I also understand the concept of having a beautiful piece of history, and having some trepidation/hesitation around actually using it. For me, there was some fear in potentially damaging the blade, and for some strange reason, which I now realize, for me, was unfounded, in reducing it's potential worth, let me phrase that better, diminishing something that was in a better state / condition before it came to me.
Now I realize, if it lasted in that condition since the 1900's, if I take care of it the way I do my other blades, it will last long after the time I've bought the farm....
:D