| Laramie
Knifeworks
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Handles/Bolsters
| Handle
And Bolster Woods and Natural Materials |
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| I
offer over 50 different exotic
burled and highly figured woods for use as bolsters and
handles. These exotic burled and highly figured woods are
"rare" and occur in about one in every 10,000 trees.
Mother nature has created these so-called "freaks of
nature" and I hand select the finest pieces of wood for use
as bolsters and handles. Almost all of the wood I buy has come
from very old trees that have died from "natural
causes" like wind, snow, and disease or have come from
trees that were removed due to unwanted or dangerous locations.
Most exotic wood purveyors practice "highly ethical"
wood harvesting and focus on trees that are crippled and dying
from "Mother Natures Natural Causes". Note, the
wildest and craziest looking wood comes from trees that are the
oldest, crippled, diseased, insect infested, dieing trees in the
forest. As these trees die and fall down, they often are ignored
or thrown away-- but make wonderful exotic wood. I travel
extensively each year and purchase wood from arborists who
specialize in collecting presentation quality woods from these
crippled and dieing trees.
I also
offer natural material for handles and bolsters. I use fossil
Walrus Oosik, Mammoth Ivory, fossil Whale bone, Mammoth Tooth,
fossil Steller's Sea Cow, Mother of Pearl, fossil Walrus Bone,
Bighorn sheep, Sambar Stag, fossil Mammoth Bone, fossil Bison
Bone, Kudu Horn, Buffalo Horn, and Giraffe Bone. These natural
materials are often used with exotic woods to provide contrast
and additional figure.
I stabilize all woods and natural materials (that can benefit from stabilization)
by using a system incorporating different polymers. This stabilizing process reduces
cracking, shrinking, warping, and provides water resistant
protection (however, no stabilization process can protect wood
or natural materials from a dishwasher or neglect/abuse-- so be sure to clean and dry
your knife after each use).
The exotic burled and highly figured woods and the natural
material that I use can be seen by double-clicking on the link "Exotic
Wood and Natural Material Page"
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Exotic
Wood
and
Natural Material Page
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