All About Pocket Knives

Thought maybe I might be asking the right folks in here, if not I'll move it.

Anyone have a clues what this chunk is ? The wife got it a few summers back at a yard sale and I've never been able ID it since. Even tried Google image search, no luck. Any help would be great, thanks !

Hi,
Almost impossible to identify wood from a photo unless it is something very distinctive or you can see the whole tree.
Even then it would only be an educated guess.
If you handed that piece to me to identify I would need to know where it was grown, feel the weight of it, smell it, and probably want to make a fresh length-ways cut to see the grain structure before I could make any sort judgement on what it may be.

Is there a "Men's Shed" in your area where retired guys go to socialize and do wood work? If there is it would be worth a visit - some of the old codgers there will probably know what it is.

Derek

Brumbydownunder wrote: Is there a "Men's Shed" in your area where retired guys go to socialize and do wood work? If there is it would be worth a visit - some of the old codgers there will probably know what it is.

Derek

Heck, in this town I AM the old codger lol !

I was hoping someone might recognize the bark patter more than grain and such. It has the weirdest looking bark, looks like a luffa (?) sponge or something. I can assure you, it's hardwood. Weighs a ton and has that distinctive high pitch "ting" if you rap it with your knuckles. It's almost like it's a burl of something, just don't know what

I agree that it is very difficult to identify most wood by species after it is cut. If you knew for a fact that it came from your area that would cut down the possible species to those in your area. I have had a bit of interest in identifying trees for the past four decades and I can tell you that even with the living tree in front of you it is often quite difficult to pin down the species.

Some species with strong medullary rays. Oak does that.

Believe me I am nooooooooooooooooooooooooo expert, but the first thing that came to me was cedar.
Except this piece looks fossilized......

Oh well, was worth a shot.

Thanks

I believe that is a palm tree with the outer bark removed. No expert, though.

claywall wrote:I believe that is a palm tree with the outer bark removed. No expert, though.

The outside does resemble what's found on an old palm tree that has shed it's bark.

Hard to say but Palm was my first impression as well.

btrwtr wrote:Hard to say but Palm was my first impression as well.

Now it makes sense. The lady my wife got this off of was from Arizona, and though it's not native, palm trees are planted everywhere around Tucson and Phoenix.

Thanks !

Yeah, um, now that you guys mention it, I have seen a Palm tree before......LOL.....