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Rust Deterrent for knives made from saw blades

I need the assistance of some of the metal maniacs that have been so helpful by sharing their knowledge with other posters on this site. My brother makes decorative knives out of old saw mill blades. He is really quite creative with some of his designs and puts a lot of work into them. He hones and polishes them to a bright shiny finish.
The problem is, after a period of time they begin to rust because they have no corrosion protection other than a light coat of oil.
I would like to find the best/most cost effective way of treating the metal to make it resistant to rust, so these knives can be passed down through the generations. The finish would have to accentuate rather than detract from the finished knife.
If it were possible to sharpen the blade to keep them usable, that would be a real plus. He insists on using the saw blades because he feels it adds character to the knives.
I am not sure what opportunities are available, and look forward to getting your responses. Thank you in advance.

Brian Peters
hobbyist - Ocala, FL US
2005