Calling on the Wooden Wednesday Crowd for Help

[ptradeco]

From BRL:

"Here is some Blind Speculation --

Ebony handles were going out of fashion around the same time the cattle pattern was coming into fashion - 1880s-90s.

So while the combination was offered at the time, it would not have been a big seller.

I have seen a few, but as you noted, not many."

BRL...

 

[pertinux]

Brad,

I've been thinking about your collector friend's observation regarding old-growth and new-growth ebony since reading it last week.

"What I find most remarkable is the quality of ebony used 100+/- years ago. Incredibly tight grained and pure black as black can be. This came from original old growth dense forest trees. Tight grain = Slow growing. Today's ebony is farmed, open space, lots of water, fast growth = big xylem cells, so, wide rings, which means open grain."​

I hadn't noticed the difference, but now mentioned-- and pictured-- it makes sense.

The last example pictured has more open grain/pores than the ones preceding it, and is more in line with what I'm used to seeing in current offerings.

Good luck on your continued hunt!

~ P.

 

[CoffeeCat2112]

That first one almost looks synthetic. That's some tight wood!