I'll likely make a kitchen knife for myself one day with an antler handle. It will never be machine washed. I always clean my knives after use, dry immediately and then put them away - even my "stainless" knives. It's a poor choice for a chef who won't do these things to care for their knife properly, especially if with lower chromium blades. You might want to consider using a sealer of some kind as it's a fairly porous material. It's also a personal thing - who will use the knife? Would they appreciate the esthetic? Are they a hunter?