A performance sword, regardless of classification, is a consumable item. It is used in combat, subjecting it to powerful forces. Therefore, it is only understandable that after some time of intensive training a sword does not look like new. A jagged blade, a loose handle – these are very typical signs of wear. Nevertheless, there are a few tips and tricks on how your battle sword can still be fully used after a few years.
Maintenance through proper use
As already mentioned, your sword will be exposed to unexpected forces. When parrying another weapon, both sometimes hit each other with enormous force. It is therefore important that you never parry blows with your back or the edge, but always with the broadside of your sword. The background here lies in physics:the forces can be distributed better over a wide area than over a narrow area. Nevertheless, it can happen to beginners in particular that they do not react quickly enough and still parry with the edge. But over time it will become second nature.
Furthermore, you should avoid trying to get through blows with brute force. With skillful use of the sword you can get much further than with raw muscle power.
Tip:If your cross / crossguard has come loose, you can either rivet or tighten the screws, depending on the attachment. You can fill a gap between the guard and the handle with a fishing line that you wrap tightly.
This is how you look after your combat sword
Not only in combat, but also before and after, there are a few things to consider. Above all, you should pay attention to the correct storage, because this way you prevent the tiresome topic of rust.
- Keep your sword in a place that is as dry as possible. Not near the bathroom, not in a damp basement, not on the balcony or in the car.
- Sweat is very aggressive and attacks the steel surface, so the sword should only be picked up when really needed. It might make sense to get gloves.
- After each training the sword should be oiled, also the pommel and the cross / guard. There are special care oils for this (e.g. Ballistol).
- If you don't have any care oil at hand, you can also use normal household oil. However, it is not recommended for long-term use.
- An oiled sword is slippery and leaves nasty stains on clothing, so the oil should be wiped off with a rag before the next training session.
Remove rust film from sword
But sometimes it does happen:the sword care has been forgotten and ugly marks of this neglect are already visible on the blade. Now get rid of it!
- Polish cotton is best (available at hardware stores), with which you can polish away the rust
- It is also possible to use metal polishing pastes:apply this sparingly to the sword, let the whole thing dry and then polish it off again
- Please avoid harsh methods such as scouring pads or sandpaper. You scratch the steel with it and give the rust more surface to attack
- After polishing you should grease your sword nicely again
How to remove nicks
In training you usually learn very quickly that swords are not struck edge to edge. Nevertheless, during intensive training it can happen that nicks appear on the edge over time. If there are even small splinters sticking out, you should definitely react so that your training partner cannot injure himself.
To remove the nick, take a steel file and carefully work the spot from the parrying element in the direction of the location (tip of the sword).