Polishing Metal Parts

[DaveS]

I can't remember what reference book it was, but it stated ,especially
in the Islamic countries that they were immensly proud of their weapons
and that the silver would have been kept polished, the gold would have been
cleaned, and that the blades would have been either polished or etched.
I think some if not most of the pieces we see today on the market were
sitting in a wherehouse for fifty or sixty years not being maintained,or
they were brought back by some tourist or military person who had not the
slightest idea of how to care for them. IMHO, this is why so many of these
pieces look "ratted out" As for those antique dealers who don't dare touch
anything for fear they might lose a dollar, that is just how their world works
but as far as antique weapons, i don't think it's the same. Again, just my
opinion..........Dave.