Hand-Turned Wood Pen - African Blackwood and 24k Gold Rollerball

Hand-turned from African Blackwood, this is an Artisan rollerball pen with 24k gold finish. Blackwood is a small tree attaining a height of 45', trunk diameter rarely more than 14". Heartwood is dark brown with predominant black lines which give an almost black appearance. Sapwood is pale yellow, giving pleasant contrast. The grain may be straight or irregular, extremely fine texture. Dries slowly with a slight tendancy to check. Used extensively for woodwind instruments, giving one of the best tones. Turns well, often used for carving. Capable of an excellent finish.

These Artisan Rollerball pens are cool - there's a spring inside to keep the writing pressure on the tip optimized for comfort and clean writing. This pen, or one like it, is available for $45.00, $55.00 for the same thing with fountain pen components instead of rollerball.

Wood Roller Ball Pen - Dyed Box Elder Burl

This pen was a bit of a departure from tradition for me - so far all my pens had been only from natural woods, finished to their natural color. The Box Elder tree is a variety of maple tree, also known as Boxelder Maple and Maple Ash. A small, fast-growing, and short-lived tree, it has generally weak wood with little use commercially, except for the burls, which have beautiful coloring and grain patterns. This pen is from a dyed box elder burl where they impregnate it with a colored dye. The dye didn't completely permeate the wood, though, which led to striking contrasts and a dramatic, beautiful pen. In addition to green, the dyed box elder burls are available in yellow, red, black, blue, purple, brown, and magenta.

The pen components are durable 10-k gold plated, Artisan brand roller ball. These are cool pens - there's a spring inside to keep the writing pressure on the tip optimized for comfort and clean writing. This pen, or one like it, is available for $45.00, $55.00 for the same thing with fountain pen components instead of rollerball.

Bloodwood Fountain Pen

This Bloodwood Fountain Pen is made with 10k gold Artisan Fountain Pen parts, and a bloodwood pen blank. Bloodwood is actually a name for several types of reddish wood. This is the Brosimum Rubescens botanical name, and is hard and tough, with no smell at all. 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.

Fountain pens are a traditional favorite, but with modern refills, they're as convenient as a rollerball or ball-point pen. This has a heftier, thicker, more masculine look than the slimline pens, and makes a great gift for dad, hubby, boss, or a fine pen to buy for yourself.

Bloodwood and Fountain Pen Price: $45.00