Gaucho-Style Knife

jswillems · 9th January 2010, 08:44 PM

Thank you both for the information. I just have a quick question about ethnographic weapons in general. What is the typical thought about cleaning knives? I know with some collectables it is OK to clean them and with others you want to leave them as you find them. Thanks.

-Josh

Lee · 10th January 2010, 08:23 PM

The cleaning decision would depend a lot on the knife; from my impression that silver collectors like to keep items polished despite the gradual wear effect, I would say that in the case of your knife, there would be nothing wrong with an application of silver polish. I have occasionally polished the mounts on a few of my favorite gaucho knives, though others are still as I received them. (The ones I have polished are, of course, the 19th century ones I should not have polished - but they do look nice all shiny and I have only oiled the blade.)

Rick, nice straw - I, oddly, have a small silver mounted gourd which turned up in a local antique shop.

Leah-WW · 10th January 2010, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jswillems

Thank you both for the information. I just have a quick question about ethnographic weapons in general. What is the typical thought about cleaning knives? I know with some collectables it is OK to clean them and with others you want to leave them as you find them. Thanks.

-Josh

Hi Josh. I know I'm new here, but your question jumped out at me, as I am currently studying to become a Conservator, and this is the type of question we face for every object we treat.

As Lee has said, it is your knife and so you should do what you think best, but from a Conservation point of view the attitude of "minimal intervention" is usually prescribed. That is, "dirt" (which includes corrosion, tarnish etc.) which is damaging to the object (by e.g. a chemical reaction or oxidisation), or which is hindering understanding of the object (e.g. if it is obscuring decoration) is removed by cleaning by an appropriate means. Cleaning of "dirt" which does not fall into these categories is not usually done, because it may damage either the appearance of the object (for example by over-polishing), or the ability for the object to be understood (for example deposits which look like dirt to us may be the residue of a treatment applied to the surface by the maker or owner - it is therefore part of the object's history, and if it is not damaging the object it is usually left in place, as part of the object's life story).

Leah.

jswillems · 10th January 2010, 09:28 PM

Thank you both for your help. As I've mentioned before, I'm just starting this hobby so I want to try and make as few mistakes as possible. Thanks again.

-Josh

Rick · 10th January 2010, 09:50 PM

In the matter of polishing an item like this; I would take the approach of the original owner.
He would have taken pride in this knife; it would be kept polished.
Plate may wear away so polish gently.

10th January 2010, 08:23 PM	#2
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 932	NOT an Antiques Roadshow Horror Moment if You Polish The cleaning decision would depend a lot on the knife; from my impression that silver collectors like to keep items polished despite the gradual wear effect, I would say that in the case of your knife, there would be nothing wrong with an application of silver polish. I have occasionally polished the mounts on a few of my favorite gaucho knives, though others are still as I received them. (The ones I have polished are, of course, the 19th century ones I should not have polished - but they do look nice all shiny and I have only oiled the blade.) Rick, nice straw - I, oddly, have a small silver mounted gourd which turned up in a local antique shop.

9th January 2010, 08:44 PM	#1
jswillems Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 32	Thank you both for the information. I just have a quick question about ethnographic weapons in general. What is the typical thought about cleaning knives? I know with some collectables it is OK to clean them and with others you want to leave them as you find them. Thanks. -Josh

10th January 2010, 09:28 PM	#4
jswillems Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 32	Thank you both for your help. As I've mentioned before, I'm just starting this hobby so I want to try and make as few mistakes as possible. Thanks again. -Josh

10th January 2010, 09:50 PM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	In the matter of polishing an item like this; I would take the approach of the original owner. He would have taken pride in this knife; it would be kept polished. Plate may wear away so polish gently.