Looking for an online source for boxwood. Want to use it for knife handles. I've checked a few knifemaking suppliers and haven't come across any that carry boxwood. I've come across a couple of UK sites but I figure shipping would be prohibitive.

Thanks for any help.

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I have never seen a knife with a boxwood handle that I know of. Box Elder is really popular. I think I remember that the Boy scouts used to do a boxwood model car event each year. You may try and contact them and see if you can find a source. All most every knife supply place has box elder. Good luck

Try googling "Boxwood Lumber". I came back with several companies that carry it for woodworkers.

As is often the case with Google (which I had already tried), most of the sites do not actually have boxwood and those that do carry a wood referred to as boxwood that isn't rather it is a replacement.

P.S. I always thought the Boy Scout thing was called the Pinewood Derby.

I stand corrected, then. I thought some of the ones actually sold it. Wonder why they had prices on their stock?

I think it was Pinewood now that you mention it

Box wood works very much like Al, not like box elder at all! I bought my supply from a place that specialized in making blanks for folks turning pens; they had some that had not been cut down. It was in northern Ohio, USA.

I was replicating knife #309 in "Knives and Scabbards, Museum of London", a late 12th century folding knife. As the original had a boxwood handle, mine had to as well. Worked all by hand tools, ugh...

The only place that I have seen boxwood is in some of the Woodcraft stores and occasionally in some model hobby shops that do airplanes. Mike

These guys always have some, I've used them before so can recommend them - but $100 minimum order.

Gilmer Wood Company Boxwood Page

http://www.exoticwood.biz sourced from the UK if your scales don't need to be too large the 1x1x10" pieces are quite reasonable.

Thansk for all of the replies.

Was looking for boxwood to handle some replicas I'm in the process of making. Given the difficulty in acquiring the size I need (and the expense) I'll just use a more easily obtainable wood. Existing examples and those found in digs have often been rehandled with woods from this continent.

How about Holly or Dogwood? Then I'd go to the maples or a fruitwood.

I'll most likely go with maple or walnut. That's what I've seen on originals that were rehandled on this continent.

I can't remember where I got mine. I still have one chunk that is 2'X4"X2". We have carved up most of what I had. Grand pups like to carve in BOXWOOD. Never tried any for a handle. Might work, it would be about like the old Poplar wood that was used in wagonseats, and sideboards for the turn of the century freight, and field wagons. Super clear grained.

chuck

If you are going towards authentic remember that european walnut looks more like the sapwood of american black walnut---why it's called "black" walnut.