I was curious who might notice my desecration. I wanted it darker and sealed from contamination. I started with a permanent green marker in the grooves and thought what the bleep <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/doh.gif" alt="" /> am I doing to this new knife? Then I put on four coats of silicone water proofing in an attempt to seal it. It sucked it right up and made it only slightly darker. I finished with four coats of Danner Brown Boot Dressing. Danner claims "No Harmfull Solvents or propellants". When finished I grew to like the new look.