Sure that is burl? Does not look like burl.
Exotic Blanks said:These blanks are from the root burl of the Chittum Tree (Cotinus obovatus), also known as American Smoke Tree.
Native to North America, Chittum is part of the cashew family. The heartwood of this tree boasts a beautiful golden champagne to amber coloring, while the sap wood is ivory toned. This golden wood was once used for a making a yellow dye, but the dye was used so extensively during the time of the Civil War, that the tree became (what we would now call) endangered. The dye is no longer made commercially and the tree has since become more widespread.
Figured Chittum comes from the root. And Chittum burl is considered to be one of the rarest and most highly coveted burls in the world. The burl comes from root growth that occurs in and around limestone formations. Often the burl must be chiseled (or blasted) out of the rock that surrounds it.
I hate to have to agree with Ed .... but while the cap looks a little like burl, the lower part of the pen is mostly 60 degree crosscut. There's not much burl on the lower at all.
That having been said ... the fit and finish are superb. I like it!
Hey, I'm not saying that's not what you bought, I'm just saying .... half that blank wasn't burl!
Well ... look at it, JT!
In the big picture thing I posted later in the thread, the far right blank is the one in question. That's the one he turned the pen from. The top of the blank is definitely burl, but the bottom that he used for the lower pen barrel looks like mostly 60 degree crosscut grain.
I'm not saying it's not pretty, I'm still saying it looks great! It's just that the lower doesn't look like burl.
That would be because the picture was taken with my phone.Photos are not "Ed Quality"
Nouveau Sceptre in a piece of Chittum Burl from Exotic.
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This statement:
However, word to the wise. Those who do know burl will immediately throw red flags on a seller when they see terms like 'burl' used on items that is not true burl. i.e. root.
Shows a complete lack of knowledge of the term "chittum burl". However, it is consistent with EdStreet's desire to cast aspersions at me and ExoticBlanks whenever he can make an opportunity.
I apologize to the OP for exposing him to Ed's antagonism for me. I warn all others to post any positive thoughts about ExoticBlanks in our forum, where EdStreet's future comments will be summarily deleted.
He has chosen to block Dawn and me from seeing his Facebook rants about us, it seems only fair that we reciprocate on IAP.
I'm sick of receiving the spear, time to put up the shield and prepare to return fire.