Weird pattern on hinoki surface of Nittaku Septear... also black lens tag?...

[khayalmania]

I've never seen a hinoki blade with this kind of pattern on the surface before.
Usually hinoki/cypress woods have a distinct look with straight lines running vertically along the surface.

But on this new Septear I just got, there appears to be a pattern (almost like a fish-scale Koto layer)... just curious if anyone has ever seen a hinoki surface like this?...

I also noticed that the lens tag on the bottom the handle is black instead of the usual golden one.
I know that Nittaku changed their lens design over the years, but wasn't aware if the Septear was also updated...

It's imported from an official retailer like my previous 2 Septears, so not much chance of it being a fake either.
I know Septear's not a very popular blade, but all this got me a bit curious so thought of sharing here...

 

[hinokihigh]

Looks normal to me.

 

[Gozo Aruna]

it doesn't look normal to me...

 

[Gozo Aruna]

it doesn't look normal to me...

but rather, she looks gorgeous to me!!!
❤️❤️❤️

 

[zeio]

Those are medullary rays that become exposed when a log is cut in certain ways.

 

[d3nium]

What rubbers do you use on your septear?

 

[SlowPower]

Quarter sawn hinoki?
Like koto fishscale?

 

[khayalmania]

What rubbers do you use on your septear?

I have Glayzer 09C and Hammond Z2 on one, the other is a backup set - it currently has H3 Neo and Glayzer.

 

[khayalmania]

Those are medullary rays that become exposed when a log is cut in certain ways.

I see... so it results from the way the log is cut, like basically wood fibers running perpendicular to the main growth ring?...

 

[khayalmania]

but rather, she looks gorgeous to me!!!
❤️❤️❤️

Doesn't she?...
In fact, so much so that I've asked my dealer to get me another one of these 'fish scale' Septears

 

[Wakkibatty]

I see... so it results from the way the log is cut, like basically wood fibers running perpendicular to the main growth ring?...

Medullary rays transport nutrients around a tree from the core to the outer layers. They radiate out from the trees core like the spokes of a wagon wheel, so yes -- theta re perpendicular to the growth rings.

They are usually created from parenchymal cells, so while the surrounding heartwood and softwood is dead, the medullary rays are very much alive. Parenchymal cells are quite 'pithy' in structure are therefore weaker than the surrounding wood (if you're ever trying to cut hard firewood across the grain with an axe, try to hit the medullary rays-- the log will snap open like you're breaking peanut brittle.(An apt comparison, as they are typically loaded with glucose and other nutrients created by photosynthesis in the leaves.)

In terms of your blade, the pattern you refer to only occurs when the medullary ray happens to be running across the surface of the wood parallel with the planed cut through the grain. It's these medullary rays which give oak-like species their wonderful ray-fleck / Lacewood-like grain patterns.

Their presence on your blade's playing surface shouldn't affect its performance at all. In theory at least, as the parenchymal cells are usually softer than the surrounding tracheids (Hinoki is a softwood, so no fibers and vessels to it, only tracheids), a medullary ray running along the surface of your blade, should make the surface a trifle softer than normal, giving you better dwell time.

In practice however there's no real difference -- the ray is typically far too thin to make any difference to impact forces, so you won't notice any greater spin from it. It's such a miniscule difference in hardness we're talking about here, it's basically not discernable whatsoever.

 

[Sims]

That blade is too perfectly finished to be a fake. Interesting patterns tho for sure, looks cool