If you have a battle-ready dagger, the good news is you have a dagger that is made with a steel alloy that can withstand cutting practice, which is properly tempered, and which has full tang construction. 

That means that your dagger is tough. It does not mean you can abuse it, and it does not mean you can fail to provide a reasonable level of care. On that note, here’s how to properly care for your battle ready daggers (most of these notes apply to swords and knives, too).

• Never throw your dagger. The temper is not appropriate for throwing and you will likely either bend or break it. Stick with throwing knives for this.
• Do not use the tip to pry. Again, you will likely either bend or break the tip.
• Do not stick the blade of the dagger into the ground. There is moisture in the ground, as well as salts that can cause corrosion. Even if that were not the case, soil is very abrasive and will likely damage either the edge or the finish of the blade.
• Don’t use your dagger for live cutting practice with inappropriate targets. Soft targets, like water bottles filled with water, fruits and vegetables, are suitable. 
• Do not strike hard objects, like wood or stone, with the blade of your dagger, or you are likely to damage it. 
• Be conscientious of what’s around you before you use a dagger for live cutting practice. Remember that these are weapons and must be handled responsibly in order to minimize the risk of inflicting grievous injury. 
• Do not sheath your dagger if it is wet or if there is anything on the blade that was left there from cutting practice. Always clean and dry the blade before sheathing or you are likely to etch or stain the blade, or else cause rust. 
• Specifically, if you are cutting fruits as targets, rinse and dry the blade thoroughly before storage. Most fruits have acid in their juice that will patina, etch, or otherwise damage the finish of a dagger’s blade if they are allowed to remain on there. 
• Don’t store it in the sheath for a prolonged period of time, as this is likely to cause rust. 
• Do not store it in an area that experiences extreme temperature swings (which can damage the fittings) or which is high in humidity. The lower the humidity the better as higher humidity incurs rust. 
• Avoid touching the blade if possible; if it is not a stainless alloy the oils and compounds in your skin can cause etching, staining or corrosion. 
• Periodically oil the blade, or else treat it with something like microcrystalline wax, which will help prevent corrosion and rust. 

Lastly, here is one more general note. If what you have is not battle-ready, do not use it for live cutting practice. Display daggers should be used for display only or else they are likely to be damaged by live use. Truthfully, it could even be dangerous to use a display replica for live cutting practice as well.

Where to Get a Battle Ready Dagger 

Want to add a battle ready dagger (or some other sword or weapon) to your collection? Check out what’s in stock over at BUDK. 

A dedicated knife store, BUDK also carries a lot of other cool stuff, including but not limited to self defense weapons, replicas, fixed and folding knives from the top brands (including automatic knives) spy gear, crossbows, and a whole lot of other interesting stuff for the home and garage. Visit their website for more information and if you have any questions about anything they sell, get in touch with them before you buy.

For more information about Sword Cane and Karambit Knife Please visit: BudK Worldwide Inc.