Thread: An heirloom from my great-great grandfather

I'd have it honed and cleaned by one of our resident experts, then use it for what it was made for. I have a few hand tools I inherited and while I take good care of them, I use 'em whenever a need arises. Every time I do, I think about my grandfather and my father using them the same way and it makes whatever I'm doing that much more enjoyable. So I'd say take good care of it, but by all means use it and enjoy it.

Clean it, polish it at your discretion, but I think a polished blade is healthier than tarnished one, replace the scales if you need to, have it honed, shave and cherish. Mark's suggestion of keeping it out of regular rotation for a while is a sound one.

X

Can't really add to the good advice so far, especially keeping it out of the rotation for a while. You're a lucky man, when you shave with that, it'll be like he's looking over your shoulder.