Safety tips?

[Wickstrom]

Hello Gentlemen,

 

I recently purchased my 1st nihonto (i will upload pics later) and was wondering if anybody has any tips on how to preserve the blade and fittings.

 

is it alright to use a oiling kit such as this one? or should i be looking at a higher end one?

 

http://www.unbeatablesale.com/poker2210 ... =POKER2210

 

Also, how do i remove the tsuka to check out the mei? I know you have to push the pegs out but I have delayed on doing this because i fear i could fray the tsuka wrap as it is late edo turned into a gunto mount

 

[Stephen]

andy id not use that on a sword, the cheap red balls are know to cause damage. id get one from Fred Lohman or Bob Benson

[outlier48]

Andy - please post pics of the sword, including one or two of the tsuka. That will in answering your question about removing it. Also, you can search the forum and probably find the answer(s) to your question about removing the tsuka and maintaining the sword.

 

Charlie Brashear

[Jamie]

http://www.Japanese-swords.com/pages/maint.htm

 

You might want to read this as well.

http://www.Japanese-swords.com/pages/handling.htm

[Wickstrom]

Here are some pictures.

 

Also Stephen what damage is done to the blade with the red uchiko? I've only used it on the blade 1 time.

[Grey Doffin]

Andrew,

Low quality uchiko can contain coarse particles that will scratch the polished surface of the blade. Used often enough the scratches add up and cloud the surface. No need to use any uchiko very often, though.

Grey

[Henry Wilson]

I would not use uchiko at all. A micro fibre cloth, he ones for cleaning camera lens, is much better, cleaner and will not scratch a blade.

[loui]

If you can get polishers uchiko then that is the best, Bob Bensons is great and the process to make it is pretty extensive - I use the same process and it takes me several hours. Some commercial uchiko can't be trusted for the above reasons.

 

Regards,

 

Louis