Thanks Ed

That would explain why/how the colors differ!!

From my limited knowledge about ironwood, the pieces I have seen all appear dark(ish). But our ebonies are as different as black and white. Sorry, bad choice of words!!

Thank for the photos and explanation.

Check out "Macassar Ebony" as it has the "spalted" look similar to Rod's.
Best, Capt. Chris
P.S.: It may not be ebony at all. It looks extremely close to "Spalted Sycamor or Spalted Maple"...CCS

Tony. Snake wood is sort of like Ivory,it has a bad habit of cracking

Bingo Cap. You're right on. Here's a write up on Macassar Ebony ...

Ebony – Macassar Ebony from Indonesia. This magnificent wood varies from mostly black to wildly banded and marbled black and brown patterns. Some looks extremely similar to the highest end Brazilian Rosewood from days long past. In addition to use in very high-end furniture and architecture, it is now being discovered for it’s tonal qualities and use for high quality musical instruments.

So we could do a Randall that doubles as a musical instrument

Thanks Sidney!
I thought that might be the case, but wasn't sure.
We certainly have a lot of other good choices!
Tony

OK folks (not a "Crew" yet):
We certainly have a wide variety of woods discussed here..."BUT" (There's that word again)...If you had to pick just "ONE", which one would it be. I will be attending the "Blade" show as will some of you folks. If we can come up with a majority winner I could purchase the material at the show (If I or someone else does not already have it) and we could have this Randall knife finished before Christmas!
How about this: Let's narrow the field. I think, for example, we can eliminate snakewood as it has that bad (and well-deserved) reputation for cracking. How about some of the other choices? Here we go: How about a "ROLL CALL VOTE" for your favorite wooden handle you would like to see on a Randall knife.
I'll let this run a few days and see what you think. We'll get a list together and tear each other's ideas apart! Kinda like life...it'll be fun!
Best, Capt. Chris

As examples we could show something we already have (or would like to have) or a photo of something we have seen somewhere. For example: Cocobola on a Model #2-6".
Best, Capt. Chris

Hi Capt. Chris and folks

I am personally a big ironwood fan. I have some knives with plainer looking ironwood, and it is still nice, but if you get a piece with figure, it is great looking.
I will be at the Blade show looking for ironwood for a really special knife I am having built.
Go ironwood

Peter

A lot of nice wood out there.
But my thinking is to try to get something that we don't see often.
That's why I'm still on the
OLIVE WOOD kick. Rod's photo above is one of only a couple Randalls I've ever seen with it.
There are a couple other woods discussed here that would also fit the bill as unique/not seen often.
Thanks,
Tony

My choice is ringed gidgee. If we choose this wood and Graham Rogers is kind enough to hand pick a piece, this would be my choice.

The wood is fairly unique to most of us, I would imagine. It would provide a beautiful and very unique knife. For me, having something unique, yet very stable and hardy, is a big prerequisite.