Bubinga - Knife Scales and Gun Grips

Bubinga - Knife Scales and Gun Grips.

We offer several different types of grain and figure.

You will find some only offered in this listing.

Price is for a single set of scales or grips.

The sets of scales are book matched unless stated otherwise.

None of these sets are stabilized unless noted otherwise.

Common name(s): Bubinga, African Rosewood, Kevazingo

Botanical name(s): Guibourtia demeusei, Guibourtia pellegriniana, Guibourtia tessmannii (the three species most commonly sold as Bubinga)

Short description: Bubinga is one of the most visually dramatic and luxurious hardwoods on the planet. Its heartwood displays a rich palette of reddish-brown to violet-brown tones, often with striking purple or black veining and a pronounced chatoyancy that shifts in the light. When quartersawn, it erupts into spectacular pommelé or waterfall figure (also called “Kevazingo”), making slabs look almost three-dimensional—one of the most sought-after decorative effects in custom furniture and high-end guitar building.

Key properties that make Bubinga a woodworker’s and client’s dream:

Extremely dense and hard (Janka hardness ~2,690 lbf), harder than most domestic hardwoods and comparable to Brazilian Rosewood, so finished pieces are incredibly durable and resist dents and wear.
Takes a glass-like polish with almost no filler needed; the natural luster is so deep it looks wet even when dry.
Excellent stability once dried—minimal movement in service, ideal for large tabletops, cabinet doors, and musical instruments.
Machines beautifully with sharp tools: planes, routes, and turns to a silky surface despite its hardness.
Interlocked grain produces breathtaking ribbon-stripe when quartersawn, and the pommelé/flame figure is stable enough for veneer without checking.