WW2 USS Mariposa Lignum Vitae Pen

[yorkie]

This is a rifle pen made using a piece of Lignum Vitae that was used to wrap the propeller shaft of the USS Mariposa. It was built as a cruise liner in 1931 and served in WW2 from 1941 in the Pacific ocean as a fast troop transporter.

The wood actually broke into three pieces as I was turning it so I repaired it with epoxy and wrapped it in twine to act as a clamp. I only have two full pieces of this historic wood, so every piece is precious.

 

[seamus7227]

that is really neat! the wood has a beautiful color to it, was it still a little waxy?

 

[yorkie]

that is really neat! the wood has a beautiful color to it, was it still a little waxy?

Yes, it was still quite waxy.

 

[jasontg99]

Excellent job on a historic piece of wood. I would be proud of that pen!

Jason

 

[reiddog1]

Love the pen and the historical value. Don't worry, the crack gives it character IMHO.

Dave

 

[76winger]

I didn't know they used a wood for such a purpose, but I don't know much about that wood or ship building. Regardless, I think you did a great job in preserving a piece of history for someone to enjoy.

 

[schreiber]

What a great story, and a great looking pen!

I never would imagined that they would use wooden bearings (?? wow!) for such as that either!

 

[jmbaker79]

Beautiful pen and wood there! Believe they used it in ship building beacause of its self lubricating properties, made them basically maintenance free, for those who wondered...

 

[alamocdc]

I love LV! All of mine turns a cool green, but then mine doesn't dome from the USS Mariposa! And I agree with the others. That aged stuff has a great color!

 

[yorkie]

Thanks a lot for all the positive feedback, guys.

 

[JF36]

Great job on a historic pen. I really like the color of the LV.

 

[Ted iin Michigan]

Dave (et al) - It's my understanding that lignum vitae was used for a long time as bearing material in ships - like the one in the pic... even up to and including some nuclear submarines.

 

[avbill]

The Lignum Vitae that Steve used from the USS Mariposa was harvested some time inin the late 1940's Its a much deeper color than todays havested blank of Lignum Vitae.


Steve did you use a oil to finish her?

 

[yorkie]

The Lignum Vitae that Steve used from the USS Mariposa was harvested some time inin the late 1940's Its a much deeper color than todays havested blank of Lignum Vitae.


Steve did you use a oil to finish her?

I used MM to 12,000, two doses of BLO and heated it up so it would sink into the wood well then CA to 12 coats.

I'm asking $79, does that seem too cheap?

 

[76winger]

The Lignum Vitae that Steve used from the USS Mariposa was harvested some time inin the late 1940's Its a much deeper color than todays havested blank of Lignum Vitae.


Steve did you use a oil to finish her?

I used MM to 12,000, two doses of BLO and heated it up so it would sink into the wood well then CA to 12 coats.

I'm asking $79, does that seem too cheap?

For the history and the story that goes with it, yes I think that's too low of a price.

 

[ToddMR]

Really nice. Great save on that too. I think it turned out great!

 

[rizaydog]

Fantastic pen. That is a nice piece of wood.

 

[fitzman163]

Very cool and what a story.

 

[Wright]

Steve, that is a nice piece of history. I love it when we can preserve something in our pens. Nice work!

 

[avbill]

For more information on the USS Mariiposa ~ this is what I place with each pen.



Your purchase is a product made of authentic Lignum Vitae from the shaft bearing from the S.S. Mariposa. This product was taken from the bearing shaft when the ship was in dry-dock in Bethlehem shipyard, San Francisco. SS Mariposa was a luxury ocean liner launched in 1931; one of four ships in the Matson Lines "White Fleet" which included SS*Monterey, SS*Malolo and SS*Lurline.

Lignum Vitae is grown naturally in the jungles of the Amazon river


If Steven makes 2 more pens of the ignum Vitae then there will only be 30 pens made from the wood. I have 27 pieces left from the shaft.

With only 30 pens made from this historic wood Steve YES you are selling way to cheap. Although you made a rift bolt all of wood I have are statesmens ans Jr. Statemens. MY Statesmens pens @ $&(%.

 

[yorkie]

Thanks a lot, Bill. Is that $800 for the Statesman pens? I'd love to see a picture.

For more information on the USS Mariiposa ~ this is what I place with each pen.



Your purchase is a product made of authentic Lignum Vitae from the shaft bearing from the S.S. Mariposa. This product was taken from the bearing shaft when the ship was in dry-dock in Bethlehem shipyard, San Francisco. SS Mariposa was a luxury ocean liner launched in 1931; one of four ships in the Matson Lines "White Fleet" which included SS*Monterey, SS*Malolo and SS*Lurline.

Lignum Vitae is grown naturally in the jungles of the Amazon river


If Steven makes 2 more pens of the ignum Vitae then there will only be 30 pens made from the wood. I have 27 pieces left from the shaft.

With only 30 pens made from this historic wood Steve YES you are selling way to cheap. Although you made a rift bolt all of wood I have are statesmens ans Jr. Statemens. MY Statesmens pens @ $&(%.