Magnolia wood cutting boards - from battlefields to kitchens

For Samurai swords, which are renowned for their extreme sharpness, a scabbard is essential to safely sheathe the blade. Carrying a bare blade without a scabbard would be highly dangerous. Traditionally, Magnolia wood, known as Honoki in Japanese (not to be confused with the similarly named Hinoki cypress), is predominantly used for scabbards. This is because it provides excellent protection for the blade, minimizes warping, and resists moisture infiltration, which can lead to rust. Additionally, the handle base is also crafted from Magnolia wood.

Magnolia wood is traditionally popular as a cutting board. It offers a moderate hardness and a balanced softness, making it less likely to damage knife blades and reducing wear on cutting boards. It is also a popular choice for the handles of traditional Japanese knives, known for its gentle feel. Cutting boards and knives should be considered as a set of tools, and it is important for knives to have a good mating cutting board.

Magnolia wood boasts a natural and unadorned rustic appearance characterized by straight wood grain and fine fibers. The sapwood exhibits an ash-white color, while the heartwood features a greenish hue with a clearly defined boundary. Due to the tendency of Magnolia's sapwood to decay, jointed cutting boards utilizing more oil-rich heartwood sections are particularly practical. The heartwood is an inner core portion of the tree, and its diameter is not large enough to create an adequately-sized one-piece cutting board.

Magnolia jointed cutting board

Magnolia trees are naturally grown across Japan. In the Samurai era, magnolia trees were actively managed through forestry to fulfill the demand for scabbard making, but they are no longer being planted. Due to the shortage of quality Magnolia woods, the availability of Magnolia cutting boards is limited. Magnolia wood has been a mate of blades for centuries, and Magnolia cutting boards may be a worthy choice for your knife's longevity.

Magnolia tree with ash white sapwood exposed