Vintage saw handle finishes

[pmcgee]

Following along from Bushy's saw-handle refinishing, I thought ... what have I seen on Simonds saws in particular?
I had a colour fixed in mind ... but actually that was just from the first one I got - my 371 ...
I do like these "Cherry" through to "Plum" shades ...

Colour correction I know nothing about ... although I find the variation interesting ... daylight vs flash setting with my phone ...

(actually only one Simonds here ... and a Bishop and a Diamond Edge (Shapleigh I think))

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[pmcgee]

"Saws in the raw" vary greatly ... (all Simonds)

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but I picked out one that I thought was in good original condition and wiped it with a little WD40 for the colour ...

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[Bushmiller]

Paul

That handle looks good, but those last pictures show justhow the light can play tricks. The third pic looks like it is a completely different handle (colourwise) and consequently it is hard to say what colour the saws were when new. I suspect there is quite a deal of age-darkening there too.

All I can say is that the apple is a pale beige colour which darkens a little when it is finished with shellac, varnish or oil. I am not going to get too far into the grain aspect, because I have no intention of standing in the corner with IanW )

I plan to experiment tomorrow (make that today) with some food colouring in the Van Dyke crystals. It also occured that soaking some woodchips in water would probably produce a natural dye. Consistency might be the issue.

Regards
Paul