Blade Maintenance: Never Lose Your Edge

Buying a blade is certainly an exciting time, but it’s important to remember the regular maintenance required to keep it in pristine condition.

While the frequency for maintenance will depend on if this is your EDC or a sword that you occasionally practice with, you’ll always feel better knowing your blade is shiny and ready for action.

Traditional Japanese swords are some of the most gorgeous blades you can own, and making sure they continue to shine is a top priority for owners.

A great kit for keeping your sword clean is the Shinwa Sword Cleaning Kit. Inside the kit’s black coated wooden box is everything you’ll need. It includes a brass awl to dismantle the sword, rice papers for cleaning oil from the blade, an extra-large uchiko powder ball, a bottle of oil to prevent rusting and a plastic container for storing cloths. For those unfamiliar, an uchiko powder ball is used to remove oil stuck to the blade and add shine to the surface. The kit also includes a care sheet with complete instructions for those new to the process.

On the same note of Japanese maintenance methods, a Japanese water sharpening stone can be used to keep your blade battle ready. These stones are softer than a traditional whetstone and produce a consistent cut. As the name implies, just water is needed to lubricate the stone and it’ll give you a sharp, shiny blade. The orange side of this particular stone is the medium 1,000 grit side while the white side is the fine 1,500 grit.

To use, you first soak the stone in water for no more than five minutes and then place it on a non-slip surface with the medium grit side up. Hold your blade flat against the stone and raise the spine slightly. While firmly grasping the knife’s handle with your other hand on the top of the blade, push the knife down the stone in a smooth motion from tip to heel. After ten passes, you can feel for a burr, or slight raise in the metal, and if there isn’t one you can continue your passes. For double-beveled blades, you’ll want to switch to the other side and repeat. For other users, you can then move on to the finer grit of the stone, maintaining the same angle and pressure throughout the process. The finer grit will get rid of the burr that was raised from the coarser side. Double-beveled knife users can alternate sides of the blade between strokes.

When it comes to sharpening your EDC, you have a few different options to check out.

One that might conjure ideas of old-timey barbers sharpening a straight razor is the leather strop, like the Kriegar Extra Wide Hanging Strop. A strop can put a perfectly finished edge on any type of blade with one side being smooth leather and the other being a rougher suede. The suede is to remove larger edge damage while the leather eliminates the smallest imperfection you may not even see with the naked eye. An abrasive compound can also be added to the strop surface to hone duller knives.

Just as it’s shown in any film or show, a strop is used by attaching the swiveling hook, which allows you to flip sides seamlessly, to a fixed object. You then grasp the handle at the other end. In your free hand, hold your knife and pull the blade toward you at a slight angle.

Another option is the Ridge Runner Knife Sharpener. It’s made for use with both single and double-edged knives. The sharpening wheels are super-hardened alloyed metal and high-quality ceramic for coarse and fine sharpening. The product’s impact resistant ABS construction means it can endure plenty of use. It also features a handle for securely holding it on a flat surface, making this a great sharpening tool for beginners.

A more compact option for sharpening knives is the Sharpen It Up Knife Sharpener. This smaller tool is easy to carry and easy to use. The tungsten carbide sharpener can instantly help your dull blade while the ceramic sharpening rods will polish it to a razor’s edge. The fold-out diamond tapered rod is perfect for quick maintenance. Attach this product anywhere you need it with its lanyard hole.

Both products are incredibly easy to use and simply require you pull your blade through the sharpening slots in even, smooth strokes.

To further protect your knife, you can use Max Edge CLP Knife Lube. This lubricant penetrates and spreads along the surface of the blade to lift residue away. The long-lasting film then reduces the adhesion of sand and other abrasives, which can cause wear and tear to your blade. It also has corrosion inhibitors, which will prevent the formation of rust. Thanks to this product’s formula, it won’t dry out or stiffen up, making it perfect for use in any temperature range.