Identify these handle slabs please

V

Von Gruff

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Nov 24, 2014
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First post although I have been lurking and reading for a while.
I have played with a few knives for a few years (well, since making the first one in the 70's) with them being by stock removal. I have been fortunate in having been given a few exotic materials for handles etc with the steel all having been from files, rasps and old saw blades.
I was given some nice pieces of wood the other day but can not identify one pair and was wondering if anyone here might be able to from this rather poor pic


Von Gruff
 
Looks like the black/white variety of ebony to me. Excellent, durable cover material. Here are some that I have.

Straight grain
B-W_ebony1_zpsjbkkgo9i.jpg~original


Swirled grain, more like yours
B-W_ebony2_zps8kcefnbo.jpg~original
 
i am going to guess an odd cut of ironwood. looks like the lighter yellow sapwood at the top. if you wet them with water and take another photo it will add more contrast to the grain pattern and might be easier to identify. if you can press & feel your fingernail sink into it , its not ironwood. ironwood feels like stone with the fingernail test.
 
Yes olive . They use this to make wood knives to cut polenta. Really ,those Italians are smart. Imadeone of maple but olive looks much nicer !
 
This is a slightly clearer pic with the pieces givfen a light sand and a wetting. The colours are honey to chocolate and there is slight fingernail marking so not ironwood



Another question is that being end grain, would it be too prone to cracking to use on a knife.

Von Gruff
 
I think it's either english walnut or olivewood. Leaning toward the english walnut.
 
Don't know about the wood but that's a nice Mauser build. What caliber is it? and the wood stock is beautiful!
Rob
 
Awesome build my friend, read the whole thing and admire your skills, the gun looks beautiful with a gorgeous piece of wood.
I am in the process now of building a Mauser BRNU 98 at the moment and hope it comes out half as nice I will be pumped.
Rob
 
Thanks Rob. It is stockmaking that is my passion but I made my first knife (in the 70's) because I lost a bought one and have been happily playing with them ever since. I generally like to make a new knife to suit each rifle I build. Haven't got any sophisticated gear and have managed with a little belt grinder attached to the end of my bench grinder and with files etc and a reasonable ammount of paitence have been abe to turn very old slashers, pruning hooks, saw blades, farriers rasps and files into very effective cutting tools that arent too offensive on the eye.

Von Gruff
 
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