Caring for Swords and Weapons: A Basic Guide
Battle-ready swords and weapons, such as axes and maces, though they are built to high standards of quality and construction that render them suitable for training and use, require special notes for care and maintenance.
This short guide will help you protect your investment in edged weapons like swords and axes.
Steel Care
The majority of battle-ready swords are made with Damascus, tool, or spring steels, like 1055 or 5160. These alloys are chosen because they are extremely wear resistant and take a good temper, enabling them to flex without setting. They are not chosen on the basis of chemical stability.
As a result, nearly any battle-ready sword or weapon is made with steel that will rust if not properly maintained.
Your sword’s blade should be periodically oiled. You can use a special blade oil, but machine oils and gun oils work well, too. You don’t need a lot - a thin coating, applied with a microfiber rag, should be all you need. The heads of axes and exposed metal components of other weapons, like spears and maces, should also be oiled.
If you use your sword for live cutting practice, always clean and dry the blade before oiling. This is critical because some items that are commonly used for cutting practice, such as fruits, have acids and enzymes in their juices that will stain or etch a sword’s blade if they are not removed promptly.
In addition to cleaning and oiling your swords and weapon’s steel components, make sure to store them in a cool, dry location. Humidity control is crucial - you should store your edged tools and weapons in an area that is routinely below 30% relative humidity.
If possible, avoid touching your sword’s blade. Your skin’s oils contain salts and other compounds that can leave marks on the blade and in some instances can cause rusting.
Also, another note on storage; most scabbards are made from wood and leather that will trap moisture and can accelerate corrosion over time. Do not store a battle-ready sword in its sheath for a prolonged period of time if this is the case.
While the best way to treat rust is to prevent it from occurring, if your sword does develop a little rust, a very light coat of rust can often be removed with a microfiber towel and some oil.
For more aggressive rust spots, consider using a light grit sandpaper or some emery cloth to remove it, then clean, dry, and oil the blade.
Just be aware that the use of abrasives of any kind to remove rust from the blade may damage the finish, but all in all, it’s worth compromising the finish if there is rust, because rust will progress and will continue to damage the steel if it is not removed.
Wood Care
In the case of swords and weapons that have wooden components - such as a sheath, a wooden hilt, or in the case of an ax or spear, a wooden shaft, the wood will require some special care and attention as well.
Just like steel, the wood should be cleaned, dried, and either waxed, oiled, or treated with a special wood conditioner after every use. Exposure to moisture, acids, salts and other chemicals can damage wood. Additionally, the use of wax or oil to treat the wood helps keep the wood’s pores full and free of moisture, which causes decay.
Just like steel, wood should be protected against moisture, as moisture will cause discoloration and rot. Anything below 30% is just as good for wood as it is for steel.
One special note about wood is that, unlike steel, it is particularly susceptible to UV-induced decay. Exposure to direct sunlight will cause wood to turn gray and eventually to break down. Therefore, if you do display your swords and weapons, try to do so in a location where they will be protected against direct sunlight.
Other Notes
If the sword has leather trappings, such as a leather-wrapped hilt or sheath, apply a leather conditioner like neatsfoot oil or beeswax to these parts every couple of months to help prevent cracking. Like wood, leather should be protected against prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.
Some swords have brass fittings such as pommels and crossguards. Brass can be cared for in much the same way as steel. Keep it clean and dry, and apply a light coating of oil or wax to prevent corrosion or discoloration as a result of exposure to reactive compounds.
What Not to Do with Your Swords and Weapons
Knowing how to maintain your swords and weapons is just as important as knowing what you shouldn’t do with them in the first place.
- Never use the edge of your swords and weapons to strike a hard object. Battle-ready swords and weapons can be used for live-cutting practice, but should not be struck into stone, brick, mortar, or wood, as these materials can dull the edge and damage the blade.
- Never stick your sword’s blade (or swing an ax) into the earth, as the sand and dirt in the earth will scratch and dull the blade.
- Do not store your sword anywhere that it will be exposed to humidity higher than 50% for a prolonged period of time.
- If possible, store your swords and weapons out of their scabbards or sheaths, and away from direct sunlight.
Explore Battle-Ready Swords and Weapons at True Swords
Hopefully you found this primer for the proper care, maintenance, and storage of swords and weapons helpful. Take some time to look through our full collections, and if you have any questions about anything we sell (or about sword care), don’t hesitate to reach out to us.