Best finish for plane handles?

I seem to have more luck with a rub on finish like tung oil, or perhaps a
paste varnish. I have done some before using a gel stain with two coats of
low luster varnish by benjamin moore. I found brushing the varnish to be
far from easy. I like the way the handles on the lie nielson planes look,
kind of a low luster but smoothe look. Is it acceptable to apply a couple
of coats of tung oil (pure) over an oil or water based stain?


Mike