This is probably the nicest pen or at least the nicest wood I have ever used for one. I made this for a friend and had to turn three or four of them before I found a WOW! With wood, you never know what you will find or what it will look like until it is finished. The others are nice also just didn't say WOW like this one. I make a 'certificate' that goes with it, telling all about the tree, where it comes from, what it looks like, if it is a sustainable wood, its uses, whether it has medicinal properties, ect. I call them "PBJ's" - PensByJen Well I thought it was clever.. Hope he likes it! Oh yeah, the wood is a burl from the Narra tree. AKA - Amboyna Burl and has copper fittings. Now I have to make a spoon. Not really my thing because she wants just a boring, plane old stirring spoon. round handle, flat spoon part, no carving, not detail, just a boring spoon.. oh well, to each his own I guess... :) Thanks for looking and have a great day! Jen - EyeOfThe