cleaning of your daggers

wideload · Joined: 15 Jul 2007 Posts: 2

I have seen many different daggers in the short while that I have been collecting. What do most collectors prefer, cleaning and polishing the daggers till they look brand new, or keeping them as one would find them? You know not perfect.

daggernut · Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 12

There are some collectors who say to just leave it alone and some who try to make it look new. I'm in the middle of the road. If there is something on the dagger that detracts from its looks, like paint or mud, and it can be removed without hurting the dagger I do it. However I never use anything abrasive nor do I ever do anything that would destroy the patina or finish. Best advice is clean mininally. I'm sure others will have different opinions.

wideload · Joined: 15 Jul 2007 Posts: 2

Thanks for the info. It is a great help

suntzu53 · Joined: 18 Jul 2007 Posts: 1

When handling my daggers i always wear cotton gloves + when needed a light dusting

The Thicket · Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Posts: 86 Location: Right Here.

Its a hard call, there are guys that love to shine everything up to look new.. Then there are folks that just love to see age patina.. Myself, being one of this group. Just my thought - after 45 years in the hobby I think that most "real true collectors" fall into the second group.

So what makes you happy to see?

feldwebel · Joined: 28 Jul 2007 Posts: 21

There is a difference between dirt & patina. Patina is attractive & is to be expected on an antique item & the removakl of it will likely detract from its appearance & value. some daggers that have been kept in a good environment will look better (more new) than others particularly if there is lacquer remaining. A light wipe with renwax will remove grime & leave the dagger protected with a nice lustre. White spirit is good for wiping the blades because it cleans & then evaporates. It is incidentally the base spirit of renwax & will also remove it. The appearance of most can be improved without taking drastic action

n peaman · Joined: 29 Jul 2007 Posts: 1

HI NICE TO JOIN THE FORUM,FOR WHAT MY OPINION IS WORTH ,I TEND TO LEAVE NICELY PATINA,D PIECES, LIGHTLY CLEAN WITH WAX POLISH ANY GRUBBY PIECES,AND CLEAN AND RESTORE THOSE PIECES THAT HAVE DETERIORATED PAST NICE AND PERIOD ,IF NOT THEY JUST GET WORSE,I BELIEVE I AM DOING THE SAME PROCESS AS A FURNITURE RESTORER WOULD ,THIS IS MY RULE OF THUMB RIGHT OR WRONG,IN ANY FORM OF ANTIQUES THIS IS NORMAL.
N PEAMAN

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