Newbie with newbie questions

Welcome to the forum Jon. Since your issues seem to be cosmetic in origin, pictures would go a long way in helping us determine what the cause might be. It could be that you're describing a hamon pattern, which you'd find in any Japanese-style blade that's been folded; however, you could be talking about acid corrosion from say, fruits or vegetables if that's what this sword was used to cut iwth.

Like I said, we'd need pics to give you a more definitive answer; pics are your friend! Again, welcome- see you around.

That looks to me like some oil dried on the blade, with a bit of surface rust around it. You'd need a polishing paste like Metal Glo to remove it, but this would take off the blackened finish as well.

I may be wrong, though, so don't take what I say as 100% fact. ;D

Hopefully, one of the more experienced members will have a chance to comment... 'cause I'm really just making a logical guess.

HTH,
Slayer

Jon, if it is indeed rust (and it could be oxidation underneath the black finish) you'll need to get rid of it before it spreads. I'd go with a fine grit sandpaper, like you're laying the ground work for a sword polishing; just oiling the blade's not going to do it, I don't think.

It's not good to leave rust untreated, but try this first...

Wipe the blade off thouroughly with rubbing alcohol. This should remove any oil left on, which may be the only thing there.

If that doesn't work, try rubbing it with some WD-40.

If niether of those get results, you'll need to use the Metal Glo, methinks. But that's really not bad unless you LOVE the black finish. Personally, I'd reccomend removing the finish anyway, as it will scratch off quite easily during cutting. Besides, everyone loves a nice, shiny blade! ;D

No prob, and please let us know how it turns out! ;D

P.S. After looking at the picture again, it really does just look like dried-on oil. The first two options should remove that.

-Slayer

I use Nevr-dull more as a cleaner than a polish, not the same as turtle wax or something of that nature. I follow up with a silicone spray to protect the blade.

Jon, there's one more option as to what this could be:

inconsistencies in the application of the black coating. if that is the case it will appear to be on the very surface and you might even be able to feel it (if you are very sensative). there would be no correcting a coating defect without sanding off the coating, which I would reccomend anyway because I don't like coated blades, but I'm not you.

I do think it is very likely to be dried oil in which case the WD-40 or rubbing alcohol should work. you could also wash the blade with a little warm water and hand dish detergent. just make sure you dry it well and don't get any water up in the handle.

with that coating on there I think your sword should need minimal maintenance. maybe not even oil. at least until you start scratching it off by cutting.

considering the coating I think what I would reccomend is leave it alone for a few days and watch it. if it grows you've got rust, if not you have something else. rust is bad and you should either return the sword having done nothing to it, or get some sand paper and polish that blade to bright metal and then oil it.

good luck

Hmm well, I got 5-56 reccomended by a company and tried that but it didn't seem to have any noticable effect on the potential dried oil. I also tried a bit of dish washing.... detergent? is that the word? No noticable effect either so I made sure the blade was dry and reoiled it.

I can't really tell if this stuff has been spreading, it's pretty difficult to even see without looking really closely and/or shifting the blade so the light catches it differently.

Where Are you, Jokenden?

Ye I live in sweden, and don't ask me why they made it license based. x,x