UBB.threads Forums General Interest Restoration, Conservation, and Maintenance Forum A Novice Needs Some Help

I have just received a SA dagger(best I can tell) from my fathers estate and know nothing about them. The main question I have is how to properly clean and care for it. I do not want to harm it. I would like to one day get it in it's best shape possable and keep it in a display box or something since it is the only thing from his father that I have. The dagger has been sitting on a shelf in his living room for the last 25 years and before that I don't know where it was kept at my grandfathers. It has not been clean in a long while by the apearance of it. It has dust and looks like nicotine spots on it. He smoked 3 packs a day sitting 4 foot from it. Their is no corrosion or major pitting however I havent even wiped it off to know for sure about the pitting. Can you help with some basic and safe cleaning methods and proper storage advice. I have read here about humidity being a issue to the wood and metal of the dagger and I live in the capitol of humidity(florida). Any recommendations would be greatfully appreciated.

Welcome to the forum! It would help if we knew a bit more about the dagger. Is it maker marked or RZM? Rzm daggers were plated while most maker marked daggers have solid nickel silver fittings. Also, RZM daggers have painted scabbards and the early maker marked scabbards are browned. These differences can effect how it could be cleaned.

thank you for welcoming me and your willingness to share some of your knowledge and expertise. the dagger is a RZM best i can tell i see no makers marks on it. however it does not appear to be plated. it looks to me to be solid metal their are no typical signs(flaking,cracking,bubbling) of plating that i have seen on other metal items which have some age and definate lack of care. i will take a couple quick pictures and try and post them in hopes of helping.

here it is
the front

and the Back

M7/36 is listed as EuF Horster. I would definitely put some machine oil on the blade and wipe with a soft cloth. Sudsy Ammonia on a cotton swab would be a good first step to clean the scabbard and fittings.

thanks i will do it tonight. how would you suggest it be stored. as in wraped up towel or in big zip lock style bag or something.

I live in Virginia and have most of my collection hanging on the wall You want to maintain a steady tempature and low humidity. A closed display case would probably be best in your area.

are the display cases something that can be store bought or are they custom made? any suggestions as to where i can aquire one either way.

Hi,

You can go any length in terms of money in casing your SA. Bill Warda, a senior forum member has made tons of these for forum members in a variety of styles and woods. You can drop him an email at BBWarda@aol.com. Good luck and be careful, this hobby can be addictive.

I like to store daggers in the padded zipper cases that Tom Johnson sells.They cost about ten dollars.You dont want to seal it up,I too live in an area of extremely high humidity,just about 100% every day even in winter.As long as the dagger is in an area that has central air you should be alright.What you do not want is a temperature above 70 and humidity above 70.Also you do not want a fast temperature change.Last summer here I was looking at a helmet the owner took it outside and in a matter of seconds water was dripping off the helmet,this is what you dont want to do.

thank you every one for getting me started.

Hi, Welcome aboard, I do restorations on daggers, but, Looking at your photos, I would NOT do a thing to this one except wipe it down with some good machine oil as already suggested! Get an old t-shirt and use some Carberater (sp?) Cleaner to wipe down the blade ONLY. Don't get it on the handle! This will remove all the old oil and nicotine stains. Then wipe the blade down with some machine oil (3 in 1 Oil is fine)and you will be ready to display it. Do Not store it in the scabbard as this will tend to collect the humidity on the blade. I live in far South Texas and it might as well be Forida in terms of humidity! Virtually 100% all the time! This looks like a great SA Dagger that really doesn't need any restoration. If you want to polish the blade and metal parts of the grip, get yourself some FLITZ and GENTLY give it the once over. Just don't get too enthusiastic about it, some patina is very desireable. That's my 2 cents worth! Louie