ROYAL RUSSIAN WALNUT

Knife Handles From Rare & Exotic Royal Russian Walnut Burl

From the world’s largest natural-growth Walnut Forest, protected for almost two centuries (originally by the Russian Czar), and closed until just a couple of years ago, this Walnut Burl is exceedingly rare. According to official papers, in 2003 there were only four Walnut trees with burls felled in this protected and restricted forest.{1}

One Walnut burl from this forest was exported to Europe in 1885. Several other burls were sent to Europe for use in custom high-end vehicles (Heads of State cars by Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Mercedes) prior to WWII. {2}

This species (Russian Circassian Walnut, the correct botanical name is Jugulans Regia or "Royal Walnut"), has survived for hundreds of thousands of years in this area without any cross-breeding, grafting or other human manipulation. Today, this forest is threatened.

There are trees in this ancient connate Walnut Forest that are said to be over 800 years old, and some botanists declare this forest to be the genetic originator of all the world’s Walnut trees.

Some of the Walnut trees here grow to over 100 feet in height and 7 feet in diameter, and in this forest the branches generally start around 10 to 12 feet above the ground, as opposed to the more general 5 to 6 feet in other walnut groves around the world. This forest is predominantly Walnut trees, with some Pistachios trees dispersed throughout.

After World War Two President Truman is said to have asked Stalin for access to this forest of walnut in exchange for a large reduction in the war debt owed to the USA. Stalin refused, and slapped an embargo on the export of the wood. Until approximately three years ago this embargo remained in place.

This Walnut burl is exceedingly rare and exotic, more so even than Premium Grade Mammoth Ivory or Premium Grade Mother-of-Pearl. It’s from old seedling trees, close grained, close-pored and hard.

Burl

Here's a six knife matched set from this burl - the spacers are African Blackwood and Musk Ox.

The Natchette is a "First" - D had only told me it was a "mystery knife" that fitted within the set - these photos were the first I'd seen of it. It's the first 'Natchette' "D" has made.

D'Holder set 1