I disassembled this entirely, wire wheeled all the rust off, then applied a light coat of mineral oil to the metal, which makes a protective non-oily finish. The wood handle was scrubbed clean of grease, and coated with a wood restoration wax. No clear coating or polyurethane here, just natural oils and cleaning. Made by the Goodell Pratt Company Toolsmiths, Greenfield Mass USA. Patented Mar 31, 1896 but this tool was probably made in the early 1920's.