Last week at a garage sale we got a great deal on a 50 year old mahogany dining room table and chairs. This was one fine piece of mahogany. And all I can think of when I look at it is – this would make several fine guitars. As soon as I said it my wife's comment was – "I was waiting for you to say that". Anyway – I was showing the table to someone who tells me that she has a friend that just got back from the service in Iraq. He told here that when they receive shipments of supplies that the pallets are made of mahogany. And they use the wood to make bunk beds and chairs because it's so common. Could that possibly be true? I'd like to think if it's true that it's not the same grade that would be used to make a guitar. Haven't we been hearing that mahogany is starting to get hard to come by?

On a related note – back in the 60's I gave my dad a folding knife by Browning for Father's day. I recently looked at the box and noticed the handle was made of Brazilian rosewood. And I could swear that I've read that a lot of Brazilian rosewood was sent to Japan and used for paneling in homes. It beats the heck out of knotty pine if you ask me. Does anyone know for sure?