A samurai’s sword is considered a magnificent work of art. It is composed of a quality carbon steel blade. Characterized by a long (up to 37-inch) curved blade. This blade is with a single cutting edge that faces upward. The Katana is designed to allow intimate and fast combat.
Today the Katana is rated highly among collectors around the world. They consider the Katana a great art and an important historical relic. The blade is particularly admired as it embodies the samurai culture. Unless you purchase a stainless katana, you should expect to carry out maintenance regularly.
This article is carefully written to give tips on maintaining your katana so its value will stay long.
Avoid touching the blade with your hands
The first impulse of anyone that handles the Katana is to feel its blade. Not all individuals are inclined to do that with clothing; they all use their fingers. Now touching the blade of the Katana is not advisable and should be avoided.
When touched, acids from your finger could cause the blade to deteriorate and rust. However, if an unforeseen situation causes you to touch it, ensure you wipe and clean the carbon steel blade with oil.
Consistently Oil the Blade
To prevent the carbon steel blade of the Katana from rusting, you consistently oil it. There are a wide variety of oil you can use. These include mineral, camellia, clove oil, or synthetic oil such as silicone based.
This synthetic oil usually comes in spray cans. Oiling should be done after using the blade or at three-month intervals when not used.
Your Sword Should be Kept in the Saya
Keeping your sword in the saya helps prevent dust from gathering; dust will not rest on it. Kept inside the Saya, the Katana helps keep the saya (scabbard) in shape.
This protects the saya from warping or distorting.
It is worth of note that you also maintain the wooden parts of the Katana. The handle and the saya are both made of and should, as such, be taken care of.
These wood can be protected by lacquering, waxing, or varnishing.
Do not Parry Swords in Training
The only time you should use your Katana in that manner (parry) should be for safety. It is normal culture for actors to parry in movies. If you follow this model, you’ll nick your blade, and the notches will become visible over time. This ultimately devalues your Katana. If you have no reason to use it, keep it in its saya.
Conclusion
The process of Katana maintenance is a very simple task but does a great deal. The value of your Katana greatly depends on how well you carry these maintenance tips regularly. Katana is a depiction of a historical people and is somewhat considered sacred.
A katana well maintained strikes a sense of admiration in its viewers. It enables the owner to impress his visitors. More value equals more currency. The better it is in shape, the higher its purchase cost.
