General J.E.B. Stuart Mercersberg Raid Witness Pen

Description

This “All American” made pen uses 303 Stainless steel components that are polished to a chrome like finish that won’t ever tarnish, and they are super durable because there is no plating to chip, or wear off! It has a 410 stainless steel clip, and the parts were all made in Alpharetta, Georgia. The pen has a smooth twisting motion that lets the writer extend the high quality Schmidt Parker style ink refill that we’ve provided for flawless and smooth writing on the ball point tip.

The wood section of the pen has several specially selected wood species that make up each segment.

In the center is a 1/8″ thick strip of Osage Orange, sometimes called the Horse Apple tree, it’s yellow wood reminding us of Stuart’s connection to the Cavalry. This species of tree with it’s thorny branches has famously affected several Civil War battles by blocking the paths of attackers, and actually turning the tide of a skirmish in some cases.

The Osage wood is flanked by wood from a special White Ash Tree that once grew on the bank of the West Branch Conococheague Creek in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania.

Above and Below the center section are segments of Gabon Ebony, a wood imported to America from Africa, to make musical instruments including the piccolo, and the fife, stringed instrument parts, piano keys, and dining room utensils like the handles of forks and knives. It’s a dense hardwood that was used in applications where the wood would need to tolerate heavy use, vibrations, and even getting wet.

Finally, capping the ends are two sections of crosscut Red Oak from Virginia. You can look right into the grain of this section. This segment was the most challenging part and most fragile part of the pen to turn on a lathe.

Red Oak was a commonly used wood during the Civil War, it was perfect for railroad ties and fence posts as well as furniture, boxes, caskets, and coffins. It also has a high fuel value and makes excellent firewood, something the soldiers of the era depended on for warmth and as a way to cook and make coffee, a requirement in any army!

This Oak lived a long life before it died and fell at Laurel Hill Plantation. Although it’s exact age is not known, it lived many years on the property, it was perhaps the largest tree on the entire property. It’s not known if it lived long enough to be a witness to the Civil War, or even the birth and childhood of James Ewell Brown Stuart who was born on the same plot of land in 1833, but it may have been. The wood was collected in March of 2021 by Mr. Ronnie Haynes, one of the staff at Laurel Hill, who graciously sent it to Shenandoah Arsenal Turning for making pens.

The historic wood contained in this pen is certified to be authentic, and legal for anyone to own. A certificate of authenticity will be provided with your pen!

Each one of a kind, handmade pen is created using a woodworking lathe, and other woodworking tools by carver and craftsman Mr. Michael Kendra of Martinsburg, West Virginia, the founder of Shenandoah Arsenal Turning.