Sword oil

**Fergus** · 12-31-2006, 23:50

Hi guys

I am new to the site - just kicking tires on martial arts after an absence of around 20 years. Plenty has changed in that time...

Anyhow, I have a question on sword blade oil. I see a lot of people cautioning to only use clove oil on a Japanese sword. Why is that? I would have thought that with all the modern oils available these days, that many better options would exist now?

Thanks for any input on this topic.

Fergus

**David Craik** · 01-01-2007, 06:12

Hello Mr. Bailey. Choji (sword oil) is not clove oil, it is mineral oil with 1% clove oil added for fragrance. The clove does nothing for the corrosion preventative properties of the oil. Pure clove oil is corrosive.

Choji is used primarily because it's traditional, and it works. One could just as easily use a modern oil, but although I don't mind the petroleum smell on my guns and tools I don't like it on my swords. Some people do use it on their newly-made swords though.

Using real choji on nihonto is just traditional like the sword arts themselves and something of a respect thing. Authenticity is big among many sword folk, and to use a modern oil on an old blade is considered a little like putting alloy wheels on a carriage.

**David Anderson** · 01-02-2007, 18:51

Clove-scented mineral oil is indeed very traditional and works very well. One consideration is that modern oils like gun oils, etc. inevitably contain various chemicals that, while good for steel and hardwood, may not be so good over the years for the softer woods and silk and natural glues and lacquers that go into katana. Pure mineral oil has been proven in the test of time.

Also, it's dead cheap and fairly easy to get. I made up half a litre for myself, and at the current rate of use I may die of old age before it's all gone...it cost me about C$3.50.

**Fergus** · 01-03-2007, 03:10

David and David

Thanks for the info. That helps.

Fergus

**Cougar Claw** · 01-03-2007, 10:25

Try G-96 Gun Treatment. It is easy on the soft woods.

MASTERforge · 02-07-2007, 16:30

I read somewhere that babyoil has exactly the same properties as choji so it would be easy to go to the store and buy a very cheap bottle.

With the leftover oil you could find many other uses

**David Craik** · 02-07-2007, 19:46

I don't see why not, baby oil is simply mineral oil with added fragrance. As long as whatever they add for fragrance is not corrosive. Plain mineral oil is very cheap as well.

**Charles Mahan** · 02-07-2007, 21:16

So long as whatever additives are added to the mineral oil don't prove to be corrosive to the metals, wood, or the glue that holds the saya together and you don't mind your sword smelling like a baby's bottom I dont' see a problem. Then again, choji oil isn't exactly expensive or hard to come by.

If this is a sword you value, why not get something which is time tested to be safe to use? After all a new saya starts around $300.

**David Craik** · 02-08-2007, 05:29

Trying to figure out which would be worse for an aesthetic standpoint - a sword that smells like it was made by Winchester or one that smells like a baby's backside.

With the leftover oil you could find many other uses

This screams for an off-color joke about 'swords', but I'll abstain...