Bokken ... Appalachian Hickory (Impact Grade Hickory)

Description

Bokken... Appalachian hickory (Impact Grade Hickory)
Total Length:  45 inches
Handle Length:  15 inches
Wood Quality Information
This smooth-sanded bokken was made from tough, air-dried Appalachian hickory from the American Southeast. More shock resistant than any commercially available wood, Appalachian hickory is also known as "impact grade hickory." Not only is it better mechanically, it's also sourced from well managed domestic forests—not endangered tropical or rainforest environments. The same cannot be said for other species, including Japanese and Asian white oaks, red oaks, ebony and others.
Strength
Its shock strength exceeds all native and exotic species including the commonly used Japanese white oak (shiro kashi). While white oak becomes brittle as it ages, Appalachian hickory retains its phenomenal toughness indefinitely. Over time, normal practice with similar weapons will create an extremely tough tempered surface with an optimal combination of hardness and ductility. Even after years of heavy use, it is less likely to snap into dangerous pieces like other harder (and more brittle) woods including white oak ebony, rosewood, purpleheart, lignum vitae, ipe, and others.
Ability to temper
Despite its tremendous shock strength, it's best not to bash your new bokken or jo recklessly but to temper the wood through everyday use and let the surface “run in” evenly. Gradually increase impact energy. If done with reasonable care, the surface will attain a very hard state, while the core will retain ductility.
Ability to Straighten
Appalachian hickory is the only wood that can be adjusted for trueness. While all wood moves in response to atmospheric humidity changes, the ensuing warp cannot be corrected in other species. Air dried Appalachian hickory, however, has a unique cellular structure which allows for the wooden sword or staff to be adjusted for straightness as needed during seasonal humidity swings.