lots of good info here,the Blade Forum stuff sounded a bit complex as i don't want to dye anything and i wonder if for a first try i would want to go the bees wax soak route.i was thinking of just a lot of Neatsfoot Oil and light sand papering until i got a got finish.the idea about finishing the tang so it would not rust is a very good one and i'll work on that,wax?rust proof paint? varnish?
i have on my desk at the moment two knives with stacked handles.
one is my Dads WW2 Cattaraugus sheath knife and after 70 or so years is still in very good shape.the other is from the late 80's,a Blackjack that i was going to use as a canoeing knife but it's a bit heavy on my belt.both those are examples of what i'm shooting for.