I'm basing myself at a weapons collector's book called "Espadas, Adagas e Alfanges", a Portuguese translation from "A Collectors Guide to Swords, Daggers & Cutlasses". Page 120.
[Black Blur]

Os cuidados com sua coleção

(The cares with your collection)

Unfortunately, one of the first problems we must deal with is the safety. It's advisable never to make public the components of your collection to any person that is not of your complete confidence and don't display your collection on a wall whitch can be seen by anyone passing by. It's worth to instal a security alarm too.

(This book is for those serious (and wealthy) collectors as you may have noticed)

It's necessary to make an insurance for your collection. You must take a picture from all your weapons, with collors if possible and several points of view, and you must take pictures of any distinct mark, register and list separatedly. It's impossible to indicate the rewards that you will need to pay, but the most probable is that they will be hight. Even with this, an insurence turns to be vital.

(I don't have swords like these he's talking about... *clean fingernails with dagger* have you??)

The own nature of the weapons means they are more lasting than, for exemple, glass and porcelain. However, the greatest enemy of the metalic weapons is the humidity, that causes oxidation. Protect your collection keeping your weapons always in their scabbards and, if possible, keep them in glass bubbles (*raises eyebrow*). Usually, the rust starts to attack on little scratches zones or flaws. Take care of the blade, carefully polishing it with a fine abrasive; next, protect it with vaseline or oil.

Keep your weapons away from sun light. The infra-red rays may make any non-metalic part - like, the handles of wood, bone or ivory - loose color, what would damage its appearence and, with this, its value.

If by any mean you have to transport one piece of your collection you will have to care for somethings. First, say no one what you intend to do. Next, you will have to make sure your weapons are not going to be damaged in the transport. Some collectors, adepts of the principles from every cutelary salesman, use to wrap the blades on a oiled cloth. There are some special types of leather with special treatment. DON'T USE normal leather, it has some tanic acids what can bring not only oxidation but a principle of corrosion too.



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