Kingwood got its name not by being the "king of woods," but rather by becoming the "wood of kings." Various French kings in centuries past reportedly favored this wood for their royal furniture and cabinets. And it's easy to understand what the monarchs saw in this aesthetically pleasing wood. With heartwood colors running the spectrum from beige to orange to brown to violet to black -- and most everything in between -- and with a streaking/striking grain pattern, Kingwood apparently warmed the blue blood of France.

Kingwood's heartwood can boast a virtual rainbow of colors.

Kingwood (Dalbergia cearensis) is very hard and heavy, and quite oily. Its Average Specific Gravity exceeds 1.00 (1.20, to be exact). Found primarily in Brazil, Kingwood trees can grow to 100 feet tall, although trunk diameters remain relatively small, 4 to 8 inches (thus, very wide pieces of Kingwood are not available).

Kingwood Gun Grips by Scott A. of Florida

Kingwood's sapwood is a fairly bright yellow, which adds a nice contrast to the heartwood's predominantly darker hues.

For best results, it's recommended to rough turn a piece of Kingwood first, set it aside to season for a month or more (we also suggest applying a coat of polyurethane immediately after turning to help prevent subsequent cracking), and then finish turning. Kingwood sands well, but some people are allergic to the wood's dust, so proper precautions should be taken.

Regarding finishing this oily wood: Penetrative finishes are recommended as Kingwood can be resistant to surface finishes.

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