Hand-Turned Wood Pen: Bloodwood and 10k Gold Beaded Slimline Twist Pen

This hand-turned wood twist pen is made from Bloodwood and 10k Gold Beaded Slimline components for style and durability. Bloodwood comes in deep reds, from light like this to dark like other bloodwood pens I've made. It's very hard and dense, my personal favorite for pens. Bloodwood is actually a name for several types of reddish wood. It is hard and tough, with no smell at all, unless it's smoking hot, in which case it smells like coconut and sweet incense. Shavings are a striking bright red color, and it finishes nicely. Hard and strong, it's supposed to age to a deep brown color, but the finish will slow that down.

The double-concave profile of this pen sets it apart from what we're used to seeing. At first glance this looks like an unfriendly pen to hold. However, it is quite comfortable - you grip it on the front half of the pen with your knuckle in the recess, and then the back half of the pen, where it's recessed, rests against the soft flesh between your index finger and your thumb.

This pen was made as a custom order through the Design Your Pen feature, as part of a set with a matching jumbo chess queen. Through that feature it was $42.50. If I had the materials in stock without having to make a special order, it would have been less. Order a matching pencil for a Pen and Pencil Set.

Turned Wood Pen: Walnut and 24k Gold Artisan Slimline Twist Pen

This Turned Wood Pen: Walnut and 24k Gold Artisan Slimline Twist Pen is the last of my recent experiments with form and function. The reverse-tapered ends give it a nice grip. I thought that maybe the ridges in the middle might make it uncomfortable, but if you picture your fingers gripping the left end, the right end rests against your hand and the middle doesn't touch you. So it looks kind of funky and feels great to hold.

Walnut wood is hard, dense, tight-grained, and polishes to a smooth finish. Cutting it on the lathe is like carving chocolate. It smells kind of sour when cut - I guess that keeps me from wanting to put the shavings on my ice cream... It can vary in color from creamy white sapwood to deep brown heartwood. It's long been a favorite for gun stocks, and also popular for guitar bodies.

The pen parts are 24k gold plated, and supplied with a Cross style refill that features a premium Swiss-made carbide writing tip for smooth, consistent writing. The pen has a great feel in your hand - balanced and solid. Price as shown: $25.00 Order a matching pencil for a Pen and Pencil Set.