Fountain pen African Blackwood

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  • Regular price R 590.00
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In one's quest to minimize your impact on this beautiful planet you come across many items or practices that was just so much better for the environment way back when. I remember seeing these pens in my dad's study, I vividly recall stuffing one up also (jammer pa!), I suspect it was dry and I forced the point down to hard until it got damaged. Well, I tried one recently and was surprised at how easy it was to fill and use! I also discovered a whole 'gentlemanny culture' around fountain pens and their use which I quite like. They look cool, old-school, write nicely and you can refill them, so they are very good for the environment producing zero disposable plastic. These ones are made of African Blackwood (Mpingo), a very scarce and precious wood species found in the northern parts of SA up to Southern Sudan. The heartwood is dark brown with black streaks. This colour usually predominates, so that the general effect is nearly black. The narrow sapwood is light yellow and clearly defined. The wood is exceptionally hard and heavy, at a density of 1.35 t/m3. The timber is extremely hard and heavy, with lots of oil contained within its fibers. Makers of woodwind musical instruments prefer it to ebony, because of its fine tonal and acoustic features, extreme stability and resistance to saliva. Because of its constant density it is also recognized as one of the best timber for ornamental pieces and the turning of cues, walking sticks, bobbins, butts of sport weapons, cutlery, knives, technical items, pins, spindles, tools, drumsticks, pens and shaving brushes.