Thread: Briar's

Just curious if any or you restoration guys and scale makers are experimenting with any available briar woods and what you think of them? Availability? Thanks. Lynn

I haven't used them, but an exotic wood store near me has Briar Burl in stock all the time. Looks nice and polished quite smooth. Mostly used for pipes, but could be used for scales.


Matt

Hmmm. Vlad, maybe a pipe shaped briar scale project is in order.

Not in NZ Lynn, but I am trying to get some aged swamp kauri that is 3000yr+ old.

Gary

Originally Posted by Korndog

Hmmm. Vlad, maybe a pipe shaped briar scale project is in order.

I've had it on the drawing board for a while. Just have to get some briar. I even bought a Pipe razor blade to fit into it. I'll inqire locally and see what they have and how much it would cost.

I also think that it would make a nice box for an upscale razor, but can't tell until I see the prices.

Briar can be quite attractive, and man is it hard. I had some briar blocks for pipe carving, but the size wouldn't work for one piece scales. Someone could probably turn out a pair of lined scales from them though.

If I can turn them up, I'd be willing to donate them to a willing craftsman.

there are somne sources listed here i believe.

http://www.naspc.org/odyssey_3.html

Now that I saw that article I think I saw a large piece and it was briar in the local shop. About 2.5" inches thick and almost 3" in diameter. Looked like a slice of the bottom of a large trunk. Nice pattern too like on pipes but I ignored it because of the price, $2500.

I'll have to find one a smidgen smaller and more affordable.

PS. After reading up more the piece I saw was a burl of some wood with pattern similar to briar but definitely too big for briar. In that case it could be a good substitute for scales.

Originally Posted by SharkHat

Briar can be quite attractive, and man is it hard. I had some briar blocks for pipe carving, but the size wouldn't work for one piece scales. Someone could probably turn out a pair of lined scales from them though.

If I can turn them up, I'd be willing to donate them to a willing craftsman.

I'll volunteer. How much for the shipping to Canada, eh? If you turn it up let me know the dimensions, I think I can figure out how to turn it into a set of scales.

I'll go digging through boxes tonight when I get home from work.