To Clean Or Not To Clean

[suntzu53]

ADVICE PLEASE ON CLEANING DAGGER BLADES. TO CLEAN OR NOT TO CLEAN THAT IS THE QUESTION?

[Larry Lipps]

To me it depends on what type of dagger and the condition of the blade, ie rust or corrosion. Under any circumstances don't use an abrasive cleaner.

[Colorado]

Clean them with a soft cloth only to get the fingerprints/oil off the blades. Unless the blade needs work, silicon is the most one needs.

Why fix something that ain't broke? Remember, the worst years are behind these pieces. We live in Air Conditioned houses.

[Skipper Greenwade]

I agree...the condition of the blade will generally be the determining factor. If there is rust, spotting or corrosion, it is a good idea to clean the blade to prevent (further) damage to the blade.

The key here - as in many things - is moderation. Resist the urge to polish or clean your baldes excessively, as doing so can damage the finish on polished or plated blades. Careful cleaning with Simichrome can be a good thing (to quote Martha Stewart), but the operative word here is careful. In spite of a commonly held belief to the contrary, Simichrome is abrasive.

One other very important word of advice here - if you are fortunate enough to own an etched/engraved blade with blued panels and/or gilded lettering, do noclean it. The blue and gold are notoriously fragile.

Hope that helps,
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