Padouk

Latin name: Pterocarpus soyauxii.

Other name: Padduk.

Origin: tropical and equatorial Africa.

Color: red with shades ranging from light red-brown to purplish-brown.

Padauk (Pterocarpus soyauxii) is an exotic wood from Central and West Africa, highly prized in cutlery for its remarkable characteristics. This wood is often used for high-end knife handles, thanks to its aesthetic and functional properties.

In cutlery, padauk is prized for its vibrant, rich orange-red to purple color, which darkens with age and exposure to light. This characteristic color gives knife handles a warm, unique appearance.

In addition to its aesthetic appeal, padouk also offers excellent dimensional stability and moisture resistance, making it a durable and reliable material for knives intended for everyday use.

Knife-makers also appreciate padouk's ease of working, enabling it to be carved, shaped and finished with precision to produce comfortable, personalized knife handles.

In short, padauk is a sought-after wood in cutlery for its natural beauty, stability and ease of working, bringing a touch of elegance and quality to handcrafted creations of high-end knives.