sand paper and oil

[Hurriranger]

well i really do hate that layer of brown rusty stuff on my blades and i normally use a fine sand paper and then just cover it all with some machine oil but after a week the rust comes back! what kind of oil would best keep the blades in tip top condition?

[Artisan]

Short of changing to FIE blades which do not rust as easily, you might try gun bluing (or browning) available at a gun smith's shop or gun supply. Instead of oil consider wax, like a soft carnuba paste wax or automotive wax. That said I do none of the abouv for my blades, I simply keep them dry. But - I have used these means frequently on other steel items.

[Grey]

Before I bought my maraging blades, I oiled my blades thrice a day. Once when I woke up, once in the afternoon when I'm back after school. Once before I sleep and it never rusted on me. It took about one or two months before I can oil it with less frequency as there was a permanent layer over it and it barely rusted.

[Inquartata]

Yes, machine oil evaporates too quickly. Use a good gun oil or mineral oil. Wax is even better, it doesn't allow dust motes to wick mosture through the preservative barrier like oil does, and it wipes off more easily before you use it. ( I trust that you ARE wiping your blades off well efore using them? Your oppoents will not thank you for oil on their lames and uniform. )

I use plain neutral ( clear ) shoe polish, myself. But any paste wax will do. You can also buy products especially made for use on swords and armour, like Renaissance Wax, but the stuff is more expensive and probably no better than the plain stuff...