Hi bradc.
Nice sabre. Italian M1860 Cavalry.
The Bleckmann firm worked in the period 1808 - 1975.
As far as my digging goes they were one of the main suppliers to the Italian (Sardianian) Army. I think in my Bersaglieri thread there is more on Mr. B.
There is no consensus on whether to clean or not. Some say value drops, some like it fully restored. For me, I don't give a hoot what others want me to think.
In general I would advise to clean the sabre with some tod and acetone to get all debris and old grease off and go over it with oooo steelwool and a drop of oil.
This will bring out more of the original state of the steel, now under a grey layer. As the grey oxyde layer is the first stage of rot, I would remove it, but that's me.
Clean it again with acetone after this to remove all dirt and oil and conserve the sabre with Ren Wax for max best result. Now you only have to dust it off once every year or so. Best to handle these old and cleaned geazers with gloves to prevent skin oils printing of the steel. I have wool gloves for that. They funtion as wax polishers too.
Very handy!
The above will brighten the sabre to a degree and remove all dirt, but do nothing to remove pitting etc. To do that is the next step up in the conservation game.
As to liners: No liners. Blade is held in place with spring steel clips brazed to the mouth piece. You may want to clean and wax those too and put some good grease between the scabbard wall and the mouth piece while you're at it.
Ren Wax was designed to lift the burden on museum conservators. I f the standing collection is protected this way one has his or hers hands free to do more urgent and more important work. Imagine a museum staff who have to fight decline every day all day, running from showcase to show case, lifting stuff out and putting it back in with all the problems and dangers to often priceless objects this entails.
So Ren Wax. The crux is that, whatever you do, the object is very clean before the wax is applied. Acetone will do the job, but this stuff is much better:
sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/60906/refurbish-project-belgian-m1802-dutch?page=3 . Chinese katana bags go a long way if you want to escape the yearly dusting.
The above thread may also be a good guide on the what and how of a total conservation.
Cheers.