Caring for Your Sword

The following recommendations assume that your sword is used for display or collection purposes. Any other use of an edged weapon is, obviously, dangerous to life and limb, and may irreparably damage your blade.

Numerous methods have been recommended to protect swords and knives from the elements. To avoid corrosion, the metal needs to be kept free of moisture. This can be accomplished by treating the blade with oil. Wipe the blade clean with a soft cloth, then apply a thin layer of oil. Many different types of oil will work well, including 3-in-1 or gun oil. Natural oils such as clove or mineral oil are also frequently used. Silicone sprays are gaining popularity for blade protection, and petroleum jelly has served as an effective barrier against moisture for a long time. Many specialty oils, such as Choji oil (clove-based and highly recommended), can also be used. If your blade is on display, it should be kept under glass.

Wooden grips can be maintained with wood furniture polish or lemon oil. Leather wrapped grips should be treated with paste wax.

Small scratches or nicks in the metal can trap moisture and lead to corrosion; these flaws can be removed by carefully polishing the blade with a fine abrasive before applying the oil. Abrasives should never be used on blades with a polished or chrome finish, as they will permanently damage the finish. In these cases, a silver polish and a soft cloth are better treatment for small scratches. Be sure to wipe fingerprints from metal parts with a clean, soft cloth, especially if your blade has a polished or chrome finish. The acids in your fingerprints may leave permanent marks.

Try to keep your sword or knife out of direct sunlight. Over time, sun exposure can “bleach” nonmetal parts of the swords, such as a wooden grip or corded wrappings.

Care must be taken with new swords that have a leather sheath. The sheaths that come with many new swords are not the special oil-treated leather necessary to protect the blades, and the tanning agents in regular leather may lead to corrosion of your blade. Even stainless steel can suffer corrosion from tanning agents. These sheaths are for temporary use only. It's fine to use the sheath for carrying, but most new swords, unless otherwise directed by the maker, should not be stored in their leather sheaths over long periods of time.

Some excellent recommendations on the care of Japanese sword blades are listed at http://www.geocities.com/alchemyst/care.htm . Most of these recommendations are also applicable to other collectable edged weapons. Of note, the tang of a Japanese sword should never be polished or modified, as it carries the information about the swordmaker. Damage to the tang can significantly lower the value of the weapon. Japanese swords should be cared for in the traditional manner, and most will come with a maintenance kit and instructions.

Collectable edged weapons need protection from both the elements and potential theft. If you have a collection of value, it is important to have adequate insurance and careful photographic documentation of the collection. Avoid keeping your collection on open display, invest in a security system and reserve the showing or discussion of your collection for trustworthy and familiar people. Any refurbishment or repair of a collectable blade should be done by an expert.

History of the sword

Use of your sword