Foreign Purchased Spalted Maple.

[just_a_hunter]

Nothing new from me really. You all have seen this knife style from me several times but I'm not trying to wear you out! Just thought I would share a little experience I had..

Last January I came across an add on another forums classifieds that had some Spalted Maple for sale. I'm not used to hanging out on forums as big as that forum so I found the two blocks I liked and just said "I'll take them" without investigating who was selling them. I was horrified when I realized the seller was from Croatia!!

I thought, "Well, I'll give him a chance and not back out but Man, I wish I would have noticed that little detail sooner." There is no way I would have purchased them if I would have noticed his local first.

How shallow I was because that seller from Croatia is about as good of a seller as I have ever dealt with. Sure it took a little while longer to recieve the product but it got here in fine order and shipping wasn't any more than a US purchase. It was a pleasure doing business with him.

I finally got around to putting some on a knife and I really love the Spalted Maple. It has awesome grain, spalting, and even pronounced growth rings and its still Maple so it's tough as bear crap.

Anyhow, just thought I would share. It was an awesome experience all the way around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for looking,

Todd

[KSCATTRAPR]

That is awesome, both the scales and the knife! I've always liked spalted wood.

[TrackerNy]

Looking good Todd. Knife, handle and sheath work.

[just_a_hunter]

Thanks fellers.

Todd

[Keith Zimmerman]

Wow!  I love Spalted Maple.  Then again, that whole package is amazing.

[Rick Richard]

Really nice!

[tomsm44]

Great looking wood.  Glad you had a good experience.  While I've never been outside of the US, I've had the opportunity to meet people from a variety of countries around the world through my job.  I've come to believe that most people are a lot more like us than we'd expect, even if we sound kinda funny to them, and high end craftsmanship and customer service can come from just about anywhere.  I used to be a die hard "American made" guy, but I've become much more of a "quality made" guy over the years.  We've got some fine craftsmen on TG from outside the states that can prove that.

[Lin Rhea]

That's a really good knife design.

My eyes have been opened as well. There is a world wide market and as long as we seek quality, as Matt said, we enrich our own lives and enjoy a broader view.