Act of Kindness II

[kjmc1957]

Hi All

I've bought a matching Sierra pen and Pencil set, now, does anyone know where to buy Bethlehem Olive, need enough for for he two blanks, I'll happily buy off a member and cover postage, all the other stuff comes from either Israel or the USA and is costly.

 

[Grump]

Without trying to offend you, the only way to be sure is to go to Bethlehem and cut it from an Olive tree.
That is if you can find one still standing that you can get anywhere near.
It's all been said before, search Bethlehem in these forums and enjoy the read.

 

[rayf6604]

Maybe you could try this chap www.olivewoodturning.co.uk all his olive wood he sells comes from Italy but he might know where to get the one you want. If all else fails I've got some of his olive wood if you want it.
By the way is your Sierra pen an pencil set gold or chrome because I've been looking for Sierra pencils in chrome and had no luck ?

 

[Buckeye]

Contact Neil Lawton, he has beautiful Olive Wood for sale.

Peter

 

[Grump]

Maybe you could try this chap Welcome to Olive Wood Turning - Olive Wood Turning all his olive wood he sells comes from Italy but he might know where to get the one you want. If all else fails I've got some of his olive wood if you want it.

So does that supposedly from Bethlehem, Who knows the difference when it's on a pen.
Neil Lawton has some stunning olive wood PM him and see.

 

[Neil]

Maybe you could try this chap Welcome to Olive Wood Turning - Olive Wood Turning all his olive wood he sells comes from Italy but he might know where to get the one you want.

I'll vouch for Olivewoodturning as well, James Newburn is the guys name, known him for several years. Ray is dead right, its Italian Olive that he sells, the mill he buys it from has a very big customer. Israel. More specifically, Bethlehem or someone therein. Its shipped straight into Bethlehem and then out again with valueless certificates of authenticity. I am sure that there will be some shipped that is true to its description but the regulations about cutting Olive Wood in Israel are extremely tight that it is more than likely that it is rebranded Italian that you end up with.

Kevin - if you are after wood with Christian connections then I have a small limited stock of Judas Wood (Cercis silaquestrum), so called as it was reputedly the species from which Judas Iscariot hung himself from after he betrayed Christ. Native of Israel and the meditteranean basin it is grown in the UK as an ornamental tree (shrub) and has beautiful large purple flowers. It is also called the love tree. If you want two or three Sierra size pieces I'll gladly stick them in the post to you. In my opinion its better than the pictures that you can see on hobbithouseinc.com

 

[Neil Lawton]

I'll quite happily send you a couple of Olive blanks, though mine are definitely from Italy.
I have to say I'm not religious in any way, but understand why you would like a provenance, which is to be applauded.
Could you not have a prominent church figure "bless" the wood you use for the pens, regardless of the wood used?
Not really up on this stuff, but thought it might fit the bill.

 

[chas_41_uk]

Interesting to read then Neil F actually knows tat Bethlehem Olive comes from Italy
However I doubt that anyone in Bethlehem will ever admit to it

 

[kjmc1957]

Hi All

Many Thanks to you all, Ray I bought the Gold and Gun metal from Axi, Neil a very kind offer, are you off to Sandringham in the middle of the month, if so I'll call in and say hello. I'll go for the fake Bethlehem olive wood, not sure that the Judas tree sends the right message...lol but again thanks for the offer.
Personally I have no faith so it doesn't bother me where it came from but I thought I'd try as he is a nice man.

 

[Neil]

Interesting to read then Neil F actually knows tat Bethlehem Olive comes from Italy
However I doubt that anyone in Bethlehem will ever admit to it

Chas,

Just for the avoidance of doubt in case I am quoted out of context, I am sure that some shipped from Israel may in deed well be from Bethlehem, but I am sure that whatever the quantity, it is in a significant minority! The Italian stuff does a quick tour of the Bethlehem M25 to qualify as Holy Land Olive Wood!

 

[Neil]

This is the text of a post on the sawmillcreek forum about exactly the same thing:

Word of caution Clint;
Under Jerusalem law, olive trees can't be cut down. Only fallen trees and pruning's can be used for sale. As you may guess, BOW of size may be a little hard to find. About 7-9 years ago, there were several dozen pallet loads of California olive wood shipped to Israel. Now it's BOW because that's where it was re-shipped from.
Instantly, a few thousand dollars of COW is now a few million worth of BOW. Although most suppliers issue a Certificate of Authenticity...sometimes those are suspect as well.