Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Re-polish the blade. Hold the sword with the blade facing away from you. Move the blade over the polishing stone, exerting even pressure and using a back-and-forth motion. Use short strokes over the entire sword, including the tip.
Re-polish the hilt. Polishing stones may be too abrasive for the hilt, so it's best to start with a paste or gel metal polish. If the hilt is silver, use silver polish for best results. If the hilt is steel and doesn't respond much to the gel or paste metal polish, try using your finest polishing stone, but don't exert too much pressure on it.
Repair leather grips. If the grips are dried out and cracked, rub a moisturizing leather conditioner into them. Several applications may be necessary in order to help the leather regain its suppleness. If the leather grips are torn, consider replacing them with new grips. Buy similar leather from a craft store or leather supplier and use the old grips as patterns for cutting out the new grips.
Repair scabbards. Scabbards for steel swords may be constructed of many different materials. Sometimes the scabbards themselves are made of steel, but more often, they're made of leather or another lightweight material. If the scabbard is made of steel, polish it with metal polish. If it's made of leather, replace any damaged sections and condition it with leather conditioner.
Polish out rust marks. Use straight lemon juice at first: apply it to a clean cotton cloth, and rub in circular motions over the rust spot. If lemon juice doesn't work, try vinegar, which is slightly more acidic. If vinegar doesn't work, try Worcestershire sauce. If none of these household, mild acids get rid of the rust, go to an automotive store and ask for a product that removes rust. Be aware that the automotive products are harsh and may cause a change in your sword's steel.