Cleaning a knife

[knife-nut]

Any recommendations on someone to professionally clean my knife. It still has an etch and I don’t want to ruin it.

[dsutton24]

Are you removing dirt or polishing the blade? If the goal is a shiny, like new blade you're going to lose the etch.

[Reverand]

Once the patina has begun, there is not a way to completely get rid of it without losing that etch. It looks like most of that was caused by fingerprints.
The best thing is to scrub at it with the lead of a #2 pencil. It will remove any active rust, but it will not remove the discoloration from the blade. Sometimes you can use very fine steel wool and oil to clean the blade a little, but too much of that can remove the etch as well.
It will never look like new again, but that is okay: it is not a new knife. Occasional coats of oil and use will even out that discoloration into a dark patina that will help protect the steel.

[TripleF]

Isopropyl Alcohol might help and shouldn't remove the printing.

[Mumbleypeg]

Mark, sorry I don’t have a recommendation on a person to clean it. I do agree with Scott and Reverend both. Rubbing alcohol won’t hurt it, and the pencil lead will probably help some. I recommend those flat carpenters’ pencils. They have more (broader) lead and don’t require re-sharpening as often. I suspect you already knew that though. Just in case, I’d be very careful around that etch though. Good luck with it. Can we see a picture of the rest of it?

Ken

[knife-nut]

Overall picture

[Mumbleypeg]

Thanks! Looks like a good ‘un.

Ken

[edgy46]

Unless I’m mistaken, that knife is one made for Hunter trader trapper as a premium for a subscription to the magazine. It should have no pattern number. I believe it is a valuable knife.
I also could be wrong.