I needed to take this discussion to a new thread not to hijack a vote on a forum build.
So it appears we all have our favorite materials; brass, nickel silver, and the rare pure silver. Some knives also can be had with copper hardware. For discussion here is care, or lack of it. Some may feel the need to polish away, some not. When you received your spanking new Randall it was shiny bright. So over time oxygen degrades that look.
So some materials develop a patina quickly, others more slowly but all will eventually. I personally like the look of shiny brass and an evenly oxidized darker patina over time. Copper looks great with some aging; leave it alone. Nickel silver is easier to keep. Some of it looks brassy to me, just for discussion.
So the ever rare and expensive pure silver hardware is a real challenge. So, leave it be, or let it go almost as black as Grandma's tableware set?

So do you let time age metal, or not and what looks good to you. No right or wrong answers.