To try and clean or not???

[Serge M.]

That's a textbook vet 'Shed Hanger' rig.

Yes, depending on the blade issue, maybe needs to be cleaned or not (blade only)

The exterior, if you go ahead and clean this one and THEN show it, I bet you will get more votes of 'You should have left it alone'.

I can't recall how many times, back in the day, I tried to improve the condition on one this rough, only later to wish i had just left it alone.

-wagner-

[simply daggers]

Great post and it just shows how divided collectors are on this subject.

I don't think there is a right or wrong answer here but it is just down to personal choice.

For what it is worth if this were my dagger I would clean it.

I had a 2nd pattern Luftwaffe dagger once that was not as bad as this but had some surface rust on the outer shell.
I used a hobby tool (electrical) that had a soft bristled wire brush and at a slow speed went over the outer shell with it to remove the worst of the rust.
You will never get it perfect but it really did come up quite well.
I then wiped it over with a spray oil (WD40 in the UK) to prevent further decay.
It did not make it shine but simply helped the rust.

As a general rule for me I would only normally wipe the blade over with spray oil and only touch the outer if it were very bad.

Would be nice to see the blade.

Thanks,
Ian

[BobI]

That is the trick, cleaning it to help preserve and not cause more damage. I think it is a first I do not agree with Wags! Although I am sure he would agree to clean only if you know how.
Best Wishes,
Bob

[gtbpappy]

Sorry it took so long-- here is the blade- wkc, looks like someone either did something to it already?? I am ok with it either way, I always like the just found or forgotten look, but do like nice things, but for me-- I like having 5 cheaper worn items than 1 nice one... I like it all, and all conditions... There is always someone who wants to spend $100.00, but not always $500.00. Ther an ass for every seat, and I guess I have a lot of seats!! Thanks for the replys.. I mainly was asking about the buckles and such --to stop the corosian , and put a small amount of some kind of preservative on it..

[gtbpappy]

Blade

[gtbpappy]

Rear

[rbminis]

I believe the buckles will be made of zinc and if you carefully give them a vaseline treatment similar to awards that suffer from zinc pest, it will help to slow down the corrosion.
Ralph.

[Luis22]

Spray the dagger with a stuff called Krud Kutter Rust Stain Remover after 5 mins rinse with water an oil it...

[Rancid66]

Absolutely not!

Someone has already clean the blade before you, and he managed to ruin it.
(And wrong set it.)
Do not blow whole dagger.
I'd rather find a some dry place to hold your dagger, everyone is talking about cleaning, none talking about the place where we holds a dagger. (A dray place.)

Regrads
Rancid66

[amiklic1]

What I do not understand is,
How does letting an item rust or rot away to nothing honor the purpose of it's existence or the item itself?
Ralph.

I agree 100%

I just don't understand why some people say something about the preservation of material itself, apart of it being a historical memorabilia, in a way that will undoubtedly lead it to a completely destroyed and unrecognizable piece. It seems that not many understand the materials and processes that happen ;-).

What I would suggest here is a true conservation in a way of removing the rust and preserving as much of original and intact parts as possible.

Metal restoration is not an easy thing and one has to study and learn the proper ways of doing it.