Hi Doc,
A few years ago I bought a lot of sticks up to over a yard long cut and fully dry 1 1/2 inch to 2 plus inches square from a guy in Qld who had a team cut in the rain forest for around a year. He ended up with a shipping container of cut and dried Amboyna Golden variety. This was on Vanuatu Island not too far from Qld Australia. How I ended up with them was the guy in good faith sent a large amount to Canada where that guy welched on the deal saying not good enough send more and never paid. I put most of mine up on my Aussie forum gone in a few days at the cost it was for me, pure burl.
So at this time I researched the timber, locations and all it is all over beautiful and the colours wild and varied. I love it. The Golden is more torturous, wild not as flamboyant.
Your pen comes into being courtesy of Keith (top top grade timber mate) a.m as usual Doc you took this raw product and gave it life (bit like birth) fun creating, nurturing, delivery, expectation a heck of a task that needs care and sustenance).
This dressed to impress as the Emporer fully dressed mind blowing clean cut, spit polished, indeed real credit to you both creators.
I am having fun right now and the next while as our daughter creating that special pen rest for you Cherie returns end of July and will post on from there. Quite a project with breakthrough design.
My friend love that pen as all you make get the treatment they deserve.
Kind regards Peter.