Hi Iain,
Regarding the hilt, I would suggest to clean it with soft brass brush in hot water solution of soda saleratus in aluminium pot (mechanical cleaning + electrolytical reaction). You would remove all impurities and the surface would have uniform, not shiny colour (it could be shiny immediately after the cleaning, but it would receive soft yellow colour in a few days again, after such treatement).
Regards,
Martin
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