Rust spots on gladius/best oil to use

[ParthianBow]

I've had a look under cleaning gladius and can't find much, so I thought I'd put up a post which shows how little I know about looking after my kit, such as it is. My Deepeeka gladius hispaniensis now has some tiny areas of rust/oxidisation on the blade. What's the best way to clean these off? What oil should I use on the blade afterwards, and to prevent this continuing to happen? How often should I oil the blade? (Like a lot of you re-enactors, it's being used a lot at the moment; this will continue over the summer and then die off again.)

Thank you for any tips!

[ParthianBow]

Found the 'How-to' section! Interesting to find out that my use of Vaseline on my WW1 bayonets as a teenager was spot on the mark. Scotch brite pads to remove the rust, then Vaseline. Thanks Medicus Matt!

[Yehya]

Hi
I always used food grade mineral oil on my collectible knives. Bernard Levine, the noted knife expert, recommends it.
Joel

[Marcus Velius Avitus]

I have always used "3 in 1" oil or clean motor oil and a little steel wool on blades.

[Gaius Colletti]

I have used mineral oil on my Gallic helmet along with a scotch brite pad (from what I understand the offbrand bads are too slick). My helmet had considerable rust on it and it seemingly melted off with the mineral oil and scotch brite pad duo. Though I think the scotch brite pad may have left some light swirl marks...

[Crispvs]

I use a sanding sponge (presumably what you call a Scotch Bright pad) to clean my helmet, but then I spread pork fat very thinly over the helmet, which works extremely well, lasts for about three months, and is something the Romans could well have used themselves. The fat doesn't show, by the way, unless you look very closely. When the photo I have used for my 'avatar' was taken I had spread fat over my helmet only a few minutes before. I haven't tried it on my sword though. In any case, as my sword handle is made of bone I am a little wary of things which might discolour it past the natural discolouration one gets from regular use.

Crispvs

[Magnus]

I forget, but did you render the fat first, or just use it as is; leftovers from cooking?

[Crispvs]

The fat I use is simply left over from cooking, normally collected after I have been cooking pork chops or bacon.

Crispvs

[Robert Vermaat]

I use olive oil (also used for cooking). Works just fine.

[ParthianBow]

@Crispus: does the equipment then smell of bacon or pork? (No bad thing, I hasten to add!)

@Vortigern Studies: ditto with regard to olive oil? Does it go rancid?

[Robert Vermaat]

@Vortigern Studies: ditto with regard to olive oil? Does it go rancid?

Nope. Neither the equipment out on the shelves nor that in the wooden chest ever showed signs of that.

[Gaius Colletti]

In my experience with olive oil, it heavily tinted my bronze Roman coins nearly black (which is common I found out). Although it never went rancid come to think of it

[Crispvs]

"@Crispus: does the equipment then smell of bacon or pork? (No bad thing, I hasten to add!)"

Not that I have ever noticed. I don't have a particularly good sense of smell but I have never received any comments from other people which caused me to think that they noticed a smell either, nor ever heard any talk of such.


Crispvs

[Gaius Colletti]

Crispus, I am a little hesitant to use bacon fat myself, as Bacon has such a high sodium content, I would be afraid of the salt from the bacon being mixed in with the fat and perhaps doing some damage to the metal