The beauty and strength of black walnut
Black walnut, also known as American walnut, is one of the finest North American lumber woods. The black walnut is a hardy, shade tolerant species. As a source of lumber black walnut is superior to many other tree species. Their trunks grow straight and clear and they yield a high percentage of the highest grade lumber. Black walnut is a very durable, medium density wood. The grain can usually be worked from either direction, and it finishes to a high polish.
Black walnut has long been used for fine furniture, cabinetmaking, boatbuilding, musical instruments, turning, and carving, and is prized because of its beautiful grain and color. Its strength, stability and beauty make it unequaled for gunstocks. It is very easy to work with and the high quality wood is cut into lumber or sliced into veneer. The characteristics that determine whether a black walnut tree can be used for lumber or veneer are trunk diameter, merchantable height and whether the trunk is free of defects.
Widely planted for its nuts, lumber and for ornamental purposes, walnut is a valuable tree with a straight trunk and an open crown. The fruit is a rounded brownish-black nut with a hard, thick and ridged shell. The kernel inside is highly nutritious.