Mike-
This particular saber wasn't. It's critical to examine the hilts base material, in relation to the degree in which the gilting is intact. As we know, aluminum hilted examples retained their gold colored gilting much more so than did their brass hilted counterparts. This piece is in it's color, condition, and so on it has been (I assume) since the day it was liberated. If we see a brass hilted example, with completely shiny hilt material, I then would assume that piece had been mollested as the fact remains, brass oxidizes, expecially when it's devoid of it's gilt barrier.
In short, this one hasn't been cleaned..only preserved now. It appears nearly as it did when it rolled out of the GI's ruck sack.
Beside the
prima facia appearance of the saber hilt, it's incumbant to study the piece in it's totality. Ordinarily, key indicators include the grip wire, the blade, scabbard and so forth. In concert, the study of these key elements can make ascertaining if a piece has been cleaned much easier. However, in this case, since the hilt is an aluminum composite, we can say with strong certainty the piece retains it's coloring and condition (as it relates to the hilt) that it has since the '40s. If it were brass hilted, and shiny brass, then the natural assumption is that the piece would have been cleaned. Brass oxidizes at a rapid rate, dependant on environmental conditions. With the gilt barried devoid on a piece, that brass will oxidize rapidly, and one would not expect to find it shiny if in unmoleted condition. Again though, we're talking apples and oranges with relation to hilt material.
************You will note however, the uppermost rung of grip wire has been cleaned...by yours truly. Upon arrival, the example was complete with post-war drops of glossy indoor paint. It had been on the grip for quite some time. Naturally, the paint drops had to be removed, and with the removal, the oxidation on that rungs grip wire dissappeared as well.
The photo below illustrates both C&J examples...the dove in brass-alloy, the lion in aluminum alloy. Note the differences in color, texture, and so on with regards to the gilt. Different application techniques were neccessary during the gilting process when the swordsmiths were working with different base materials. It's evidenced by the final products.
Tom