Playing with Mountain Mahogany - and other musings

[wildmanh]

Curlleaf Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius) is very abundant in my area in the hills. It's a Dense slow growing hard wood in the Rose family. I've seen it many times while hiking up Canal Canyon, Maple Canyon and Mount Nebo. Thought it was something else, till my friend Brad, a local tree and plant guy set me straight. Recently I learned that the local Violin maker uses it in his stringed instruments as accents, knobs and the like. Got me thinking that maybe it would make good tool and knife handles. . .

Here's some information on Curlleaf Mountain Mahogany:

http://oregonstate.edu/trees/broadleaf_genera/species/mtn_mahogany_spp.html

http://forestry.usu.edu/htm/treeid/other-species/curleaf-mountain-mahogany/

http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-identification/hardwoods/mountain-mahogany/

http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/cercocarpus_ledifolius.shtml

Anyways, last month when a lot of family was down for a visit, some of us went up into the hills and harvested a dead standing branch. It was about 4" long, 4" wide at one end and 2" at the other. Gave it to my aunt who gave it to some cousins for wood turning. They were excited to get it.

Here are some pictures of the branch that I got:

Am going to head back to the hills soon to harvest some more to handle a few Blade blanks or re-handle jobs. Got some local Black Walnut to do the same, not sure which knives will get which scales.

Like some of the links said, it's a common wood around here, but hard to get to. A friend and I happen to know some good places to harvest the free standing dead wood. Once I have some, I plan to let it dry in my wood shed for a while. Going to pickup a Moisture Meter one of these days, then use the wood when it hits about 6% moisture content. That's what the knife makers told me is a good %.

Last spring and friend and I made two Mauls for leather work. I got the prototype with a plastic handle, the second one we made has a stacked leather handle and my friend kept that one. I'm thinking of switching the handle out for Stacked leather and Mountain Mahogany.

Thinking it might be really cool to have some knives and tools handled with local woods that I gathered and worked over. Does Mountain Mahogany sound interesting to anyone else? If so, I'll keep you guys posted.

 

[ndoghouse]

Thats some gorgeous wood. Great find. Reminds me of the mesquite found here in my parts. I bet it would make some nice knife scales.

 

[Bawanna]

Of course we're interested. It does have a lot of traits of mesquite.

Anxious to see what your slabs turn out looking like, I'm sure like most all woods it varies considerable. But no matter what you just gotta love wood, I don't care who you are.

Also you've been awol for a spell, don't let work and trekkng interfere with your visits to our beloved forum.

Don't want you to think your absence goes unnoticed.

More pics when you can please.

 

[wildmanh]

Thats some gorgeous wood. Great find. Reminds me of the mesquite found here in my parts. I bet it would make some nice knife scales.

Thanks! I hope it does.

Of course we're interested. It does have a lot of traits of mesquite.

Anxious to see what your slabs turn out looking like, I'm sure like most all woods it varies considerable. But no matter what you just gotta love wood, I don't care who you are.

Also you've been awol for a spell, don't let work and trekkng interfere with your visits to our beloved forum.

Don't want you to think your absence goes unnoticed.

More pics when you can please.

Thanks Bawanna, I've been sick recently and busy with some projects so have not posted much online since February. Learning balance is key and something that I sorely need to learn.

I'll get more pictures as soon as I can.

Last night I finished making a custom sheath for a custom knife. The sheath was hand tooled using a home made Maul and some home made stamps. I didn't make the stamps, a gent in Europe did. I'll get pictures of the knife, sheath and hand tools that I used shortly. I mention this partly cause it's cool and partly because the Maul that I used will be re-handled in Mountain Mahogany or another local wood as soon as I can do it. Either leather washes and M/M Accents or M/M handle with leather accents.

 

[wildmanh]

Another interesting thing or two; In scouts I learned to do basic leather working, basket weaving and weaving, along with wood carving. An uncle who passed away 15 years ago was a scout leader, and merit badge counselor and wood worker for many years. He helped me a bunch when he came in to town for visits. Turned the leather work in the a job. Occasionally I do some wood carvings, am working on Utensils right now and once every few years I weave a few baskets.

Got a bowl/spoon carving knife a few months back. Hoping to make some wood serving forks/spoons and more spatulas. Made two wood spatulas, one went to a friend, the other I use frequently in the kitchen. I'm trying to cut back on my movie watching and do more crafty things with my life. Want to home my skills, make useful items and lay off the TV more. LOL!

Maybe I should get lunch and some pictures for you guys.

 

[Bawanna]

Funny I've been swearing I'm gonna get away from the TV too. Not much worth watching so shouldn't be hard but it is.
I also help the wife with her fishing lure assembly every weeknight and that works best on a tray in my recliner which of course happens to be in front of the TV.
I should move that operation out to my man cave, probably get more done and have a night or two to do worthwhile stuff like play with knives or guns.

