in it's leather case and had to clean up the Green Verdigris off the Brass no damage to the steel, multiple handguns came to me in the past rusted from being stored in leather... BUT perhaps there is more to that story that we are not considering too that doesn't apply to razors, maybe the Gun Blue is part of the equation