If you are a beginner to sword maintenance or a first-time sword buyer, these handy tips can put you on the right track when it comes to looking after your sword. The type of sword that you have is an important factor that dictates which cleaning method is best to use. Swords tend to fall under two general classifications: stainless steel wall-hangers or spring/high carbon steel functional swords. There are exceptions, but in general your sword will likely fall into one of these categories.

Stainless steel wall hangers are usually very decorative and designed to look good when hung on your wall. What they lack in functionality they make up for in ease of maintenance. Simply wiping them down with furniture polish or window cleaner and a soft cloth will remove any greasy fingerprints or grime. You can use special stainless steel cleaning compound if you want to get a highly polished finish on the blades.

Cleaning functional swords, however, can be a delicate and more time-consuming task. So we have put together a few tips to help with your sword maintenance.

We don’t recommend that you use any of the following methods on antique swords. If you are lucky enough to own an antique sword, please seek specialist advice.

Most sword-related injuries occur whilst performing maintenance and cleaning. It’s not as much of an issue with blunt swords, however if you are working on a sharp sword we would highly recommend the use of cut-resistant gloves and removing any distractions.

Carbon steel blades are prone to oxidisation and rust. The usual culprits are greasy finger marks that are left after touching the blades. If the blades are not protected with a layer of oil or polish/wax, oxidisation will take place quite quickly. If the rusting is light, it is relatively easy to clean. Despite what you may hear, WD40 is pretty efficient at cleaning blades. Used in conjunction with a synthetic scouring pad, WD40 should lift any surface rust with relative ease.

If the rust is more embedded, we would recommend the use of a fine grade sanding sponge. These are available from most hardware stores and are great for removing rust patches. If the fine grade doesn’t work, use a medium grade until the rust is gone, then go over the same area again with a fine grade.

Manufacturers want their carbon steel blades to reach you in pristine condition. As such they tend to apply more grease than is required to ensure they don’t rust in transit and storage. This grease is easy to clean off with a soft, lint-free cloth and some rubbing alcohol. Once removed, the blade will be unprotected, so you will need to apply another coating. We suggest using a lighter coating of oil or wax.

These are more likely to occur if you are using your sword for cutting practice or drilling/sparring. If the marks are fairly light, they can be removed with metal polishing paste such as Peek or Autosol. United Cutlery produces a polishing paste called “Metal Glo” that is specifically designed for swords and is available in the UK. This product is often considered superior to other polishing compounds.

In general, swords with carbon steel blades tend to have hilt fittings made of steel or brass. Steel hilts can be cleaned and oiled or waxed using the same method as the blade. Brass hilts can be cleaned with a brass cleaner such as Brasso and then protected with Renaissance Wax. Be careful not to get oil on leather grips, as it will cause the leather to deteriorate.

Leather grips and scabbards can be treated with Renaissance Wax or a good quality leather paste wax. Scabbards can also be treated with neatsfoot oil to waterproof them, although this will darken the leather. Do not use this oil on grips as it will make them slippery. Wooden grips can be treated with a good quality wood oil such as lemon oil or tung oil to prevent cracking.

Scabbards are designed for carrying your sword safely, not for long-term storage. Wooden scabbards can be acceptable if the sword is only lightly oiled, but excess oil can cause the wood to swell. Leather scabbards tend to trap moisture and can lead to rust forming on the blade.