The Mystery Wood

[pauco]

Enjoying all the info on this forum almost as much as I enjoy my Rossi's. Keep hearing the wood referred to as mystery wood. Wanted to mention that I'm real confident that the wood on my Rossi's is none other than Rubberwood. Not as bad as the name sounds, It's native to Brazil and very plentiful there, where it sees a lot of use in furniture exports, but is almost never exported as raw lumber. Working properties and durability much the same as North American maple,which isn't surprising since it's considered a member of the maple family. More porous grain structure than NA maple though,and more color range. Can range from blonde to pinkish in color. I'm a 40 year plus pro woodworker,and a lumber,plywood,and veneer sales rep. I occasionally encounter Rubberwood veneers, sure looks the same to me.Note that I said I'm confident, not certain. My familiarity is mostly with NA species. There are hundreds of species in Brazil that do not grow here, so only a "Brazilian Lumber Expert" could be certain. I'm not an expert,just experienced,one never learns it all, at least I do not. Oh,and like New England maples, Rubberwood trees are tapped for their sap. Instead of maple syrup though, they produce latex.

[akuser47]

You may be right interesting for sure. You are probably closer to the answer than we've been in a long while.

[Ranch Dog]

Thanks for all the info, good stuff!

[Zippidydoodah]

Did you say this was a veneer wood used over a core wood so we possibly could sand through it or it could peel off under certain circumsizes

[pauco]

NO,its not veneer, its solid through and through.

[Zippidydoodah]

It seems like the pattern of zebra stripes on my combination gun stock would indicate the wood was cut from the center of the wood radially outward in a 4" thick slice of tree trunk rather than a long slice of wood. Anyway the stripes are nice.

[Zippidydoodah]

It seems like the pattern of zebra stripes on my combination gun stock would indicate the wood was cut from the center of the wood radially outward in a 4" thick slice of tree trunk rather than a long slice of wood. Anyway the stripes are nice.

[akuser47]

Good wood u have there i think he is right. He has the closest definition to what wehave for rossi stocks not a vanier but the real deal. The veniers he mentioned were only reference. Keep this in mind. At least soom examples are good to the eyes.

[pauco]

The striping in your wood is sometimes referred to as curly,fiddleback,tiger, and a few other terms. It occurs randomly,and no one really knows why. Often seen in maple, sometimes in cherry, walnut,and other species. Often commands a premium price. Very nice stock ! One of my wizard stocks has similar striping.

[akuser47]

Exactly the mystery goes on.