Thread: First Restoration Help--Advice for Next Steps

Trying my first restoration. Here are the before pics:


After some initial advice, I've got the blade cleaned up from the rust after an Evapo Rust soak, followed by some 0000 steel wool, and then some Mother's polish. It's definitely an improvement:



I'd like to take it a bit further, but I don't want to lose the etching. The blade is relatively smooth, so the stained portions, I fear may be devil's spit (especially the large discoloration on the backside of the blade near the toe). I really don't want to get into that, especially where it is located as I think that could wreck the blade if too much metal got removed.

I have a full range of wet/dry sandpaper and a can of WD 40. I haven't bought a buffer, but there's a HF in town so I could go get a cheap set up.

I don't want a mirror shine necessarily, but I'd like to get it a bit better looking than what it is. Looking to you blade savants for some guidance on the next steps. Thanks!