Guardians of The Lambsfoot!

I've seen some Black&White Ebony and think it looks fantastic on handles. Of course, I don't know if it is a rare and thus should be left alone form of Ebony?

I've never minded chocolate streaks in my Ebony knives either. Blackwood is quite different, it appears to have little to no pores,very smooth like Jet!
 
dc50 said:
I have to agree with you Dylan, fall time is the best :thumbsup: I don't know how you get your photos to come out with such a vibrant black, it sure is striking :thumbsup:
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Jack Black said:
You make that ebony look wonderful Dylan :) :thumbsup:
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Thank you, fellas. I usually use morning and evening light to take my photos and then I run it through some editing software to enhance it further. I try to maintain the integrity of the natural colors that have been captured but I will make shadows and definition pop a bit more.

Half/Stop said:
Oh my! :eek: This is some sweet Ebony on this Lambsfoot!!! :thumbsup: This was my first example from A. Wright & Son. I won it in a very generous GAW from our friend Jack Black way back in 2016. Thanks again Jack! :D

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I've always admired that Ebony, Ron. Another superb picture of an equally superb knife.

Jack Black said:
I don't know if any of you Guardians have had a look at this thread here: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/ban-of-rosewood-cocobolo-et-al-effect-on-traditionals.1607079/ (if not you might want to take a look)?

@Astronaut FX posted a video link there, which I hope he doesn't mind me cross-posting, because I think it will be of interest here :thumbsup:


As those of you on my Lambsfoot email list (just PM me if you're not on it), may remember, I had a great deal of trouble getting hold of black ebony for this year's Guardian's Lambsfoot run. Wright's had originally promised me "Jet-black ebony", but then the first knives produced were less than satisfactory. Wright's managed to get hold of some blacker stuff, but it wasn't quite as dark as I would have liked. I had to make several extra trips to the factory, and spend a great deal of time on the phone. I remember @Cambertree, (who is well-informed about a great many things), exchanging some emails with me, in which he raised some of the topics raised in this video, and its central concern. Much as I love jet-black ebony, realistically, and ethically, it may be time to accept a new standard :( :thumbsup:

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Thank you for sharing, Jack. I've heard murmurings here and there regarding this and so I've assumed that it would be only a matter of time until the lustrous black ebony we are all so fond of will become a thing of the past. I have learned to enjoy some of the Ebony examples that I have that do not sport the nice black of other knives I own, it just means the latter knives will be that much more special as time drags on.

Jack Black said:
Heading over to Sheffield tomorrow ;) Going to be setting off with these :thumbsup:

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A terrific ensemble of knives, Jack, and some superb pictures as well.


Well, after Imgur resolved their technical difficulties, I was finally able to upload a picture or two. I decided to carry this one for a change, it has been awhile.

U3B5WfZ.jpg
 
Will Power said:
I've seen some Black&White Ebony and think it looks fantastic on handles. Of course, I don't know if it is a rare and thus should be left alone form of Ebony?

I've never minded chocolate streaks in my Ebony knives either. Blackwood is quite different, it appears to have little to no pores,very smooth like Jet!
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I've seen brown and black striped ebony, but I don't think I've ever seen black and white, is it anything like these (made in Sheffield) Liquorice Allsorts? :)

BA165 Liquorice Allsorts 360 x 300.jpg

Pàdruig said:
Thank you for sharing, Jack. I've heard murmurings here and there regarding this and so I've assumed that it would be only a matter of time until the lustrous black ebony we are all so fond of will become a thing of the past. I have learned to enjoy some of the Ebony examples that I have that do not sport the nice black of other knives I own, it just means the latter knives will be that much more special as time drags on.
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Nice perspective my friend :) :thumbsup:

Pàdruig said:
A terrific ensemble of knives, Jack, and some superb pictures as well.


Well, after Imgur resolved their technical difficulties, I was finally able to upload a picture or two. I decided to carry this one for a change, it has been awhile.

U3B5WfZ.jpg
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Thank you Dylan, you're very kind :) I didn't realise that had been a problem with Imgur, my paid PB account is still active, but I haven't used it in ages, I've just been uploading pics directly, seems to work OK. Nice to see that beautiful horn again :) :thumbsup:
 
Jack Black said:
I've seen brown and black striped ebony, but I don't think I've ever seen black and white, is it anything like these (made in Sheffield) Liquorice Allsorts? :)
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Actually, I think I do remember someone posting about black and white ebony here, I hadn't heard of it before. Seems it can look pretty good :)

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Jack Black said:
Actually, I think I do remember someone posting about black and white ebony here, I hadn't heard of it before. Seems it can look pretty good :)

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it looks a lot like what I've seen in classical guitars with"heart wood"in the rose wood. I think that is wood near the bark indicating that the tree was cut while alive as opposed to a tree that died and was then harvested. That's what I've heard but I'm no expert.
 
After a few minutes of very intense research, I do think the light streaks are sap wood , but I do not think the presence of sap wood indicates anything negative about the sustainability of the method of harvest. Perhaps the opposite, as when they try to produce pure black ebony a lot of the sap wood is wasted. Hey, I think I learned something cool. Thanks
 
I don't have a lambsfoot, but I do have ebony handled knives and I find the conversation interesting. I can appreciate the deep black wood handles, who doesn't love those. But as a lover of wood, I can also appreciate the variations that come with streaks, grains, knots, and imperfections. I'm fine with imperfect hardwoods on my knives and value whatever Mother Nature throws our way.
 
Half/Stop said:
I'm suffering with a case of Poison Ivy or Oak or Sumac, I'm not even sure! :oops: :mad: I've got one of my wee Sambar Stags to help with the rehab! :D

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Wow , it has been a very long time since I had poison ivy or poison oak . Hope you get over it soon Ron . Of course if there was ever a time that you were just itch'n to buy a knife , this would be a good time my friend !!!! :p:D:)
 
This has been Too Much To Do Tuesday for me, so I'll just post a couple of pics of the pile side of the lambsfoot stag senator I'm carrying this week, the Man Jack I won in an @R.c.s GAW some time ago:
New, almost 3 years ago:
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About 3 months ago:
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- GT
 
dc50 said:
Jack, is there a wood that comes to mind to replace our beloved ebony for the lambsfoot?
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African blackwood (dalbergia melanoxylon) is an alternative. I have some knives with blackwood that is as jet black and fine grained as my best ebony. Some pieces start out a bit lighter and with a purplish cast, but it darkens like cocobolo and is also denser and harder than ebony. From a conservation standpoint, blackwood is in much better shape than any of the black ebonies. Of course, we don't want to drive it to the same endangered status as ebony.

I have some really nice black and white ebony, but with the large grain patterns it is better suited for larger articles.

Another wood that I really like is desert ironwood (olneya tesota). No one can say that it is endangered. I have driven across Arizona and there are many many ironwood trees visible from the highway. Arizona requires permits for cutting trees.
 
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rockman0 said:
It's possible the black and white is spalted wood.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spalting
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I don't think so, but maybe. Spalted wood is pretty soft, and would require some serious stabilizing to make it hard enough for this use. maybe if it were resin impregnated or something. but then again, I'm no expert. Ive seen spalted wood guitars, but typically that is a laminate over a stronger base as well as a very hard finish. I found spalting in some oak i was splitting for firewood once. It felt almost like balsa, or those sawdust blocks they sell at hobby shops for carving. Ive never handled spalted ebony though so maybe its different.
 
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