The Osage Orange

I had absolutely no idea that the wood from those ( weeds) hedge apple trees was so pretty! We grew up throwing those things at each other. In fact my first attempt at “ wing shooting” was my dad tossing hedge apples into the air so my brother and I could learn to shoot pheasant... now I must have that on a knife!
 
Just ordered a GEC 81 in OO. When I first had a chance to get a knife in OO, the wood didn’t impress me much. That’s before I saw how it ages! And then it was too late. This time I wasted no time and ordered one right away. From what I’ve heard, sunlight plays more of a role than oils from your hand, dirt, etc. In its colour and how it darkens. Any insights? Tips for nice colours or showing off the grain? I’ve found a high polish is best for cocobolo, whereas I like bocote a little more matte. Same for ebony, it looks and feels like plastic to me with a high polish. I actually took off the factory sheen with fine steel wool on my Heartland clip then just rubbed it with some oil, looks and feels much better now imo.
 
Emspop said:
I had absolutely no idea that the wood from those ( weeds) hedge apple trees was so pretty! We grew up throwing those things at each other. In fact my first attempt at “ wing shooting” was my dad tossing hedge apples into the air so my brother and I could learn to shoot pheasant... now I must have that on a knife!
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My Osage Orange #73 has the place of honor in my small collection of GECs. The Wikipedia article on Osage Orange is fascinating. It is a wholly American tree, which first resided in the Red River valley.
It was said that a bow made from it commanded a trading price of a horse plus a blanket.
A plus is that it is hard as a rock and a lot prettier.
 
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Ok, ignore the other two knives, but the small hunter on the right is Osage. Not sure if you would call it traditional, maybe some kind of Scandanavian influence, but a cool knife nonetheless. These are Koyote knives by Christof Harper before he stopped making knives.
 
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Tradesman knife, in the North American/Canadian French fur trappers style, about 11 oal, O2 steel, Scandi grind, a user I’ve had for many years, aging gracefully. The Osage on this is crazy nice. Wish I had better photo. It has that chatoyance in certain lighting that keeps me just staring at it. One of my favs.

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I am bleeding said:
Tradesman knife, in the North American/Canadian French fur trappers style, about 11 oal, O2 steel, Scandi grind, a user I’ve had for many years, aging gracefully. The Osage on this is crazy nice. Wish I had better photo. It has that chatoyance in certain lighting that keeps me just staring at it. One of my favs.

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You are right... the grain on that one is really nice... take more pics of it!! :thumbsup: (and post 'em, of course)
 
JohnDF JohnDF :eek: It's the demon drink...I know you generally prefer Endcapped knives (I'm an unreconstructed Bareheadist..) but you have to admit with wood scaled knives the beauty of the wood really shows when there's no rear bolster. Same with Stag...and Bone:D
 
Will Power said:
I know you generally prefer Endcapped knives (I'm an unreconstructed Bareheadist..) but you have to admit with wood scaled knives the beauty of the wood really shows when there's no rear bolster.
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Even though I like end caps on my Jack knives, I do prefer bareheads on my Trapper knives, Lambsfoot knives, and Barlow knives. :cool::thumbsup:
 
I am bleeding said:
Tradesman knife, in the North American/Canadian French fur trappers style, about 11 oal, O2 steel, Scandi grind, a user I’ve had for many years, aging gracefully. The Osage on this is crazy nice. Wish I had better photo. It has that chatoyance in certain lighting that keeps me just staring at it. One of my favs.

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Oh my. That is phenomenal? Is that a Bark River?
 
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