Welcome to AikiWeb Aikido Information
AikiWeb: The Source for Aikido Information
AikiWeb's principal purpose is to serve the Internet community as a repository and dissemination point for aikido information.

Sections
home
aikido articles
columns

Discussions
forums
aikiblogs

Databases
dojo search
seminars
image gallery
supplies
links directory

Reviews
book reviews
video reviews
dvd reviews
equip. reviews

News
submit
archive

Miscellaneous
newsletter
rss feeds
polls
about

Follow us on



Home > AikiWeb Aikido Forums
Go Back   AikiWeb Aikido Forums > Weapons

Hello and thank you for visiting AikiWeb, the world's most active online Aikido community! This site is home to over 22,000 aikido practitioners from around the world and covers a wide range of aikido topics including techniques, philosophy, history, humor, beginner issues, the marketplace, and more.

If you wish to join in the discussions or use the other advanced features available, you will need to register first. Registration is absolutely free and takes only a few minutes to complete so sign up today!

Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 05-13-2001, 05:21 PM   #1
Dajo251
Dojo: Aikido Downtown
Location: Rhode Island
Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 262
United_States
Offline
Do symbol A new sword

i recently was given a katana as a gift it is a nice looking sword but it was kind of neglected so the blade is loose and tarnished. I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice on how to clean the balade.
Dan

Dan Hulley
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2001, 06:37 PM   #2
Nick
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 563
United_States
Offline
Hmm... first off, NEVER touch the blade with your bare hands. Aside from being highly disrespectful, it could also destroy the blade and cut you up pretty badly. Clean cloth gloves should work. Second, is it an old sword? A WWII blade? Paul Chen, Paul Champaigne? Was it handmade or factory-made? Do you know the metal it's made out of? Does the tang have a signature? If so, could you scan or email it to me?

Sorry for all the questions, but the age, metal, etc. are important in determining care, in that if you have an aluminum blade you don't clean a traditional cleaning kit, etc....

How did you come upon a katana anyways?

Nick
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-15-2001, 09:53 AM   #3
Chuck.Gordon
Location: Frederick, MD
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 509
United_States
Offline
New sword

[quote]Originally posted by Nick
Hmm... first off, NEVER touch the blade with your bare hands. Aside from being highly disrespectful, it could also destroy the

Ehh. Gonna quibble a bit. In doing batto/iaido, there are a number of techniques requiring you to touch the blade (usually the mune, of course, and not the ha). Not too sure about the respect thing either. I see a LOT of the 'collector' mentality in dealing with nihonto -- folks who revere the blade (rightly) as a work of art.

However, as a budoka, I also see the sword as a tool of the trade. ANYTHING capable of killing requires great respect, but it is not an object, to me, of worship.

To clean my sword (I use a Chen cheapie for everyday practice), I use a standard sword-cleaning kit (got mine from Mugendo Budogu for about $15 IIRC). Also have a very nice iaito from Tozando that basically only needs wiping down from time to time.

For steel blades: Whack the blade with uchiko, wipe it off, lightly oil it, wipe it off, put it up.

If there's more serious work needed, send it to a sword polisher. However, there's a caveat there, too. Make sure the polisher knows what you plan to do with the sword.

There are different polishes for batto/iai/tameshigiri than for collectible swords ...

If the sword is old and in poor condiion generally, I suggest you lightly oil it, put it away and leave it alone unless you can get it professionally refitted.

cg
chuck@the-dojo.com

  Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2001, 12:32 PM   #4
Nick
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 563
United_States
Offline
Ahh yes, but I was referring to cleaning the sword. I've heard stories about swords that have fingerprints rusted into them from poor caretaking...

Nick
  Reply With Quote
Old 05-17-2001, 05:56 PM   #5
Dajo251
Dojo: Aikido Downtown
Location: Rhode Island
Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 262
United_States
Offline
i came to the realization that my sword does infact have finger prints rusted into it. but upon advice from several people I gave it to a friend of mine whose kendo instructor knows sword polishing and cleaning so i should get it back with in a week.

Dan Hulley
  Reply With Quote

Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Rhythm/Speed/Musubi - How they work Erick Mead Techniques 57 08-22-2006 03:47 AM
"blocking" with japanese sword Tenor_Jon Weapons 39 09-02-2005 02:58 AM
Training iai as a part of aikido Stefaan Six General 4 07-27-2005 06:20 PM
"Muto" David Humm Language 20 04-22-2005 01:25 PM
Sword; sword; sword; sword . . . Arianah Language 3 05-12-2002 12:01 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:26 AM.



vBulletin Copyright © 2000-2024 Jelsoft Enterprises Limited
----------
Copyright 1997-2024 AikiWeb and its Authors, All Rights Reserved.
----------
For questions and comments about this website:
Send E-mail
plainlaid-picaresque outchasing-protistan explicantia-altarage seaford-stellionate