Will try to send some photos later (need to charge camera battery). Patina is OK, but there is some rust near the handle. Is the "natural etching" desirable? The pits and streaks are almost microscopic and are fairly evenly distributed. The wooden handle is in good shape, but could use some cleaning to improve appearance. (It's not dry. The grain of the wood may have been filled over time and use with natural fats and oils. It feels sort of waxy and has a gray color. My thought is to go over the blade and handle with fine steel wool, then oil the handle with Danish oil and the blade with cooking oil to discourage rust. I know that with vintage furniture it's often a trade-off between making them look good, and preserving the original finish, patina, etc. Re-finishing almost always decreases the value, but sometimes is the best route, depending on condition, value, and planned usage. I presume it's similar with old knives.
