Thread: is this rosewood?

Hard to tell 100% from a photo but it certainly looks like it.

Hi Ash233 (if that is your real name )

Have a look at the wood on the bottom and down the hole drilled through the center.

Those genuine rosewood handles on cheap Carbatec saws (and other brands) only have the rose colour on places you can see, take the handle off and the wood takes on a whole new appearance.

Regards

Looks like an old Stanley, it has the little snip out of the tonge where the screw goes and the older stanleys had that nice full curve to them, a lot of the newer ones looked like they were cut from thiner stock and had a slightly flater look to them.

Sorry guys, should have said it was a stanley, i also figured it was an old one given the shape of the top (thin and sharp). I guess it probably is rosewood afterall, i bought it on ebay from the states but it didnt explicitly say it was rosewood...i was just hoping

Cheers

Ashley <- my real name

An oldie but a goodie

Looks to be from the later 1930's or 40's.
Nicely curved cross-section rather than flat-sided later models.
Shorter Spur than earlier models from 1902 - early thirties.
The quartersawn totes didn't display much grain - these are less likely to break, from my observations.
Nice to have one is such good condition.
Take care and Stay Sharp,
Jim

Originally Posted by ash233

I bought it on ebay from the states but it didnt explicitly say it was rosewood...i was just hoping

Thought I recognised the tote. I saw it whilst trawling eBay (US) the other day.

Yes it's rosewood.

Rosewood has a very characteristic smell when worked - don't know how long that lasts, but rubbing 25 yr old handles with sandpaper still releases the smell (briefly). Hard to describe if you've never smelt it, but it is likened to roses (hence the name of the wood!). It doesn't smell much like rose to me, but I can sort of see what they mean - it has distinct spicy overtones. (I'm sounding like a wine-wanker ) So if you rubbed the bottom over a bit of paper, & it gives off a strong, spicy odour, that will be a clue....

In any case, as the others have said, it's a really nice handle - made to be held for long sessions at the bench. I rescued a badly damaged one like that from an old 30's Stanley, & have copied its contours ever since whenever a new handle is called for.

Cheers,

Ok received the tote....now im pretty sure it ISNT rosewood, i'm now of the opinion it was "restored" to look like rosewood, scratch test reveals a light coloured wood. Oh well was a gamble ....i'll find a use for it or re-sell it somehow....