Official Copy
"I was very pleased when I recieved this one. It is dimensionally correct when compared to a real original M 1860 that a friend who is a re-enactor owns, so much so that I have ordered a second as a gift for him so he can hang his original on the wall. It came to me coated with a heavy coat of oil and wrapped in plastic and bubble wrap to protect it and its' finish. As it is steel and not stainless, any handling should be followed by a cleaning with a polish of some sort as well as a coating of some sort of oil. While the scabbard is supposedly nickel plated, it should be treated to the same handling rules. If you plan it to be a wall hanger, a better solution would be to completely degrease it, polish it with a commercial polish as is sold here on the site and then clear coat it with some clear spray enamel overall. This is especially true of anyone who lives in a humid or damp climate. The originals were coated with preservatives in the form of mineral oils or even animal fat in a pinch and got regular polishings from their owners to combat the rust problem. I am highly satisfied with this purchase and will probably order another one for myself down the line for a display of a very historical item."