Tokugawa Gord Posted January 11 Report Posted January 11 Konichi Wa. Sundays are for sword cleaning 🫧🧽. Many North American antique collections are found in poor condition due to the lack of awareness on what it takes to keep steel pristine - following the ritualistic cleaning of swords by our predecessors. Pro tip: use a mineral oil specific for carbon steel, like for example Yoshishiro brand oil; it protects the blade and other parts of the steel from rust. Mineral oil is colorless, odourless, and you should regularly clean your blades depending on how often you are studying/exhibiting them. As a rule of thumb I will maintain mine every two to three months, as that is how often our Toronto Token Kai (Sword Club) meets, where I serve as director. I begin by wiping the old oil with a microfibre cloth, and then use rice paper to apply a thin, fresh layer of oil on each sword. This method ensures that the artifacts in our care are preserved for future generations. I also commit to this process out of respect for Japanese history and as a meditative practice. These swords left the battles long behind, and the onus is on us to preserve them for their eventual return to the shrines of glorious Japan. 🇯🇵 5 2 2 Quote
Geraint Posted January 12 Report Posted January 12 Lovely looking Higo koshirae, Gordan. All the best. 1 Quote
Tokugawa Gord Posted January 12 Author Report Posted January 12 (edited) 1 hour ago, Geraint said: Lovely looking Higo koshirae, Gordan. All the best. Thank you for your appreciation Geraint, I am quite fond of this koshirae as well. Can you guess which piece is not original (there is only one) Edited January 12 by Tokugawa Gord spelling error Quote
Geraint Posted January 12 Report Posted January 12 Tough call from that one photograph but the tsuba is a surprise to me, I might have expected something in iron with nunome. Can we see it all please? All the best. 1 Quote
Tokugawa Gord Posted Thursday at 07:27 PM Author Report Posted Thursday at 07:27 PM On 1/12/2026 at 1:51 PM, Geraint said: Tough call from that one photograph but the tsuba is a surprise to me, I might have expected something in iron with nunome. Can we see it all please? All the best. Great eye Geraint!! The tsuba is indeed not original - it is a Mino School tsuba mounted on there . 1 Quote
Tokugawa Gord Posted Saturday at 03:40 AM Author Report Posted Saturday at 03:40 AM By popular demand: posting the entire koshirae here for everyone's pleasure. Enjoy! 3 1 Quote
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