I think it's an improvement. There are oil finishes which might make it look a little better and add a little protection. There is a product called "Grumbacher Drying Oil" (if you have a Hobby Lobby store nearby, they will probably have it in a 4 ounce bottle) which is used by artist-type painters. It is of very low gloss and dries very quickly, and looks very good on grips. In fact, you can barely tell that the finish is there. A little goes a long way as it is very thin.