Finish for wood in cartridge box?

[BillinOregon]

I'm planning to make a simple cartridge box to go with a Brown Bess, and will use the pattern on Page 34 of "Sketch book 76" -- a leather flap tacked to the wood block. Just wondering what y'all use on your wood cartridge blocks to seal out moisture from the wood. I was thinking of staining (yes, with walnut hull dye!) then rubbing in beeswax.

 

[Va.Manuf.06]

Originals were unfinished (raw wood with leather dyed black) but occasionally seen with the wood painted black.

 

[Coot]

Originals that I have seen have been bare wood or black. I used tung oil on mine to leave a natural wood look & reduce the amount of moisture absorbed if it gets wet. If you need to carry a box in the rain, you will likely need to put it under your raingear or wrap a piece of oilcloth over it.