8 Things Never to Do with Your Replica Blade Sword
Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of your first replica blade sword - and maybe it’s even a battle ready sword, which means you can actually use it for training or live cutting practice.
But being a sword owner entails a great deal of responsibility. Knowing how to handle, use and care for a sword is critical, and to do so, you should also be familiar with a few things you should never do.
These 8 are among the most important of them
Strike Hard Objects
Maybe you’ve seen it in movies or in manga, but in real life, it’s a massive faux pas, and much worse because it can damage the blade, badly.
Battle-ready replica sword blades are made from tough steel alloys that are tempered in order to sustain repeated strains and abuse - but this does not mean that they should be abused.
So the first rule here is, don’t ever strike your sword against a hard object. That means no swinging at trees, fences, metal poles, walls, stone, brick, or even earthworks.
First, you will damage the edge, no matter what the steel alloy is or how it is tempered. Also, when you strike steel against a hard object, you create a bunch of micro-fractures that will, over time, result in breakage.
So don’t do it.
Throw It
You all remember that awesome scene in the first Pirates of the Caribbean when Will Turner threw his saber at Jack Sparrow, lodging the point deep in the bar across the door, preventing Sparrow from escaping.
It looks awesome, but it is wildly unrealistic. Swords are not designed to be thrown, and doing so will subject the blade (and hilt) to high-impulse shock that will damage them. It’s also very dangerous. Do not under any circumstances throw your replica blade sword.
Stick It in the Ground
It also looks cool to pose with the point of your sword stuck in the ground.
But it’s absolutely terrible for the sword. First, the point is a very fine aspect of sword design that is very easily damaged by incidental contact with other objects. Sticking it in or on the ground is a sure-fire way to blunt it.
The same goes for the edge. Just don’t stick your blades in the ground, whatever you do.
Touch the Blade (There’s Some Leniency Here)
Can you touch your sword’s blade? Sure. It’s not going to wreck the blade immediately. However, there are salts and acids in your skin that will react with steel that can mar the finish of the blade or worse, accelerate corrosion.
So, while you can touch the blade, make sure to clean it thoroughly and lightly oil it afterward. Or you could just not touch it in the first place.
Leave It in the Scabbard Too Long
For swords made with high-chromium steels that are advertised as stainless, this isn’t a big deal, but as a general rule, scabbards don’t let the blade breathe, which can be quite a problem.
Any alloy that is not stainless will rust much more quickly in the scabbard than out of it, assuming equal storage conditions. The scabbard can trap moisture which can result in flash rust, pitting and corrosion. Therefore, if you can, always make sure to let the sword breathe every few days.
A better option is just to display the sword out of the sheath.
Store It Under Humid Conditions
Regardless of how you display or store your replica blade sword, make sure you do so under dry conditions. High humidity will rust a battle-ready sword with a high-carbon blade in no time, and the truth is that even stainless blades are susceptible to rusting in chronically humid conditions.
Forget to Clean or Oil It
If you’re one of those people that actually uses your swords and doesn’t just display them, always clean the blade after use, then apply a light coat of oil.
Forgetting to clean the blade after use, even one time, is enough to cause etching, pitting, corrosion, or to seriously damage the finish (for instance, if the blade is mirror-polished).
The easy fix is this: after you use your sword, clean and oil it. If your sword does not see use, you should still oil the blade about once per month.
Swing It Without Being Aware of Your Surrounding
One of the first rules of sword safety is to be aware of your surroundings. Your replica blade sword is not a toy and as exciting and fun as it may be to use, should always be treated with the utmost respect.
Before swinging your sword, or practicing with it in any way, always be doubly and triply sure of your surroundings, and keep a clear, wide-open area around you. One misstep or false move with a sword can result in serious injury to you or bystanders.
Shop Replica Blade Swords Here: Your First Blade Is Waiting
Now that you know what not to do with your replica blade sword, you can enjoy more cosplaying and live practice.
If you don’t have one yet, take a look through our collections and get in touch with us if you have any questions about any of the swords that we sell. We are more than happy to help.
Regardless of how you display or store your replica blade sword, make sure you do so under dry conditions. High humidity will rust a battle-ready sword with a high-carbon blade in no time, and the truth is that even stainless blades are susceptible to rusting in chronically humid conditions.
Forget to Clean or Oil It
If you’re one of those people that actually uses your swords and doesn’t just display them, always clean the blade after use, then apply a light coat of oil.
Forgetting to clean the blade after use, even one time, is enough to cause etching, pitting, corrosion, or to seriously damage the finish (for instance, if the blade is mirror-polished).
The easy fix is this: after you use your sword, clean and oil it. If your sword does not see use, you should still oil the blade about once per month.
Swing It Without Being Aware of Your Surrounding
One of the first rules of sword safety is to be aware of your surroundings. Your replica blade sword is not a toy and as exciting and fun as it may be to use, should always be treated with the utmost respect.
Before swinging your sword, or practicing with it in any way, always be doubly and triply sure of your surroundings, and keep a clear, wide-open area around you. One misstep or false move with a sword can result in serious injury to you or bystanders.
Shop Replica Blade Swords Here: Your First Blade Is Waiting
Now that you know what not to do with your replica blade sword, you can enjoy more cosplaying and live practice.
If you don’t have one yet, take a look through our collections and get in touch with us if you have any questions about any of the swords that we sell. We are more than happy to help.