Keeping your blades clean and in good shape

[Jib]

How do you folks keep your blades looking good? I imagine events around salt water can make a real mess of decent sword, axe, or dagger. What is your process and materials to keep your items from falling apart.

[Quartermaster James]

Renaissance Wax

[theM.A.dDogge]

caint say enough about a ...green scrubby....does wonders with a lil oil

[Hawkyns]

I have a box in my seachest for blade care. It contains:

A small flat file for taking out nicks.

A pocket sized tri hone for sharpening

A piece of green hardware cloth for touch up.

A piece of 120 grit wet and dry paper for more serious rust.

A bottle of honing oil.

A bottle of BreakFree for general oiling.

This will take care of anything that happens in the field. Obviously, for serious work I have buffing wheels and belt sanders in the shop.

Hawkyns

[Bright]

After removing the blood I Use

Flitz Polish & Rain-X wax ;-}

Edited September 2, 2009 by Bright

[Captain Jim]

I cold-rust blued my blade. Now it is an evil-looking blue-black and needs almost no maintenance. See Foxe's post on his gargoyle head sword for an example of a blued blade.

[CaptainSatan]

I am fond of the Gatco sharpening system.

GATCO

I have found the Gatco kit to be more durable than than the Lansky system.

Edited September 3, 2009 by CaptainSatan

[hurricane]

Well, I am a lazy SOB - I steel wool them free of rust and spray a little Acrylic laquer on them - they never rust ever again and you never even know the laquer is there. Been out for days in saltwater and nary even a spot of rust or deterioration. I know, not period. But with 20 swords in my bucket in the living room, the easy way to go.

I hate removing rust.

-- Hurricane

[John Maddox Roberts]

The best way to clean a blade is to stick it in a Spaniard, or several if they're running in groups. But make sure to lick all the blood off before putting it away, because blood is corrosive.

[Jib]

The best way to clean a blade is to stick it in a Spaniard, or several if they're running in groups. But make sure to lick all the blood off before putting it away, because blood is corrosive.

John,

Funny that you mention this. I am the Spanish Captian for the Royal Navy Experience and I hope to apply these techniques to my armor as well as my arms this year. Wearing a breast and back plate, morion, and sword everybody wants to "touch me". I am covered with rust and dust at the end of the day. I have been using Hoppes Gun Cleaning oil but wondered if one of you had a better idea.

[captscurvy_nc]

Well, I am a lazy SOB - I steel wool them free of rust and spray a little Acrylic laquer on them - they never rust ever again and you never even know the laquer is there. Been out for days in saltwater and nary even a spot of rust or deterioration. I know, not period. But with 20 swords in my bucket in the living room, the easy way to go.

I hate removing rust.

-- Hurricane

I follow the same practice and after living in Ocracoke and Hatteras Island for 11 years and wearing my Blackbeard gear to work everyday you can imagine how much saltwater I came in contact with. No rust on my gear either

[adam cyphers]

Well to start off i keep my sheaths clean and well oiled.on the last one i made i coated the inside with beeswax.still undecided if that was wise or not.for the knives themselves usually just a little 000 steel wool every now and then.

[seabaroness]

I find never dull to be a good preventive.

[Captain McCool]

Would you folks recommend some of these same techniques for fencing blades that see a lot of use (sometimes outdoors and in damp weather)?

[callenish gunner]

One good method to reduce rust is frequent oiling of the blade and removal and storage outside the scabbard as the leather draws and hold any moisture next to the blade

[1stMate Matt]

Silvermane sells a rust eracer that seems to work quite nicely.

[Capn Bloody Sam Rackham]

Metal Glo works fer me!

[Capt. Bo of the WTF co.]

4-0 steel wool and marvel mystery oil, store out of the scabbard. Works in MO where we know a thing or two about rust and humidity. The blades tend to age naturally same as the locks, barrels and iron parts on firelocks. I love that neutral steel-grey color that comes with natural oxidation!

Bo

[Brit.Privateer]

I was wondering, what would you all recommend for a GAOP period correct sharpening stone or whetstone? Does anyone supply such a thing?