From my website:
Sacred Tree of Death and Rebirth
Yew spans the northern temperate zones of Asia, India, Europe, Noth Africa, and North America. It also spans time itself. Foscils have been found which date to tens of millions of years ago. Some English Yews growing today have been estimated to be 4,000 years old.
Ancient Yew is found in museums throughout Europe in the form of spears, staves, and the famous longbow of the middle ages. The tight grain of the long lived tree gives Yew it's strenght, while the sapwood has the elastisity needed for a fine bow. Arrows were often tipped with a poison derived from the tree. In J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit", the Eagle King complains the men of the Wilderland are using bows made from Yews.
Yes, the tree is poisonous, but today, research has revealed the chemical Taxol found in Yew inhibits cell growth and may have promise in the fight against cancer. Perhaps this tree's death and rebirth folklore of our ancestors isn't that far off the mark.
I am pleased to present for sale Yew wood in a handturned medium sized Streamline pen in the most durable plating available; 24K Gold Titanium. It will literally last a lifetime. This pen is safe to handle on a daily basis having been sealed and cured in eight coats laquer, but should you have a habit of chewing on your pens and pencils, this pen is probably not for you. That is, unless you want to follow in the ancient Celtic tradition of taking poision derived from Yew rather than surrender to an invading army.
CSU has Yew for 4.99 in packs of 10. That's 50 cents a blank.
Rmartin
I cut corners