Most people today are used to products that are corrosion resistant and often made of stainless steel. While some cheaper sword like objects are made of stainless, pretty much all high quality swords are made of carbon steel - a material that is better suited to sword blades, but prone to rust. We use several types of steel for our products, from 6150 for our sword blades, to 10XX series for some axes, to mild steel for pommels and cross guards, but all of these types require proper care to avoid rust. It's not difficult to maintain our pieces, though it does take a little regular TLC to keep them in good condition for years to come. Today we take a look at a few tips for regular the maintenance of your weapons.
The main object of sword maintanance is to combat corrosion. It is always easier to prevent it from occurring than to clean and refinish a surface after it has started. In the video below we describe how to avoid rust, and how to remove any that may develop without causing further damage to your blade. Honestly, oiling and polishing your blade is one of the joys of owning a high quality sword and a great excuse to get it down off the wall.
Nathan Clough, Ph.D. is Vice President of Arms and Armor and a member of the governing board of The Oakeshott Institute. He is a historical martial artist and a former university professor of cultural geography. He has given presentations on historical arms at events including Longpoint and Combatcon, and presented scholarly papers at, among others, The International Congress on Medieval Studies.
Craig Johnson is the Production Manager of Arms and Armor and Secretary of The Oakeshott Institute. He has taught and published on the history of arms, armor and western martial arts for over 30 years. He has lectured at several schools and Universities, WMAW, HEMAC, 4W, and ICMS at Kalamazoo. His experiences include iron smelting, jousting, theatrical combat instruction and choreography, historical research, European martial arts and crafting weapons and armor since 1985