the overlooked Cocobola!

RMLamey

RMLamey

Joined
Nov 13, 1998
Messages
2,598
Yes I know that Desert Ironwood has been the rage for the past 10+ years or more, but ive never been able to work with it much... makes me ill even If I get 1 wiff. So Ive been putting Cocobola up for many years, just now getting into some, this is one of the LEAST fancy pieces.

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thanks guys, this one came together well...didnt try and fight me at any point in its construction.
 
Awesome knife with a nice piece of Cocobola. Matt Your hamons are always top notch
 
I like cocobolo, but the biggest reasons that it fell out of favor are twofold.

1. It shrinks, and pretty much cannot be stabilized because it leaches quite a bit of oil over time, darkens just like many other woods as well.

2. It, like desert ironwood and many other woods, can cause violent allergic reactions, and with prolonged exposure to dust over time is practically guaranteed to do so....and once the body develops the intolerance to the material, simply handling it can cause skin reactions.

I like the highly figured cocobolo that is black and brown swirls....the wood you used on your bowie seems like a mix of heart and sapwood, and I have never cared for that combination. The overall shape of the knife is lovely.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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Matt, that's killer - love the belly of that knife and the wicked, raking clip. I personally prefer synthetic handles but, honestly, you could have used anything short of some old twine for that handle and the knife would still kick ass!!
 
Jimmy Fikes told me shortly after I joined how nice your work was, Matt, and I better get in line if I wanted one.
High praise..and he was right, you make awesome killer Bowies and fighters fit for soldiers, users and collectors alike.
I agree with STeven on this particular piece of cocobolo, the heartwood/sapwood contrast just doesn't do it for me.
I see zero reason for shrinkage if it's put up and stored for a while, I've had a fighter for 6 or more years with no shrinkage.
Cocobolo is one of my favorite woods, this will look even better as it darkens with age.
Outtasight hamon as per usual. :cool:

Doug
 
Love the blade Matt. I also agree that the piece of cocobolo is not the typical cut, consisting of "heartwood", but it looks ok. A lot of people have trouble with allergies working with cocobolo?

There are many nice species of wood. I am partial to burls.

Peter
 
Ive never had issues with Cocobola shrinking, not saying that some havent, but ive never had that issue. Generally all the wood I use has been air dried for 10+ years, some much longer. It can darken like any other wood, but if you know this when selecting the wood to start with you can avoid wood that will darken so much it will lose its character/contrast etc.

As far as alergic reactions, im fine with Cocobola, Rosewood etc... but man that Ironwood gives me a sinus infection every time.
 
Cocobolo is some of my very favorite stuff. Cocobolo is rated "extremely toxic" by some agencies, or whatever, so I do wear a respirator when I work it, but it's fine stuff, and you can get pieces with a lot of character. I love the way your knife came out. Lovely piece of wood. I like the slightly redder stuff, myself, but it often has such character that I'm surprised I don't see more of it.
 
as Steven stated it darkens a bit, this piece which is lighter red/orange now, will darken slightly to a medium red in time, while still contrasting with the black... in time this particular piece will look better, have a more rich/mellow tone.
 
It's a beauty with a nice flow and a bold hamon activity plus interesting characters on the cocobolo :thumbup:
Congrats to you Matt :)

mohd
 
It's another great looking knife though I'm in the same camp as STeven about that particular piece of wood.

How big is the handle, in girth? It looks as if it's made for a large hand, or is that an illusion? I'm judging by the width of the guard.

Anyway, nice work,,, again.
 
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