I bought a JP Sauer SA dagger directly from the son of a vet who brought them home. I was wondering. The other 2 daggers (1st and 2nd luft) that were there were not coated with cosmoline. But this SA was. I would think that if the vet coated his daggers with cosmoline he would have done them all and not just the SA. This leads me to wonder, did the germans use cosmoline at the factory to protect the daggers while shipping them to the various GAU's?

IMHO the American vet coated the blade I bought an Aesculap SA years ago an indirect vet buy it was coated in Cosmoline. I removed it with acetone and the blade was stone mint or close I still have the dagger you can see it on my web page.

I've also had postive experiences with cosmoline coated blades. The grungiest most cosmoline coated blade that I remember was perfectly preserved and stone mint. If you can take the gungey look it may be best to leave it.

Can I ask the brand of acetone? Where did you get it? Did it hurt the burnishing? What did you use for a cloth that you clean it with? Did the acetone remove the patina on the guards? I was also told that nail polish remover will take it off...

I just saw your Aesculap. What a beautiful dagger!!

semi chrome also takes it off effectively

Bob
Acetone is nail polish remover you can get it at any pharmacy it says acetone on the container. I use an old pair of underwear or t shirt. No it will not affect the burnishing in the motto. When I get a new dagger I wipe the blade down with the acetone before renwaxing it. Be careful with it around any plastic grips as it will melt them I only use it on the blade nothing else. You can also use it to test gilding on say a 2nd model swaz if the acetone removes it its not period.

thanks Tom for all the info. I have never used renwax on my blades. What I have done is to clean the entire dagger with glass plus and Viva papertowel. I am told that they are very soft. Then I spray clear silicone on the blad and let it dray over a day or 2 then wipe the excess off. What are you thoughts and that technigue?
Bob

Thanks Fitzer. I think I will try that after the acetone. I can see a black mark on the blade I would like to remove.

Nail polish remover = acetone, it's the way forward.

Then gently use a little Simichrome.

You can't go wrong.