| You’ve just purchased your first functional | | | | cutting, or anything along those lines, you should |
| sword, and you can’t wait to try it out. You | | | | know that, unlike stainless steel, carbon steel will |
| engage in swordplay or utilize your sword as a | | | | rust over time unless you take proper |
| cutting tool with no knowledge whatsoever of | | | | precautions. More specifically, you need to coat |
| sword care. A few months pass, and you | | | | the blade with a thin layer of oil. Hanwei |
| suddenly realize that rust has begun to form on | | | | manufactures their own sword oil, which can be |
| the blade. | | | | purchased directly from SwordWares.com, but 3 |
| This is far too common a scenario. If you've | | | | in 1 or sewing machine oil should also work. While |
| never owned a sword before, it may surprise | | | | some swear by WD-40, others claim it is |
| you to discover that they do, in fact, need to be | | | | ineffective, so I cannot, in good faith, recommend |
| cared for. Choosing not to follow certain | | | | it. |
| procedures will not entirely destroy your sword, | | | | How often you apply the oil depends almost |
| but over time, rust will begin to tarnish the blade. | | | | entirely on the season and the overall climate. |
| Before we get into the do‘s and don‘ts, it | | | | During the summer, or if you live in a particularly |
| should be said that if you own a stainless steel | | | | humid area, once a week applications may be |
| blade, you won‘t have to worry about rust. | | | | necessary to protect your blade, while if you live |
| Stainless steel swords are a great choice for wall | | | | in a temperate area with mild weather and low |
| hangers and training blades because they’re | | | | humidity, you may be able to get by with only |
| low maintenance, and aside from giving the blades | | | | once a month applications. If ever in doubt, it may |
| an occasional rinse with basic cleaner to keep | | | | help to visit one of the many sword forums |
| them free of finger prints and other blemishes, | | | | online, as there may be an experienced sword |
| you won‘t have much to worry about. | | | | owner in your area who can make a good |
| However, it should be noted that stainless steel is | | | | recommendation. |
| a soft metal that is simply not an option for those | | | | For long term storage, you should wipe down the |
| who wish to engage in swordplay of any kind or | | | | blade with a product such as Vaseline or |
| to use their sword as a cutting tool. Attempting | | | | Renaissance Wax, and then wrap the blade in an |
| to cut anything with a stainless steel sword can | | | | oil soaked cloth. Following these rules of thumb |
| result in the blade snapping or shattering, which | | | | and storing your sword in a dry place should |
| can carry with it deadly consequences. | | | | protect the blade from any oxygen that could |
| Assuming you’ve bought yourself a nice | | | | seep in and permanently damage it. |
| carbon steel blade for live swordplay, competition | | | | |