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Ironwood Character or Defect?

knifeswapper

Knife Peddler
Joined
Sep 3, 2004
Messages
3,301
IWJH75.jpg

Choice 1: Sweet Ironwood handles with a little character.
Choice 2: Ironwood that has been dropped or used as a hammer and has a defective chip in it.

Where do you fall?
 
natural flaw is not one of the choices ;)

I have not seen ironwood in hand in the raw state myself. But would you say this is this from a naturally occurring grain character?
 
Nah, someone just in the habit of stubbing out their cigarettes on their knife handle is all, in the exact same spot, over and over. :)

But of the two choices given, I would say it is #1. "Character." However, at my age I have a lot of character but I was a lot better looking and in more demand when I was 25.
 
I enlarged the image as much as I could and it looks natural to me.
 
Disease....aftermath of some fungal growth. Could've been sanded back more in my view. On a new unused knife, I'd prefer it not to be there.

At least it's not horn beetle attack!:D:D:eek:
 
Last edited:
Choice # 1.
Regardless of the origin of this 'mark', it would not deter me from buying the knife. It will not impair function. It is of no significance to me.
kj
 
The butt of a knife is not a great location for a chip or character on a new knife.

That's not a chip. Looks like a burl void to me. Almost looks like there's a little super glue residue there, like it was already filled and sanded at one point? Hard to tell from one photo.
 
I suppose flaw is a loaded word and implies there is something wrong with the wood, i should have used natural inclusion. Either way, it's character.
 
Might better post it in the knife maker's section? those guys/gals have seen a thing or two while making knives and using ironwood.

Or post a link there to this thread even?
G2
 
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