Katana Maintenance Kit and Handling Instructions

Correct Katana Handling

Our katanas are extremely sharp. Always handle your katana with care. Make sure the blade edge is never in a position where it could harm yourself or others. Never clean your sword with the edge towards you and do not draw the sword with the edge towards you. Keep all swords away from children.

The katana is traditionally worn in the sash/belt (obi) edge up and is drawn edge up.

Do not just pull on the katana handle (tsuka) and the scabbard (saya) when unsheathing your katana. This is dangerous and will possibly damage the mouth of the scabbard.

The correct way to draw your katana is to have your left-hand placed firmly at the top of the saya with an inch space between your fingers and the hand-guard (tsuba), and your right hand on the handle.  With edge away from you, use your left-hand thumb to push against the hand-guard, once the friction resistance releases gently pull on the handle.

When drawing the blade from the scabbard always make sure the unsharpened back of the blade (mune) is the part which remains contact with the inside of the scabbard (saya). Likewise, when sheathing the katana keep the back of the blade against the inside of the scabbard. This is to stop undue wear on the saya and on the blade edge.

Not only are these drawing techniques traditional they are also practical, giving the wielder maximum control over the sword. They should be practiced at all times.

If your katana becomes loose in its saya or the saya is starting to wear, contact us and we can fix it for a small fee.

Katana Maintenance Kit Instructions

Maintenance is crucial to keep your blade in pristine condition. They are a few ways of maintaining a sword but this section refers to using our Katana Maintenance Kits. Depending on the humidity you should perform maintenance every 3-6 months and any time when the blade has been touched.

1)       Using a piece of rice paper or cotton cloth remove the old oil from the blade. Being careful to avoid injury

2)       Tap the powder ball against the blade every two inches or so (a new powder ball may need a few good taps to get started). Then gently polish the blade with rice paper or cotton cloth, remain focused on the task as to not cut through the rice paper or cotton cloth, thus cutting into you. Repeat on the reverse side. Do not inhale the powder and remember to keep the blade edge away from you.

3)       Wipe excess powder away from the blade. Apply a few drops of oil to each side of the blade and smooth up and down the full length of the blade using rice paper or cotton cloth. Make sure you do not touch the steel before re-sheathing.

The hammer is a traditional part of the kit. It is used to disassemble the katana. It is recommended that you do not to remove the handle of the katana without any formal training. Re-assembly can be difficult and repeated disassembly will wear both the pegs and the wooden handle causing a loose fit.

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