| Handmade Japanese swords (also known as | | | | needs to be wiped down only with a soft cloth |
| Samurai Swords or Katanas) are very unique | | | | (no chemicals). You should only hold the scabbard |
| swords that have been crafted with hand forged | | | | on the wrapped section near the top to prevent |
| blades by traditional swordsmiths and | | | | any scratching on the lacquered finish. Fine |
| sword-making companies alike. Typically, | | | | scratches can dull the finish over time. |
| handmade swords are much more expensive | | | | For the metal (blade) maintenance of your katana |
| than mass-produced replicas and as such, require | | | | always make certain the sharp end is away from |
| more care and maintenance. A handmade katana | | | | your body to prevent injury. Always work in a |
| can range in price from $100 up to an beyond | | | | clean, well-lit area, with plenty of room to work. |
| $5000 depending on many different factors. Your | | | | Be sure they are no other persons who may |
| investment in a handmade sword should be | | | | accidentally come in contact with the sword. |
| guarded with some simple and inexpensive care | | | | Safety should be priority number one anytime |
| to prevent long term damage to the metal. | | | | your sword is not in its scabbard. |
| Many sword owners are guilty of buying a nice | | | | Begin the blade cleaning by using a sheet of rice |
| sword and putting it on display at their home or | | | | paper to remove the old oil from the blade. Start |
| office - never bothering to remove it from its | | | | at the base of the blade and place the paper on |
| scabbard to check for signs of damage. This lack | | | | the mune (back of the blade) and fold it into |
| of maintenance, even for a "non-used" sword can | | | | halves toward the edge. Lightly grip the paper |
| have severe long-term effects and ruin your | | | | with your thumb and forefinger and wipe the |
| prized collection. | | | | blade upward to the tip. Be careful not to let your |
| The main purpose of proper sword maintenance | | | | fingers close around the sharp edge as you are |
| is to ensure the steel surface (blade) does not | | | | wiping. |
| rust or oxidize causing damage. It is critical to | | | | Once you have performed the sword |
| completely remove all of the old oil and replace it | | | | maintenance on your katana many times and |
| with fresh oil once the blade has been cleaned and | | | | expertise is attained, only then can the wiping |
| prepared. | | | | motion be performed in both directions. Lack of |
| Note: | | | | experience can result in cutting of your fingers so |
| Although your blade (cutting edge) appears to end | | | | the utmost caution should be used. Use extra |
| where the handle begins, handmade swords | | | | care when wiping near the tip of the blade as well. |
| actually have the metal extending down inside the | | | | Note: |
| handle (called the tang). It is also very important | | | | If the old oil cannot be removed easily then a |
| to clean and oil this surface as well, however, this | | | | cotton ball or cotton gauze soaked in benzene or |
| article only involves the actual blade maintenance. | | | | pure alcohol may be used in the same wiping |
| We will discuss the proper way to disassemble | | | | manner as outlined above. |
| and reassemble your katana in another article. | | | | Once the old oil is removed use the uchiko |
| Traditional Japanese tools and supplies needed for | | | | (powder ball) to tap gently along the length of the |
| handmade sword cleaning are: | | | | blade. Be sure to cover both sides, always |
| 1. Mekugi-Nuki: a small brass hammer and awl | | | | keeping the edge pointing away from your body. |
| combo tool used to remove the mekugi (bamboo | | | | When using the uchiko for the first time it may |
| pegs) from the handle. | | | | be necessary to use a stronger tap of the ball |
| 2. Rice Paper: Used to remove old oil from the | | | | against the blade a few times to get the powder |
| blade, polish the blade, and spreading of new oil | | | | "started". Once the powder begins to flow |
| onto the freshly cleaned blade. | | | | through the fabric you can return to a more |
| 3. Uchiko: powder ball with the most finely ground | | | | gently tap. |
| whetstone power, typically 30-35 gram, used for | | | | Once the power is applied evenly use a clean |
| cleaning the blade's surface. The powder is | | | | piece of rice paper to carefully rub over the |
| wrapped in Japanese handmade paper called | | | | powder to polish the blade. Repeat until both side |
| yoshino-gami, then rewrapped with cotton or silk | | | | of the blade are polished completely. Make sure |
| cloth. The fine power comes through the | | | | the powder has been removed. Use caution not |
| wrapping when patted gently on the surface of | | | | to inhale the powder. It may be necessary to |
| the blade. | | | | wear a breathing mask to avoid inhalation of the |
| 4. Choji Oil: type of oil used on Japanese swords | | | | fine powder. |
| to prevent rusting. | | | | Next, apply a few drops of choji oil along both |
| Important Note: | | | | sides of the blade. Use a clean piece of rice paper |
| The mekugi (bamboo pegs) hold the blade and | | | | to spread the oil evenly across the blade's |
| handle together. Since the pegs are bamboo and | | | | surface. The oil needs to be spread thinly and |
| are subject to wear, it is best to also replace the | | | | evenly for proper maintenance. Ensure that no |
| pegs with new ones when you perform your | | | | excess oil will drip from the blade to the scabbard. |
| sword maintenance. If the old pegs are reused | | | | Be careful not to touch the blade after the oil has |
| they may be too loose and cause the sword to | | | | been applied. Then replace the sword into its |
| separate at an unwanted time. It is strongly | | | | scabbard. |
| recommended that you replace the pegs with | | | | When storing your Samurai Sword Katana always |
| new ones each time you disassembly your handle | | | | place it horizontally with the ha (edge) facing up. |
| when cleaning your sword. | | | | This prevents the oil from going down the blade |
| First, we will briefly discuss the scabbard | | | | surface and forming a pool at the kissaki (point). |
| maintenance. The scabbard is the wooden cover | | | | Further, it prevents the edge from touching the |
| the blade rests in when not in use. Most | | | | inside of the scabbard and thus causing wear on |
| handmade scabbards are finished in several coats | | | | the cutting edge, which can dull the blade. |
| of lacquer. To preserve the finish the scabbard | | | | |