Truth... varnish is kinda like “axe cosmoline”... ya gotta get it off, and use a legitimate axe finish before you use it. (Varnish is also the quickest way to get a blister from a wood handle!)
Because I blacksmith, I use the same mixture on all axe and hammer handles. 1:1:1 mix of boiled linseed oil, beeswax, and turpentine. Works great on handles, and the steel to keep it preserved
Sounds like another good side job for you, preserving and sharpening axes, when do you want me to drop mine off?