Ariel and David have good points. In US Civil War, some collectors LOVE beaten up pieces because they have seen battle.
As a general rule of thumb, there is some debate on brass. Bronze should NEVER be polished and the patina is crucial. Brass should also have some patina as well, though not as crucial as bronze.
However, when it comes to silver or gold, these are in a different class in the antique collecting world. Generally silver and gold were meant to be shiny and are usually polished, which does in fact raise the value of antiques, including weapons.
Again these are general rules of thumb in my experience (and the literature, collectors, Antiques Roadshow, etc).
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