Presentation Grade Turkish Walnut Source In Turkey?

[Brutuz]

I've got a few Thuya items bought in Morocco here and the wood is amazing.

And smells good too.

I wish I had a pair of grips made of Thuya...

[Drdan]

I've got a few Thuya items bought in Morocco here and the wood is amazing.

And smells good too.

I wish I had a pair of grips made of Thuya...

Me too!  It looks like I will be purchasing a ready made pair of wood grips as I don't have anyone experienced in carving them for a Crosman grip handle.  Thuya burl is amazing, but it is difficult to use as grips, as they tend to ooze resin unless an expert can properly stabilize the the 150X90X35 mm. block needed for each grip before the woodcarver begins working.  It's difficult to work with, and  excessive heat can cause cracking, which usually can be repaired with super glue and Thuya saw dust. 

I've seen Thuya jewelry boxes, and they are stunning.  For those unfamiliar with the wood hre's an offering on ETSY:

https://www.etsy.com/de/listing/1088355783/marokkanische-hochwertige-maser?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=aaa+grade+thuya+burl&ref=sc_gallery-1-1&pro=1&frs=1&search_preloaded_img=1&plkey=a028f44e7a8172ac21ead81fd3cddec57e609417%3A1088355783

My son wants to take a trip to either Morocco or Tunisia, and as Thuya comes from the Atlas mountains, I'd be visiting specialist shops in Essaouira which fashion the wood for the tourist items sold throughout Morocco.  You can see that in the jewelry box featured above, two thirds of the top of the box is AAA quality, but  B or lesser grade Thuya is used on the bottom and sides.
I'd have the best shop make me a locking jewelry box using the best quality Thuya the shop has for the entire box.  It would cost maybe triple, but so called "Government shops" have fixed prices, I'd get a Government licensed guide to take me around in Essaouira, and I'd get what I want without getting ripped off. 

If Vernon Austin or Steve Corcoran were willing to make me grips I'd get two AAA grade  blocks, preferably a bookend pair, and send them off to Wood Stabilizing Specialists, International ("WSSI").  They are the best of the best.  Unfortunately the wonderful fragrance would be lost or greatly diminished, as the natural odiferous resins would be extracted during the 1 week acetone bath. But the clear stabilization process would enhance the chatoyance, and you'd have an amazing pair of grips in arguably the most beautiful wood in the world.  For me, I'd prefer an amazing jewelry box.

I tracked down spectacular AAA Snakewood  from a Suriname dealer, and the two bookend blocks would cost twice the price of the pistol, but with no wood carver experienced in consistently carving Crosman grips, it would be an exercise in futility to purchase them. 

Brutuz, have any of the Thuya items you purchased in Morocco cracked since you bought them?  Please give me a link so I can see them!

[Brutuz]

Essaouira, been there three times

This item is 12 years old

I also have items I bought there in 1991 which are 100%

[Drdan]

Essaouira, been there three times

This item is 12 years old

I also have items I bought there in 1991 which are 100%

Nice piece with no visible cracks.  You are well informed about Essaouira. I look forward to going there although for some unexplicable reason, it sometimes takes up to three hours to get through their archaic immigration line... 

[Brutuz]

This tray is 12 years old too

[jkingrph]

I spoke to one of my assistants who was born in Germany but whose parents were born in Turkey, and she has family there in Cappadocia.  The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul has 4,000 shops and some specialize in wood.  I never noticed the last time I was there, but this time I will. 

The ones I purchased on e-Bay arrived today, and I improvised simulating the grip stock with bubble wrap and paper.  I have no idea if they will nicely fit the grip frame, but my "handle" felt great in my hand.  They were made in Vietnam. 

Ah, Cappadocia. I spent two years in Turkey back in the early 70's, stationed in Izmir with the USAF supporting the NATO headquarters there.  My wife and I did visit Cappadocia, probably one of the most interesting places in the world.