Hi,
I don't know S Asian woods, but I do Make Jo & Bokken. One of my favorites, although not for all, is a brazilian plantation grown wood, Ipe ( Also PAu Lope and a few other names). Hard, Dark Strong, Great Density, and Fairly durable. My testing has not been as scientific as Kingfisher woodworks on impact strength, but I was quite impressed. Taking a shaped but 2nd Ipe bokken I broke across two saw horses, 2 pieces, 5/8" x 4" fir, 2 pieces 1" x 4" cherry, 2 pieces of 1 " x 4" oak flooring. With no damage to the Bokken it went through the fir, cherry and one piece of oak. The first blow on the second piece of oak ( not my blow) cracked both the oak and the bokken. the final blow shattered the oak, the bokken broke cleanly off at the impact point. To clarify, I was breaking only 1 piece of each wood at a time. The fir barely slowed the bokken, the cherry was almost a resistance, the oak was an effort in centering to break well.
I wrote to Knigfisher woodworks, re: Ipe. The response was," I have not done much testing, but it looks quite good for some weapons."
Contact me if you would like more details.
Niadh
Last edited by Niadh : 06-21-2001 at 05:21 AM.
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