Purple heart handle Question

[Leftieshot]

I bought a small board of purple heart for handle material.  I have noticed that one side is rather dull and barely looks purple.  The other side looks great, rich color.  How can I bring out the purple color of this wood?  And what do you guys use for a sealant or finish on your knives?

[skullworks]

I think I saw something about using UV light to bring out the purple color more. I seal mine with Lacquer or Tung Oil.

[jgbennett6]

there are a ton of different choices for a finish on a blade, I usually use teak oil at first, then head on over to a true oil hand rubbed finish. or sometimes i use a paste wax finish, sometimes i finish with poly or spar.. depends o the knife, I know lots of guys who use a glossy epoxy finish.

[4runr]

Super glue.

[OconeeDan]

Purple heart, and many other woods like osage, darken when exposed to light.  Make a fresh cut in that purple heart, it will be very purple.  As it ages, it turns darker, mellows out.  
Sounds like the wood you have, the dark side was cut long ago and the bright side was recently cut.
You can finish it any way you like, I am not sure you can stop the "ageing" process.  And I think it looks better "aged".

[Leftieshot]

Great, I'll put the little block in the sunlight tomorrow to see what happens.

[OconeeDan]

It may darken slightly in one day, but it'll take time.  Days, or weeks.

[Leftieshot]

It sat in the sun most of today and I can actually see it change a little bit.

[Leftieshot]

Dan, its out in the sun again today and I swear it is turning quickly!  Thank you very much!