Clean or not to clean?

[BostonMark]

I recently picked up an SA dagger by Gebr. Grafrath Solingen marked RZM M7/30.

It came right from the vets estate. It is in pretty good shape but the blade is tarnished, like someone had put fingerprints all over it and left it that way for 60 years.

Should I clean the blade up or leave it alone?

Thanks for any help.

Mark

[Phronsias]

SA dagger

Hi Mark
Could you post a few photographs of the dagger please?
Regards
Frank

[R.R.]

I think You can clean it with a product like Simichrome, but be careful to not damage crossgrain and etches.

[BostonMark]

I'll try to get a few pictures of the blade posted, what about FLITZ for cleaning?

[DR DOLCH]

There is no product made that will ever remove the imperfections on a blade,they are permanent.I look at cleaning daggers like this.You can always sell an uncleaned dagger to someone who likes to clean them.But you can't sell a cleaned dagger to someone who only buys uncleaned daggers.So why cut out so many buyers by cleaning them? P.S Polishing them is just as bad.

[The Red Baron]

The doctor has a good point. At the same time, you have to weigh whether you want to display your dagger cleaned or uncleaned and if you want to clean it, is it worth eliminating a large group of potential buyers some day? Just ones own decision to make

[ValhallaMilitaria]

I say leave it alone.

[Billy G]

If you clean, do it gingerly & remember: less is more. The less you do, the more you'll be happy. Cleaning in an aggressive manner can border on polishing which does nothing but shine up a dagger & in the process removes any crossgrain, burnish & any crispness to the blade etch. These are all things that devalue a dagger in general & make it less desirable to many collectors.

I suggest you leave it as is unless you have a little experience with cleaning such a polished blade with motto. Many a nice dagger have been ruined this way.

[ivbaust]

If the blade hasn´t been touched since 60+ years, I would leave it as it is.

[ErichS]

If the blade hasn´t been touched since 60+ years, I would leave it as it is.

A little ren wax would be helpful though.

[james m]

I'll try to get a few pictures of the blade posted, what about FLITZ for cleaning?

I've used Flitz for cleaning everything from daggers to firearms for years with good results. But you have to be careful about overdoing it since all cleaners are abrasive to some degree.
It would help if you posted some pictures.

Jim

[Don Prince]

Hi Mark,

I have 6 German WWII daggers (SS, SA, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Heer, and DLV) that I have collected over the years (I'm now 70 years old). My daggers were not mint by any stretch of imagination. I don't plan on parting with any item in my collection. However, I do like mint item but just can't afford them. Therefore, I have repaired the damaged wood handles and cleaned the blades to remove rust and blemishes. They please me, and that's what my collection is all about! I built two cases to display my collection in my library...

Mark, It all depends on what you want because you are the only one that counts! Enjoy your dagger and collecting...

Best regards,
Don

[Mr. Blades]

Don,

Really nice display. Wish I had that much imagination.........RICK

[R.R.]

Mark, It all depends on what you want because you are the only one that counts! Enjoy your dagger and collecting...

I agree, Nice words Don.