 

[wildmanh]

We don't have TV here, just internet with a Netflix account and we also use the free stuff on Hulu. There's lots of classic shows to watch on them. Been watching shows instead of reading or doing other things recently. Thinking crafts will help. Finished up a bunch of sheaths the other day, some got oil, then leather dressing, others straight leather dressing. I sit in front of a show when doing it too. LOL!

Anyways, here's a Calvin Richardson ElkHeart knife custom made for me in trade for some leather work. The sheath was hand made using the hand made Maul and 2 hand made stamps (animal prints). The border tool was mass produced. That's the Maul that I plan to rehandle in local Mountain Mahogany.

Here's my home made Spatula and two of the knives used to carve it out of some Fir. The Buck model 105 is from 1974 (440C steel) and the other knife is a Hand made Fiddleback Forge EDKarda in 5/32" thick O-1 with micarta scales and a tapered tang. That's the EDKarda's going to town sheath. I have a less fancy one for in the bush and around the shop.

The Spatula was carved using 2 other knives, a Mora 711 and a SOG Hunter Revolver. Didn't have those two knives handy, so they didn't make the picture. LOL!

 

[Bawanna]

I dig the Fiddleback Forge Karda. Nice looking and right handy I'm thinking.

 

[wildmanh]

I dig the Fiddleback Forge Karda. Nice looking and right handy I'm thinking.

Thanks, It sure is! It was one of 3 fixed blades that I took backpacking with me last Summer. I had it for whittling, an old 5" western for general tasks and a 12" Fiddleback machete for larger stuff. Plus of course the leatherman pocket knife in my pocket.

 

[DPris]

Fun stuff.
You ever marry that gal, Heber?
Denis

 

[wildmanh]

Fun stuff.
You ever marry that gal, Heber?
Denis

It sure is. Nope still single. She ended up marrying someone else. Fell for another girl, same thing. We're all still friends. Fun times.

We're getting much needed rain right now, but that is keeping me inside more then I like. At least we can talk about cool projects, even if it's to wet at times to get the stuff for them. lol.

If you ever make it down this way, look me up. Maybe we could hit the range or a BBQ. I'm still doing Dutch Oven stuff and have a killer Turkey soup and Chili recipes.

 

[DPris]

Man, sorry to hear about her making such a bad choice. BOTH of her.

I asked a BYU gal to marry me once, turned me down. Gave up on BYU gals.

We do need the rain after such a dry Winter, but I've had about enough.
Can't get much done outside.

Have shooting to do, photos to get done.

Did not know we had any black walnut between me & you.

Had heard people talk years ago about some variety of mahogany, but my hazy recollection says it wasn't furniture grade.
Small-item grade, apparently though, huh?

Can you get to it by ATV?
I don't hike well anymore.

You any good at re-handling an antique Atlanta Cutlery khukuri with a loose bolster?
Denis

 

[wildmanh]

A lot of the BYU girls that I know in Provo were nuts! The girls here are much nicer in my home town. I could tell you some crazy stories. LOL!

It's black Walnut or at least Walnut and it was harvested somewhere in the State. My Aunt in SLC has a Walnut tree in her yard, 9 years ago my brother was renting and that house had a Walnut tree. I've heard that there are walnut trees in Sanpete, I just have not seen them. Pretty wood!

The Mountain Mahogany up Maple Canyon can be driven to with an ATV, SUV or truck. It's about 20 minutes from here. Some of the biggest M/M trees in this area grow up there. You're correct, most wood is to small or crooked for Furniture, but great for small wood turnings, accent pieces, handles and the like.

Never rehandled a Khukri before, done some repairs and modifications. In the next few months, I'll be putting handles on some blade blanks, one or two kitchen knives. Also going to do an H.I. Hunting knife that I got 13+ years ago. That one is a Stick/Rat Tail tang, should give me some good experience. .

I want more sun too. Bring on some sun for a few days, then it can rain again for a week.

 

[DPris]

Let me know when your rat-tail experience gets to the point where I can send you this old one.

Denis

 

[wildmanh]

Let me know when your rat-tail experience gets to the point where I can send you this old one.

Denis

Will do!

 

[Shavru]

Great looking wood Heber. Can't wait to see what you do with that stuff. I love the fact that you were able to find someone that hand makes stamps. Seems like it just fits with the handmade leather craft, plus that way if you can draw it, you can get it made I am betting. Always enjoy looking at the work folks here are capable of doing, both the new sheath and that "going to town" one for the EDKarda sure make me smile to see them looking so nice. Makes me wish I had some sort of talent other than making big piles of money into a small pile with no other discernible result, and turning any hand work I touch my hand to into a "what not to do" example.
Thanks for sharing the pics