The edged weapon you receive from Global Gear are all tools. Like any tools, they require responsible use, care, and maintenance.

Maintenance
All metal parts of your sword should always be covered with a light coating of oil to prevent rust, including the wire wrapped handles. Wooden handles may be treated with a light coating of lemon oil or tung oil to help prevent cracking. Your sword comes with either a light plastic spray or a heavy coating of grease to protect the blades in transport across the ocean. You can remove these coatings with the use of a good solvent such as lacquer thinner or mineral spirits. Once you have finished this, apply your light coat of oil or a silicone spray. You can also wipe it with a silicone coated gun/reel cloth. In many respects, the gun/reel cloth is preferred as there is less tendency for dust to accumulate and trap oxygen to cause pitted areas in the blade.

Leather scabbards and sheaths as well as leather covered handles should be treated with a good paste wax. The scabbard can also be treated with neatsfoot or mink oil for waterproofing, although this is not recommended for gripping surfaces. Do not store your sword in its scabbard for long periods of time since the leather traps moisture which can produce rust spots on the blade.

Use
Do not swing any edged weapon carelessly. Remember, many of these are real weapons and must be treated with the same respect you would give a loaded firearm. When you wish to experience how it feels for warriors to wield these weapons in battle, make sure you are well out of reach of anyone. These weapons can be very heavy and could slip out of your hands. Be careful not to endanger yourself or others when you manipulate these swords.

Do not bang your sword against another sword in a theatrical-style duel. No matter how tough or strong the steel is in any sword, it will nick when struck against something equally hard. In stage plays or in movies, theatrical swords with wide, thick edges are used. The edges are flat and often as much as 1/16" wide. Such theatrical swords are designed to take the flashy looking punishment of banging edges together. Our swords are not theatrical swords. Many of our swords are real weapons, designed so that they could fight in the manner that originals were actually used. Since the cutting edges could be easily re sharpened and were often slashing weapons, parries were made with the flat of the blade (not the edges) or were simply avoided altogether. Real swords were never used for the theatrical style of sword banging that the movies or stage plays rely on to liven up the action sequences.

Do not attempt to chop down a tree with your sword, such an activity is guaranteed to damage it. Axes and machetes are well designed for this with the weight of the steel concentrated over the point of percussion. When you strike a firmly fixed object like a tree or a thick branch with a sword, a great deal of the blade projects past the object being cut, causing the blade to bend or torque. It should be pointed out that the Japanese, who believe in a great deal of practise with the sword, used thick bamboo. The bamboo was resistant to a cut, but didn't have the rigidity of a tree, and so it would not have damaged a valuable blade. For a Japanese warrior to cut into a tree would have been unthinkable.

Warranties & Returns

Warranties

We will replace any items which are, in some way, defective in workmanship or materials. You may return it within 14 days of receiving it, in its original packaging and condition for replacement. We can not replace, exchange, or refund any custom made orders. There is a 15% re-stocking fee on any frivolous return. Shipping will be organised and paid for on by Global Gear, on our shipping account, for any item being returned due to manufacturing fault. Otherwise, shipping is the customers responsibility, and non-refundable. We reserve the right to charge a twenty five dollar administrative fee on canceled orders.

Returns and Exchanges

You must contact us on (03) 9761 5999 prior to returning any item for an exchange or refund, and have a copy of the Global Gear Return Authority form (which can be found HERE) printed out and filled in. We will then issue you an RAN (Return Authorisation Number). Items received without an RA number will not be accepted. Any such items may be returned to the customer at the customer's expense.

Items must be returned in the original packaging and condition. Please include a copy of your invoice and the filled out RA form with the return. After the 14 day return period, Global Gear reserves the right to accept or deny merchandise returns for store credit.

Global Gear will not accept any returns that have been damaged by the customer. Any alterations, use, or damage occurring after the item leaves our facilities will void our liability to accept the return of such item. Any such returns will be sent back to the customer at the customer's expense.

Disclaimer

Neither Global Gear or its owners or suppliers accept any responsibility or liability for any loss, damage, or injury resulting from the use of any products sold. Use is at consumer's risk. Liability is limited solely to replacement of faulty merchandise. Knowledge of and adherence to local laws and/or statutes is the responsibility of the consumer. Consumer must be 18 or older to purchase weapons. All prices, materials and colours subject to change without prior notice. All orders must be prepaid. All items subject to availability. There is a 15% re-stocking fee on any frivolous return. Custom orders are non-refundable. Shipping costs are non-refundable. We reserve the right to charge a twenty-five dollar administrative fee on canceled orders. Payment for an order constitutes implied agreement with and adherence to these terms.