Wood ID? Hawaiian Mystery Wood

That looks great! I'm excited to see the first knife handle made from that stuff. And then, you can throw the scraps under a piece of meat :)
 
I used some kiawe on Maui for handles when I lived there. It was most impressively hard and dense. It could have really nice colors too, but wow, I never saw any with curl like that! I'd love to get some of that if you obtain any. I don't remember the spicy smell of working it, but it's been a while... my favorite smelling wood to cut is probably bloodwood. Kind of incense-ish.
 
Burl Source said:
Phil was correct.
I just got through on the phone to Hawaii. The wood is Kiawe.
I was told it is Hawaii's version of mesquite. Most gets cut up to use for smoking meat.
My guy in Hawaii told me he doesn't cut this type of wood but he got this piece from a friend who does.
When he saw the curl on the exterior he thought I would like it.
Now he is going to keep his eyes open and also have his friend look for the really curly stump pieces.
Click to expand...

Wow, I have never seen Kiawe like that before. Kiawe is very hard and dense, I wonder if it makes good knife handles without even being stabilized?
Lucky you!
 
This wood has me thinking about others in the legume family.
I think that is a lot of the thorny trees.
We have black locust around here that is thought of as a weed tree.
The wood has a greenish gold tint and is hard as a rock.
Think I will look for some with signs of figure on the outside and see what is inside.
 
Black locust burl can be incredible. I've not used it, but I've seen it. That's another wood that I'd put in the "hardest" category, with kiawe and lignum vitae. I always wanted to try the "Casuarina" ironwood trees when I lived in the islands, too. I wonder what highly figured casuarina looks like... they are beautiful trees and very hard wood.
 
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