Walnut trees grow between 30 – 130 feet tall. The common name walnut derives from the Old English wealhhnutu, meaning ‘foreign nut’ because it was introduced from Gaul and Italy.
The pen body is made from a piece of spalted walnut. Spalting is any form of wood coloration caused by fungi. Although primarily found in dead trees, spalting can also occur in living trees under stress. Although spalting can cause weight loss and strength loss in the wood, the unique colouration and patterns of spalted wood are highly sought after by woodworkers.
Walnut is often used in making gunstocks, Lutherie and the body of pipe organs.
