Finishing Osage Orange?

[Kentucky]

We picked up some Osage Orange tomahawk handles. Ive never worked with osage orange before and was wondering whats your guys prefered method of finishing?? Thanks

 

[xbxb]

If they are still nice light yellow color you should use a UV type finish if you want to keep it that color. If you don't It will turn to brown fairly quickly. Very hard wood and can be tough to work with if you are using any type of filler. The wood turns brown and the filler does not so it can look a little strange. You might want to start with a dark filler.

 

[beaterAR]

I like to let it age dark and then a bees wax linseed oil mix to condition it. I use it for self bows but it works great on the wood and has that traditional native American look.