How to care for your
Samurai sword

For general sword care, there are some simple methods every sword owner should know to keep your samurai sword in top shape.

To keep your Japanese sword in good condition:

Store the sword in its saya to prevent the saya from warping.
Don't touch the blade with your hands. Acids from your fingers can etch carbon steel over time. Some sword styles are very strict about not touching the blade, and for good reason. It may not seem like the oils from your hands can do much damage to a big tough samurai blade, but it can. Wipe and oil your blade if it's been handled with bare hands.
Apply oil to the blade regularly. If you don't apply oil on a regular basis, your blade will rust. It's as simple as that. There are two types of oil you can use: natural or synthetic. Natural oils like mineral oil, camellia and clove oils are good. Silicone, which normally comes in a spray can, is good synthetic oil.
Don't use your sword to cut tree branches or other hard surfaces. Samurai swords are tough, but cutting into excessively hard substances is a sure way to permanently damage the edge of the blade, or worse, torque the blade out of alignment. Bamboo is the only exception to this. Porous bamboo is flexible enough to allow the blade to cut cleanly through without damage.
Don't bang your sword against other swords like they do in the movies. Yes, on the battlefield blade to blade contact is inevitable, but a good samurai tried to minimize direct contact whenever possible. An edge to edge clash can severely nick or even break the blade.

Brand New Swords
Factory direct swords usually come with a thick coating of oil or grease to protect the blade during shipment. To remove this, you can use a solvent such as lacquer thinner or mineral spirits.

After you've removed the protective oil, re-oil the blade with a coat of Choji Oil, clove oil, or even synthetic silicone oil is fine. I recommend buying a sword care kit (link) for oiling and polishing your blade. Most swords come with a small box that has everything you need to care for your sword, but if yours didn't, you can find a sword care kit on the internet very easily. This is all you really need to care for your samurai sword.

Sharpening the Sword
Let a professional do this. You can either do some searching in your area, or there are some professional sharpeners that you can mail your sword to. But if you reeeaaaaallly want to try it, check out this page.

Storing the Sword
When not in use, always store your Japanese sword in the saya it came in. Try to keep in a place of low humidity and heat. Apply a light coat of oil (Choji Oil, clove oil, silicone spray oil, gun oil, etc) before storing it. Repeat every 6 months for normal storing temperatures; every month for humid temperatures. For display and decorative purposes, a carnauba-based wax (i.e. car wax) or a spray lacquer will work quite well.

Wood Care
Wooden parts of the sword, such as the handle and the scabbard can be protected by lacquering, varnishing, or waxing. Furniture lemon oil is good for cleaning the wood.

Remember, your Japanese sword is a finely tuned instrument. Treat it as such. It's not your average kitchen knife. It needs love and attention if you want it to last you a lifetime.

*Disclaimer: Swords are very dangerous weapons that can hurt, maim, or kill people if not handled properly. Handle swords with care in every circumstance. If you don't know how to handle a sword properly, don't touch it. Use every safety precaution available when handling any weapon. This website claims no responsibility for any of the information or links provided within these pages. This website is not responsible for any accident, injury, or dissatisfied purchase from links that originate from this site. Handle swords at your own risk. Purchase swords at your own risk. Always obey the laws of your state or area regarding sword purchase and sword use.

How to care for yourSamurai sword

To keep your Japanese sword in good condition:

How to care for your
Samurai sword