Proper Care and Use for Swords, Daggers, Axes and Armour etc.

Many of our blades are made of high carbon steel and need care to keep them rust free. To keep a blade rust free, applying oil on the blade is the most popular practice today. There are two types of oil one can use: natural or synthetic. Natural oils like mineral oil, camellia and clove oils are work great. Silicone, which normally comes in a spray can is an excellent synthetic oil and we highly recommend it. If your weapon is made from stainless steel you need not keep it oiled. One final note, the single most important thing when storing or displaying your sword or dagger is, if it has a leather scabbard, do not leave it in the scabbard. This goes even for stainless steel blades. It is, of course, fine to use a scabbard when carrying your weapon, but it simply should not be left in the scabbard for long periods of time as the scabbard can trap moisture against the steel. Also the chemicals involved in tanning leather can hasten corrosion if kept in contact for extended periods.

To oil the blade, first clean it with cloth or a paper towel. Then apply the oil leaving only a thin film. This procedure should be repeated every 1 to 6 months depending on the storage area and humidity. A humid climate will require more frequent cleaning. Minimize touching the blade, the acids on your skin will etch the carbon steel.

It is recommend that you have a professional knife sharpener handle the sharpening of your sword. But if you desire to sharpen your sword yourself, you can do this with some steel files, a stone, and some hard work. First, establish the cutting bevel with the use of a coarse file. Since swords generally have stronger, more chisel-like edges than knives, your sword edge should be draw filed at an angle between 30 and 35 degrees. After the cutting level is established, go back over the edge with a fine file to remove the coarse file marks and make the edge much easier to achieve with a sharpening stone.

It is not recommended that you bang your sword against another sword. Do Not hit your sword against any hard object to test its strength or the sound of the steel as it hits a solid object. In fact, do NOT strike your sword against any object, unless you are a trained professional in the art of sword fighting. No matter how tough or strong the steel sword is, it will nick or break when struck against something equally hard or against a stronger force object.

In stage use, theatrical swords with wide, thick edges are typically used. The edges are flat and often as much as 1/16" wide. These swords are designed to take the flashy looking punishment of banging edges together. Your sword is not a theatrical sword. Your sword is a real weapon, designed so that they could fight in the manner of the originals were actually used. Since the cuting edges could easily be sharpened and were often important for slashing, parries were made with the flat of the blade (not the edges) or were simply avoided altogether. Real swords were never used for the theatrical style of sword fighting that the movies or stage plays rely on to liven up the action sequences.

Do not attempt to cut down a tree with your sword. Such an activity is guaranteed to damage your sword. Axes and machetes are well designed for this with the weight of the steel concentrated over the point of percussion. When you strike a firmly fixed object like a tree or a thick branch with a sword, a great deal of the blade projects past the object being cut, causing the blade to bend or torque.

Do not swing any edged weapon carelessly. Remeber this is a real weapon and must be treated with the same respect. When you wish to experience how it felt for warriors to wield these weapons in battle, make sure you are well away from others and breakable objects. These weapons are heavy and could slip out of your hands. Be careful not to endanger yourself or others when you manipulate these swords.

Even an unsharpened sword can cause serious injury and if precaution is not used easily break bone. In fighting with sword on sword, the opponents blade should be parried with the side of the blade.

Edge to edge sword blows will nick both weapons no matter what the steel or temper. Also slapping with the side of the blade should be avoided as a very hard slap can break the blade.

On that final note please use common sense and sound judgement, use simple care and maintenance of your swords and medieval weapons will make your collection last for many years.