To CLEAN or NOT to clean?

I've got an Alles for Deutchland dagger and scabbard. The handle is wrapped in tape and the blade has some 70 year-old tarnish on it. The handle may be in perfect shape underneath or could be a field repair (I have no idea). The blade is still quite legible (& sharp) and would really shine with a buffing.

The question is, does it LOSE value if I clean it? Does a collector want it in its current condition or cleaned up?

 

The trouble is that your SA knife has been cleaned before. the writing should be in black .What you could do is clean it with alcohol and when it's dry , add some black shoe polish which will stay more deeply on the writing when you polish it with a cloth .

 

So, yes, clean it, before trying to sell it?

 

I agree with Skipper. Clean it gently with some alcohol (or a similar agent) by hand. I'd avoid the boot polish to bring out the lettering, but that's just personal preference.

Whatever you do, do not 'permanently' modify it. This includes sharpening, grinding, sanding or machine buffing it. This will remove most collector value.