UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons SA & NSKK Dagger Forum Aged like fine wine...

I finally have photos that do justice to the patina on this piece. I can't understand why some collectors polish their daggers to remove this golden glow.

2

Need more of thoughs keep'em coming!!! What maker?

Just gorgeous and please, never clean that patina away. It would be a real shame.
Congrats !

Maker...

My thoughts exactly. Why do dagger collectors dismantle their daggers and shine them up? I'm into helmets. If a helmet collector were to dismantle and clean their helmet, that would be the biggest crime on earth. So........once a dagger is dismantled, it's not original anymore, right? Please educate me on this.

I clean any patina of mine daggers because it only maintaining the integerty of the item and preserving it, it in my opinion would still be original because you are still using the orignal parts just cleaning them so they don't corried away. Clean a helmet and a dagger much different as a dagger is like a gun would you preserve a gun? I would, and so would I a dagger and even try and stop the rusting on a helmet seems fine to me. I think if you want to make it look like it was suppost in the period and are just cleaning no parts changing what is wrong with that?

Skyline...rare maker and stunning dagger. I like some just like that, with that type of patina. I leave them just like that. Most come to me cleaned and I have no choice in the matter.

SS dagggers with that patina are my absolute favorite.

Congrats on that one!

Mark

A beautiful and sought after dagger Skyline.
Also, great pics - did you use a light box? That grip is stunning!
Regards
Russell

Great piece!! That grip is incredible and the maker is one of my favorites, just wish I had one!
Congrats!

Same as mine!Rare maker with that beautiful red mahogany
colored grip.Sharp lovely fittings.
I love it!
Seiler (Yank in UK)

PS
Mine is Gau marked "S" Schleisen...Polish/German border area
Seiler.

Thanks eveyone for your comments. Ruski I did use a light box. I've only had it for a couple of days and I'm still experimenting with it.

Hi Skyline,I will only clean mine if there is anything on the nickel that will corode it,otherwise they stay the same even if they have been Denazified,and that happens quite a lot here in Europe,Regards stan


http://www.stan-the-man.tk

here a nice Puma as found

Wow, that is a beauty Skyline!! Damn, I think I have to clean my underwear now!

Absolutely stunning dagger.

I agree. I would not touch the patina on that beauty.

Hi stunning dagger. At the end of the day to each his own. Collectors do seem to prefer them in an uncleaned state and that commands a premium these days. Having said this how many of you choose to clean the crud, grime and rust from the blade? I would think that the vast majority judging by the 1000's of daggers that I have seen at shows, from dealers, in collections and posted on sites. Very seldom do I see dirty, mediocre, uncleaned blades. I fully agree that it is important to clean, preserve and protect the most valueable part of any dagger, the blade. However if it is justified in cleaning the blade it can also be justified in cleaning the remainder. For the record, I now only clean the blades and leave any non dentrimental patina. Just my preference. cheers, Ryan

I like to clean it all then the dagger will develope the patina again over time but without the could be harmful contaminates from the years of improper storage, it will redevelope if left alone and you well surely have all the dangerious stuff off, and the blades a must clean. But to each his own..

I prefer to have my blades clean within reason and fittings untouched with full patina. Skyline's post is a perfect example. Some daggers that haven't been touched at all including the blade is also nice to see as well, as long as rust is not forming.

quote:

Originally posted by Adam Kirchen:
I like to clean it all then the dagger will develope the patina again over time but without the could be harmful contaminates from the years of improper storage, it will redevelope if left alone and you well surely have all the dangerious stuff off, and the blades a must clean. But to each his own..

Would it really age like that again if he were to clean it back to its original hue? I like it the way it is if anything store it properly and let it keep showing its natural aging. would that be the only color it would stay since it has aged so much or would it take on a different color in its aging process after several more years down the road?

Many moons ago Manfred V. is the one who gave me the tip and I am sure he was not lying to me about the results but I did clean my old NSFK and in 4 years it already started to turn a nice golden tint to it but maybe I am imagining things , I now clean all mine as they were shiny when they were used between '33-'45 and they were really not intended to have patina. But thats my opinion and what I like, to each his own.

Well said Adam

I have to agree with Adam on this. The patina will come back and quicker than you would think. I have a first model luft and a RAD hewer that I cleaned up when I bought them and then just left alone. 3 years later now thay both have a nice gray patina to the fittings. It does not take that long really.
As a side note, am I crazy or is the patina on 1st lufts and RAD hewers a dark gray color where as it appears golden on SA's. This must be due to a difference in the metal that the fittings are made from correct?

I think that is a truely because of the differents in metals some even turn almost black some more a golden color or even grey Maybe Manfred can key in on this he told me alot about it before and could explain it better then me I think.

Since this happened to me, I can understand the logic behind giving a dagger one cleaning and then letting it go. It would eliminate any corrosive deposits (such as fingerprints) from the dagger, and with a little time, your patina will be back good as "new".
I think that the patina comes back in about 3-4 years and then slows down dramatically. After all it is an oxidation process and once the surface of the metal has reacted with the oxygen in the air (patina) the reaction slows due to the fact that the newly created patina prevents further contact of the naked base metal with the air... I think.
Anyway, my guess would be that the fittings that turn gray have more silver in them , where as SA fittings that turn yellow have more iron and perhaps copper??? Just a guess.