Sword Care Guide

Carbon and tool steels such as 1045, 1065 and T10 hold an edge well, but they can rust if neglected. A few minutes of care every few weeks keeps your blade looking its best.

Everyday handling

  • Always hold the sword by the handle (tsuka). Avoid touching the blade, because skin oils and moisture cause rust spots.
  • Draw and sheathe slowly, with the spine of the blade sliding against the saya, to avoid scratching the blade or cutting the scabbard.
  • Keep swords out of reach of children.

Cleaning and oiling

  1. Wipe the blade from the spine towards the edge with a soft, lint-free cloth.
  2. Apply a few drops of blade oil (camellia/choji oil or a light gun oil) to a fresh cloth, and wipe a thin, even film along both sides of the blade.
  3. Repeat every 3–4 weeks, or more often in humid weather or after handling.

Storage

  • Store your sword somewhere dry, away from direct sunlight and heaters.
  • For long-term storage, take the blade out of the saya every few weeks to check for spots and re-oil it.
  • Display horizontally on a stand with the edge facing up.

Dealing with light rust

Small surface spots can usually be removed with a little oil and very fine (#2000+) wet-and-dry paper or a rust eraser, worked gently along the length of the blade. For anything more than light surface rust, contact us for advice first.