Box Elder Burl Higher Price

delkhouri

delkhouri

Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Messages
738
As I just posted in the anticipation thread, I have a Damascus Box Elder Mnandi on the way... I did some cursory searching but did not find my answer so I thought I would post it here. According do the CRK site a S35VN mnandi is $400 in Bog Oak, Spalted Beech, Macasser Ebony, and Thuya. While it is $450 in Box Elder Burl. Why is the Box Elder more expensive?
 
One of my woodworking budies once told me burls can be challenging to work. I can't confirm that by personal experience, but it makes sense.
 
4mer_FMF said:
One of my woodworking budies once told me burls can be challenging to work. I can't confirm that by personal experience, but it makes sense.
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Burls can go from rock hard to putty soft in a fraction of an inch. After stabilization, they can be almost made of resin in the parts that aren't insanely hard. Yes, far harder to work with that normal wood.
 
Yup!! I have a custom pool cue that is Thuya Burl and my cue maker told me it is very rare and hard to work. Absolutely beautiful though!! Amboyna Burl is also gorgeous!
Joe
 
I'll get on it!
Also have an ebony with ivory cue that is gorgeous!!
 
It's a premium wood inlay and they usually cost $50 more than the standard woods. This has long been the case with Box Elder.
 
I am a woodworker, and specialize in knife handles. I suspect it's not that the burl is harder, but that it is hard to find pieces that aren't flawed, checked or pitted. Burl has a crazy amount of imperfections. And the smaller the piece the more a flaw will have an effect. To find pieces of burl that meet their standard is harder to do than to find pieces of straight grained wood.
 
Thanks everyone for the answers.... I wasn't complaining about the prices, I was just curious.
 
delkhouri said:
As I just posted in the anticipation thread, I have a Damascus Box Elder Mnandi on the way... I did some cursory searching but did not find my answer so I thought I would post it here. According do the CRK site a S35VN mnandi is $400 in Bog Oak, Spalted Beech, Macasser Ebony, and Thuya. While it is $450 in Box Elder Burl. Why is the Box Elder more expensive?
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Hey OP may I ask where you scored your Damascus elder Mnandi? Was it around this forum or a storefront? I've been looking for a decent Elder Mnandi and potentially ( if I can afford it at the time ) a Damascus version. So far I've not found any that I liked the look of but it's become one of my new goals to obtain.
 
Sorry i missed your question. I just bought it on the forum. I have not received it yet. Should ship tomorrow.

Dullknivescut said:
Hey OP may I ask where you scored your Damascus elder Mnandi? Was it around this forum or a storefront? I've been looking for a decent Elder Mnandi and potentially ( if I can afford it at the time ) a Damascus version. So far I've not found any that I liked the look of but it's become one of my new goals to obtain.
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delkhouri said:
Sorry i missed your question. I just bought it on the forum. I have not received it yet. Should ship tomorrow.
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Congratulations, will be happy to see if you choose to post pictures! I may just give in and buy a regular Mnandi ( like an ebony of some sort ) I can find in stock, and go for the elder later.. still deciding. I've seen people on these forums who have absolutely fantastic collections. So I feel we can't go wrong no matter what we pick, the collection just grows!

Again hope you enjoy your new find.
 
delkhouri said:
Thanks

Here is a pic (provided by the seller) of the one I bought. It has extra significance for me as it has the same birthweek/year as my firstborn daughter.

View attachment 712061
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Congratulations again on the buy, mighty fine knife.

I'm starting to think of giving up on Elder and go with thuya burl personally ( and just look for one at a later date maybe when stocks resupply ), its slightly cheaper and found a decent looking piece.
 
Dullknivescut said:
I'm starting to think of giving up on Elder
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If it were me, I wouldn't give up on the one you like. I can't afford to have a huge collection, so I have to be really selective/picky about which one I get. I did find a dealer with some Box elder in stock with damascus and s35vn blades. They also have many others in stock such as Bocote, cocobolo, gabon ebony, macasser ebony, some mammoth, spalted beech, bog oak, and Thuya. I couldn't figure out how to message you the link... if you are interested message me or email me using my username and gmail
 
Dullknivescut said:
Congratulations again on the buy, mighty fine knife.

I'm starting to think of giving up on Elder and go with thuya burl personally ( and just look for one at a later date maybe when stocks resupply ), its slightly cheaper and found a decent looking piece.
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Like i said in your other thread:
blanco112 said:
There is a dealer who sells on eBay who has some. Just search. I can't link directly because I don't know if they pay for a membership here. I know it's eBay but some dealers sell there and it's totally legit.
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I just found two righties and two lefties.
 
blanco112 said:
Like i said in your other thread:

I just found two righties and two lefties.
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I did look on eBay afterwards but was hesitant because I am so new I cannot identify what is genuine or not, I couldn't find any big names that I recognized regarding sellers.

delkhouri delkhouri I'm not sure if I can even message as I have tried in the past and I think because my account is free and not paid basic member I cannot instant message at all.

My only public email I don't mind posting is Let_Your_Beard_Wear_You@Outlook.com ( sorry if I derailed your thread and appreciate both your guys time. )

I have a sense of security ( maybe to a fault ) when purchasing from a real store with a name, similarly with bullion, so when I go to eBay I look for the same names I'd look for off CRK authorized dealer list or bladeforums authorized dealers otherwise I'm hard pressed to pull the trigger. Only because I am not assured in my ability to identify, not because I didn't value your opinion blanco112 blanco112 you have always been extremely helpful and I appreciate that. Thanks to both of you again.
 
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Dullknivescut said:
I did look on eBay afterwards but was hesitant because I am so new I cannot identify what is genuine or not, I couldn't find any big names that I recognized regarding sellers.

delkhouri delkhouri I'm not sure if I can even message as I have tried in the past and I think because my account is free and not paid basic member I cannot instant message at all.

My only public email I don't mind posting is Let_Your_Beard_Wear_You@Outlook.com ( sorry if I derailed your thread and appreciate both your guys time. )

I have a sense of security ( maybe to a fault ) when purchasing from a real store with a name, similarly with bullion, so when I go to eBay I look for the same names I'd look for off CRK authorized dealer list or bladeforums authorized dealers otherwise I'm hard pressed to pull the trigger. Only because I am not assured in my ability to identify, not because I didn't value your opinion blanco112 blanco112 you have always been extremely helpful and I appreciate that. Thanks to both of you again.
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I hear you, I only mentioned again because the ones I'm talking about come from an actual dealer, who just uses ebay as a storefront and can be validated against CRK's dealer list. I get it though, you need to be cautious and comfortable where you spend. It'd be easier if I could just tell you their name, but rules are rules :cool:
 
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