Your samurai swords are more than just collectibles that represent your interests; they are also investments, and they need to be maintained regularly if you would like to prevent deterioration and make them last for years to come. For sword collectors, nothing is worse than spending a significant amount of money on beautiful Japanese swords, only to have them end up ruined later because of neglect.
Entrusting your swords to a professional cleaner is one option. If you would like to look after your swords yourself, we offer a variety of sword care items for all your sword maintenance needs. Be it cleaning kits, sword oils, sharpening kits, or polishers, we have the right tools to keep your samurai swords sharp, shiny, and healthy.
Traditional Japanese sword maintenance kits and sharpening kits make great gifts for fellow enthusiasts as well, especially for those who already have an extensive sword collection.
Now that you’re the proud owner of some nice samurai swords, the next step is to know how to care for them properly in order to keep them in good condition. You can have your swords cleaned by a professional, or you can do it yourself at home. DIY sword care can be pulled off with a traditional sword maintenance kit, which is readily available at places and websites that sell Japanese swords.
The contents of a sword maintenance kit may vary depending on the manufacturer, but the items that are usually included are: a bottle of sword oil to prevent rust; an uchiko or powder ball to absorb any excess cleaning oil; a small brass awl and hammer to take out and reinstall the bamboo pegs in the grip; some sheets of rice paper to polish, wipe oil from, and spread oil on the blade; a cotton cloth; and a plastic container to put the oiled cloth in. Traditional sword oil is choji oil, which is composed of 99% mineral oil and 1% clove oil.
Before you start cleaning your samurai swords, make sure that there are no children or pets nearby. Sharp blades can cause serious injury, so never let a child hold a sword. You should also be extra cautious when handling your Japanese swords. Whenever you are unsheathing, sheathing, and cleaning the blade, always have the cutting edge facing away from you. Also remember to keep your hands off the edge.
Begin the sword maintenance process by taking a sheet of rice paper to remove the oil from the last application, if any. Work carefully to avoid injury. You can use a soft cotton cloth instead if you would like to save the rice paper. Next, tap the uchiko lightly against the blade about every couple of inches along its length. If the powder ball is new and being used for the first time, you might need to hit it against the blade a few times in order to start the flow of the powder through the fabric.
Using a clean sheet of rice paper or piece of cotton cloth, polish one side of the blade by rubbing over the powder until it is removed. Repeat this step on the other side. Put a few drops of sword oil along the length of both sides of the blade and spread the oil evenly with a cotton cloth or rice paper. Slide the sword back into its scabbard, taking care not to touch the blade.
