This is how our company take care of swords. Refer to it in case of care.

1. when you remove oil.

[things to prepare]

Mekuginuki (the tool to push out the mekugi which a handle is fastened with)


soft tissue paper


Flannel (wash before use and must be dried indoor)


Uchiko


(1) Blade should be faced up , pull out the blade.

(2) Push out the mekugi with mekuginuki and pull out the tang.

(3) Use tissue paper and wipe the oil and dust off.
　　change the tissue and do this several times.

(4) Next, use flannel and wipe off several times.

　　At this moment, about 80% of oil is wiped off.

(5) Then use uchiko at last.
　　 Hit uchiko all over the blade both face and back and scatter the powder.

(6) Wipe the powder off with flannel again. Oil may be wiped off completely but reflect the light and see whether there is a place that oil is left.


[Attention1]
Powder of uchiko is a powder of whetstone, so it can be scratched if you use too much.
Work of (1) to (4) is enough for usual care.

[Attention2]
Oil oxidizes inside the shirasaya in about three months and that causes rust. Therefore remove the old oil and put new oil within three months.

[Attention3]
Sword is ironware, so it will rust if you leave it without any care. It is OK just wipe the blade with flannel when you put up in shirasaya if you enjoy it quite frequently. But if you don't take out for a while, or in humid season, you must put oil before you put blade back in shirasaya.


2. When you put oil.

[things to prepare]

oil and scrap of flannel(oil will soak into frannel and it can be used repeatedly)


soft tissue paper


(1) Grease oil over the blade fully.

(2) Grease oil over the pointed edge of blade carefully.

(3) No need to grease over the tang. But stroke with hand which oil is stuck.

(4) Use tissue to wipe whole blade lightly from tip to machi and get rid of extra oil for finish.

[Attention1]
Tang of antique swords are rusted, so don't wipe the blade with tissue or material that used for tang.